NHTSA Complaint #10421526 — 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE: SUNNY MID-DAY, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A SOUND AS IF MY TIRE HAD BURST, AND MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DID NOT CRASH. FAILURE AND DETAILS: ONCE I HALTED THE CAR, I INSPECTED MY PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE, AND THOUGH IT WAS FLAT, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF RUPTURE OR PERFORATION. I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE IT, AND, HAVING REMOVED IT, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE INNER LUMEN. THE CRACK WAS AN ARC OF APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES. ACTION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: A SPARE TIRE WAS SET IN PLACE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. FURTHER DETAILS: DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS USER INDUCED, BUT I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE NO BUMPS, DEBRIS, NOR DID I CRASH. I FEAR THIS COULD HAPPEN TO OTHERS. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND THAT THE SENSOR HAD TO BE REST. *TR