NHTSA Complaint #10721204 — 2010 HONDA ACCORD

IN NOVEMBER, I PURCHASED 4 NEW CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS FOR MY CAR. IN MARCH, DURING POTHOLE SEASON, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THESE NEW TIRES HAVE SOFT SIDEWALLS AND EASILY DEVELOP SIDEWALL BUBBLES. I HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. I'VE NEVER - IN MY 15 YEARS OF DRIVING - HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE DUE TO A SIDEWALL BUBBLE. CURIOUS, I TYPED "CONTINENTAL DWS SIDEWALL BUBBLE" INTO GOOGLE AND FOUND ONLINE FORUMS LOADED WITH FOLKS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S PRETTY CLEAR BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AND ONLINE REPORTS FROM OTHERS, THAT THE CONTINENTAL DWS TIRES HAVE WEAKER THAN USUAL SIDEWALLS, AND DEVELOP BUBBLES AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN OTHER TIRES. AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH ON TIRES WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD, I ASKED CONTINENTAL TO REPLACE JUST ONE OF THE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY (THE TIRE SHOP HAD MERCY AND REPLACED ONE FOR FREE!). CONTINENTAL'S INITIAL WARRANTY INCLUDES ROAD HAZARD PROTECTION FOR THE FIRST 2/10THS OF WEAR, WHICH THIS TIRE EASILY FELL UNDER. AFTER MEETING ALL OF CONTINENTAL'S REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WARRANTY INFORMATION, THEY HAVE STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY CUSTOMER SERVICE INQUIRIES. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS TO RECEIVE A CHECK. IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SIDEWALL ISSUES OF THESE TIRES. IT IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE, AND CONTINENTAL REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY - EVEN WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! MY NEXT COMPLAINT WILL BE FILED WITH THE FTC FOR FALSE WARRANTY CLAIMS, SINCE THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY UNDER THE RULES THEY DEVELOPED; RULES THAT I MET. CONSIDER THIS FILED COMPLAINT MY OFFICIAL NOTICE TO CONTINENTAL. IF I DIE DUE TO A TIRE DEFECT, THIS NOTICE IS PLACED IN A FILE FOR MY LAWYER.