NHTSA Complaint #10461272 — 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE

MY DAUGHTER NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP AIR IN ONE MASTERCRAFT A/S IV TIRES. AS WE LOOKED AT THE TIRE TOGETHER SHE HEARD AIR ESCAPING, AND WHEN WE TOUCHED THE AREA OF THE LEAK, THE LEAK GOT LOUDER. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FARM & FLEET (WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED & INSTALLED AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE GOOD AT KEEPING UP WITH WARRANTIES) TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS "DRY ROT", AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER BRAND AS THE MASTERCRAFT A/S IV HAVE BEEN "DISCONTINUED", AND I HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE. I ASKED IF THEY OR I COULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD NO AS THE TIRES HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND ARE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. FURTHER, I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY 25% OF THE TREAD REMAINS. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED 9/08/08 & ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY, 20,806 MILES ON THEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER RATES THEM AT 50,000 MILES. THE LOW MILES MAKES SENSE AS WE RARELY PUT ON MORE THAN 7K MILES ON ANY OF OUR VEHICLES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL OF THE TIRE(S). *TR