NHTSA Complaint #10608117 — 2008 FORD F-350 SD

I WAS DRIVING A F-F350 SD CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK WITH A TRUCK SHELL TOP APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE CORD, RESULTING IN THE TREAD THRASHING (APPROXIMATELY 6 REVOLUTIONS) THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL CAUSING EXTREME BODY DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL, BUMPER, UPPER TRUCK SHELL SLIDING WINDOW. THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT EXPLOSION WHEN THE TREAD FINALLY SEPARATED AND FLEW OFF THE TIRE CORD. I THEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE, ASSESSED THE PROBLEM, RETRIEVED THE TIRE TREAD WHICH REMAINED INTACT, ALSO IN ONE PIECE...! AMAZINGLY, THE TIRE CORD REMAINED INTACT, STILL PRESSURIZED AND HOLDING AIR... AND I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP,WHO WERE NOT INITIALLY HELPFUL POINTING THE FINGER TO B.F. GOODRICH, WHO I DID CALLED AND I RECEIVED A RETURN PHONE CALL THE NEXT DAY. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WHO REMOVED THE TIRE, AND PRESERVED THE TREAD AND TIRE, AND I WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE B.F. GOODRICH REPRESENTATIVE TO SHIP THE TIRE FOR INSPECTION TO THEIR OFFICES. THE INITIAL INSPECTION AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WAS FOUND TO BE INCONCLUSIVE... AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SEPARATION WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD, WHICH IT WAS NOT, AND THEN I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO SHIP THE TIRE TO THEM FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $3-$4K IN BODY DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. PREPARING THE TIRE FOR SHIPPING TO B.F.GOODRICH AND WAITING ON THE STATUS OF THE REMAINDER OF MY BODY DAMAGE CLAIM. *TR