NHTSA Complaint #10415512 — 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA

MY FAMILY WAS TRAVELING TO A FUNERAL DRIVING A 2008 IMPALA AT 75MPH. TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND VISUALLY CHECKED FOR WEAR BY GENERAL OBSERVATION.TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD AND NO CUPPING. LEFT REAR TIRE DETONATED SENDING TIRE TREAD/BELTS/DEBRIS INTO WHEEL WELL AREA. THIS RIPPED FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY LOOSE AND SENT IT BELOW CAR WHERE IT TRAILED WITH NO REMAINING FUEL CAP AND FRAYED SENSOR WIRES EXPOSED. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP BESIDE INTERSTATE. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE TEMPORARY REPAIRS IT WAS NOTICED THAT OPPOSITE REAR TIRE HAD WEAR DOWN TO STEEL BELTS ON INSIDE TWO INCHES. THE REMAINING TIRE APPEARED ALMOST NEW FROM EXTERIOR VIEW. IT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH BLOWN TIRE AS THIS TIRE WAS JUST AS DEADLY. REPAIR BY INSURANCE EXCEEDED $4,000. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SERVICE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT REPAIRS TO REAR SUSPENSION CAN BE MADE. MOST PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT THEIR TIRES ONLY APPEAR SAFE. UNLESS THE CAR IS PUT ON A LIFT RACK THE WEAR ISSUE IS NOT OBVIOUS TO THE AVERAGE AUTOMOBILE OWNER. *TR