NHTSA Complaint #10345251 — 2005 DODGE DAKOTA

PEPBOYS/DEFINITY DAKOTA H/TP255/65R16, I PURCHASED 4 OF THESE TIRES THROUGH A MEINEKE CAR CARE CENTERON 7/10/10 LOCATED AT 49TH & SPRUCE STREETS IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS THE TIRES WERE ON MY DODGE DAKOTA, THE TIRES WERE SPIN BALANCED 4 TIMES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICLE SHAKING IN THE SEAT AND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ON 7/26/10, I NOTICED THAT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE 3 SIDE BELTS APPEARED BROKEN AS THERE WERE INDENTATIONS ON THE SIDE WALLS THAT I HAD NOT OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT TWO OUT OF THE FOUR NEW TIRES HAD BROKEN BELTS. I CALL PEPBOYS CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A PEPBOYS FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO PEPBOYS LOCATED AT 41ST & MARKET IN PHILADELPHIA AND WHEN THE SERVICE ATTENDANT INSPECTED THE TIRES, HE REPORTED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD BROKEN BELTS. SUCH SIGNIFICANT TIRE FAILURE, LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL IS BELIEVED BY ME TO BE A HAZARD. THIS TRUCK HAS SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME EVER SINCE THE TIRES WERE PUT ON THE TRUCK. THE LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL HAS BEEN TO THE POINT THAT THE TRUCK HAS ACTED LIKE IT IS GOING OFF THE ROAD WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. *TR