NHTSA Complaint #10509172 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 FORD FOCUS ON 2/20/2013. ON SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013, WHILE IT WAS SITTING PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD A RATHER SIZEABLE "BUBBLE" IN THE SIDEWALL. FEARING THAT IT COULD BURST, I DECIDED THAT MY BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOME. ONCE THEY LOOKED AT IT ON MONDAY, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ME $200. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HIT SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE THAT THIS TIRE HAD. ALSO THE TIRE WAS NOT SCRAPED IN ANY WAY. UPON LOOKING AT SOME FORUMS ON LINE I NOTICED A FEW THAT INDICATED THE EXACT PROBLEM OCCUR WITH THE TIRES ON THEIR FORD FOCUS WITH THE CONTINENTAL 215/55R16 TIRE. THE DEALER, BEAU TOWNSEND FORD IN VANDALIA, OHIO REFUSES TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THESE TIRES COULD BE DEFECTIVE. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM, I AM CONCERNED THAT CRASHES COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN, AND THEY TOO ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL AT LEAST TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE IF THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. *TR