NHTSA Complaint #10376796 — 2008 FORD E-350

TRAVELING WESTBOUND IN HWY 54 EAST OF STRATFORD, TX THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED ON OUR 2008 PLEASURE-WAY RV. THIS RV IS BUILT ON A FORD E350 CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND DRIFTED INTO THE PATH OF AN ONCOMING TRACTOR-TRAILER. DRIVER STEERED VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID THE ONCOMING TRUCK, THE RV CROSSED OVER THE ROAD INTO A DITCH ON THE RIGHT, AGAIN TURNED TO THE LEFT AND RE-ENTERED THE ROADWAY AT A SHARP ANGLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. PASSENGER 1 SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIGHT SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES, PASSENGER 2 SUSTAINED A SEVERELY SPRAINED WRIST. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE BEGINNING THE TRIP, AND TIRES WERE VISUALLY INSPECTED AT A REST STOP 90 MINUTES BEFORE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY LOADED AND WELL BELOW GVWR. THESE WERE OEM TIRES WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED. *TR