NHTSA Complaint #10442078 — 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

COMPLAINANT HAD TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE TIRES (245/55R19) ON A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LTD AFTER 20,679 MILES. TREAD WEAR WAS BELOW 3/32'S. TOYOTA WOULD NOT WARRANT OR PARTICIPATE IN THE REPLACEMENT COSTS. BRIDGESTONE OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF REPLACING THE FOUR TIRES WITH THEIR DUELER H/L (P245/55R19) WHICH I ACCEPTED ON APRIL 20, 2010. MY COST WAS $491.32. THE REPLACEMENT TIRES AFTER 9 MONTHS AND 17,011 MILES HAVE 5/32'S WEAR. HOWEVER, WITH THAT TIRE WEAR, THE HIGHLANDER IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THERE IS FROST/SNOW/RAIN/ICE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE LOOSES TRACTION AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE AS IT SLIDES THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. AGAIN, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO WARRANT OR PARTICIPATE IN THE TIRE REPLACEMENT COSTS. BRIDGESTONE HAS OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THIS WOULD AMOUNT TO AN ADDITIONAL $500 (EST.) TO REPLACE TIRES THAT DO NOT WEAR PROPERLY. HOW CAN PAYMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY $1,000 FOR EIGHT TIRES THAT PROVIDE PREMATURE AND UNSAFE TIRE WEAR BE JUSTIFIED? THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION, IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TIRE WEAR IS PREMATURE. THE HIGHLANDER SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR A FREE FOUR WHEEL TIRE REPLACEMENT AND ALIGNMENT. UPDATED IVOQ 01/26/12 *TR