NHTSA Complaint #10808224 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

YOKAHAMA AVID TIRE(185-65-RL15, CCLY 84P 2013X3 ,84P 3613X1) ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT ON AUG. 12, 2015 FORCING ME ONTO THE SHOULDER. IT WAS 4;00 PM AND THE ROAD WAS CROWDED. IF THE LEFT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH ANOTHER BRAND. AND SINCE I HAVE NO STORAGE, THE TIRE DEALER DISPOSED OF THE TIRE. ON AUGUST 20, I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BECAUSE I NOTICED A QUARTER SIZED BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THAT BUBBLE AND COPIES OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRE BILLS. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE INSTALLED 12/19/2013 AT THE AUTO DEALER. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD 32,228 MILES. WHEN THE FIRST TIRE BLEW THE SPEEDOMETER READ 38,992 MILES ( 6,644 MILES), THE SECOND TIRE WAS REPLACED AFTER BEING DRIVEN ANOTHER 50 MILES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND ALSO DISPOSED OF. THE REMAINING YOKAHAMA TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH A YOKAHAMA REPRESENTATIVE WHO SAID I NEEDED THE TIRES TO PROCEED WITH AN INVESTIGATION. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE I COULD DO.. SINCE THIS TIRE DEFECT COULD HAVE HAD DISASTEROUS CONSEQUENCES. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE SAFETY OF YOKAHAMA TIRES. ANY ACTION YOU CAN TAKE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.ANY FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDING THE PHOTO AND RECEIPTS I WILL BE PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU AT YOUR REQUEST. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.