NHTSA Complaint #10788258 — 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER

I BOUGHT A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER RT CLASSIC NEW IN MAY OF 2013 IN NAMPA, IDAHO. THE CAR CAME WITH 245/45ZR20 GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 SUPERCAR TIRES. LAST SUMMER, WE HAD ONE TIRE REPLACED DUE TO A NAIL IN THE SIDEWALL WITH THE SAME GOODYEAR TIRE (ALTHOUGH IT HAD A YEAR NEWER MANUFACTURED DATE CODE). THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE STILL ORIGINAL. THE CAR IS NOW A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS OLD. THERE WERE ONLY 20K MILES ON THE CAR AND TIRES WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND STORED INSIDE. THE TIRES HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PRESSURES LESS THAN 32 POUNDS OF AIR IN THEM (DUE TO SENSORS MONITORING THE TIRES). THE WEEKEND OF 7/11/15 WE STARTED OUT ON A TRIP FROM CALDWELL, ID TO KALISPELL, MT (WE WERE TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE ON WINDY BACK ROADS). WE GOT 50 MILES INTO OUR TRIP BEFORE WE GOT A LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING ON ONE OF THE TIRE SENSORS (THE RIGHT REAR). WE STOPPED AND HAD THE TIRES CHECKED. THEY FOUND ALL 4 TIRES AT VARIOUS STAGES HAD THE INNER SIDEWALLS COMING APART ON THE TIRES (EVEN THE NEWER ONE WITH 10K MILES ON IT). WE HAD ALL OF THE TIRES REPLACED. I HAVE THESE OLD DEFECTIVE TIRES IN MY GARAGE. I DID NOT PUT GOODYEAR TIRES BACK ON THE CAR DUE TO THEM NOT BEING AVAILABLE AT THE TIRE STORE. I HAVE WORKED ON CARS ALL MY LIFE. THESE TIRES WERE NEVER ABUSED AND THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I FEAR FOR OTHERS LIVES. IF THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THESE TIRES COMPLETELY BLEW OUT, THE CAR WOULD LIKELY BE UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF TIRE. I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. WHEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH DODGE AND GOODYEAR, ALL THAT WAS OFFERED TO ME WAS A 'ROAD HAZARD' VOUCHER FOR $491 AND ONLY IF I PUT GOODYEAR TIRES BACK ON THE CAR. THEY WERE WELL AWARE I HAD ALREADY CHANGED THE TIRES AND DID NOT HAVE ANY INTEREST IN PUTTING UNSAFE GOODYEAR TIRES BACK ON MY CAR.