NHTSA Complaint #10353682 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

I LEASED MY VEHICLE THE END OF MAY 2008. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE FACTORY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AT LEAST EVERY 5,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ROTATION APPOINTMENT, THE MECHANIC STATED THE TIRES BARELY PASSED NYS INSPECTION, AS THEY HAD ONLY 2/32" OF TREAD LEFT. AT THAT TIME THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 18,400 MILES ON THEM. SINCE THE ROTATION, I CAN HEAR A THUMPING-TYPE SOUND WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEASE THE CAR FROM STATES THEY WILL HAVE TO CHECK WITH TOYOTA, BUT IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE ROTATIONS (MAINTENANCE) PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I MAY HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. THE GENERAL MANAGER RECENTLY STATED IN WRITING THAT THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ONLY HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 20,000, WHICH INCIDENTALLY WAS NOT REPRESENTED AT TIME OF LEASE OR IN THE LEASE CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS FOR 36,000 MILES IN 36 MONTHS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LEASED FROM TOYOTA, BUT MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LEASED MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, LET ALONE RUN THEM BALD IN 18,400 MILES! A DIFFERENT TOYOTA SALESPERSON STATED TO ME THAT SHE HAS HEARD OF MANY PEOPLE RUNNING INTO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES INSTALLED ON TOYOTA LEASED VEHICLES. I HAVE 7 MONTHS LEFT ON MY LEASE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TO 3 SMALL CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE EVERYDAY IN THIS CAR, AND I WORK FULL TIME, SO I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO GET THE RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WINTER IS UPON US IN BUFFALO, NY AND WITH THESE TIRES ON THE CAR, I AM BOUND TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BLOW-OUT OR OTHER POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE REASON I LEASE IS BECAUSE I DRIVE LOW MILES AND DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO MAKE CONTINUOUS REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIT FOR TOYOTA TO "DECIDE" IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE TIRES, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THIS SEEMS LIKE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR