NHTSA Complaint #10916061 — 2003 COACHMEN LEPRECHAUN

11/24/12 PURCHASED 2 BF GOODRICH LT225/75R16/BEIL JD11 2512 50K MILE/6YR WARRANTY. 02/29/16 3700 MILES FROM PURCHASE ON I-20 IN ATLANTA NOTICED A VIBRATION ROAD SIDE INSPECTION FOUND ONE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION/BUBBLED. 3/1 TOOK TIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE TIRE, DEEMED IT DEFECTIVE, BFG PAID $135.00 FOR A $163.00 NEW TIRE. 04/12/16 300 MILES LATER ON I-75 S OCALA, FL. EXPERIENCED A VERY LOUD CRASHING/HITTING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A STRONG VIBRATION, EXTREME MOVEMENT IN THE REAR CAUSING THE RV/TOW VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY SWERVE BACK/FORTH BETWEEN LANES ALMOST LOSING CONTROL IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, THE 2ND TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OFF, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RV UNDERCARRIAGE & SEVERELY DAMAGING THE TOW VEHICLE SCATTERING DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SEPARATED TREAD BROKE THE VALVE STEM ON THE INNER TIRE (DUAL REAR WHEEL) UNKNOWN TO ME THE RV WAS DRIVEN ON THE FAILED STEEL BELTS TO GET TO SAFETY. THE FAILED TIRE CAUSED $16,908.20 IN DAMAGES TO BOTH VEHICLES. TOOK FAILED TIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, STORE MANAGER COULD WARRANTY THE TIRE SINCE IT WAS DEFECTIVE BUT IF I WAS SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR VEHICLE DAMAGE, WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT BFG DIRECTLY NEW TIRE COST $197.93. CONTACTED BFG, FOLLOWED THEIR PROCEDURES. 05/25 THEY REFUSED MY CLAIM, CLAIMING UNDER INFLATION/OVERLOAD AS THE RATIONAL FOR DENIAL. CALLED MR. RITCH TOWNSEND, BFG MANAGER, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EXPLAINING THE SITUATION THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT FROM AS INDICATED ADVISED HIM OF THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE THAT WAS COVERED SAID HE WOULD PERSONALLY INSPECT THIS CURRENT TIRE FAILURE & WOULD CALL ME BACK IF THEY REFUSED THE CLAIM & STATING TO SEND THE REFUSED TIRE BACK, 06/27 RECEIVED THE DAMAGED TIRE BACK, RITCH NEVER CALLED. CANT UNDERSTAND WHY TWO TIRES FAIL FOR THE SAME REASON WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME/MILEAGE OF EACH OTHER, ONE IS COVERED NO QUESTIONS BUT THE SECOND, ONLY WHEN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE DAMAGE IS CLAIMED DENIED, SEEMS CLEAR BFGOODRICH IS COVERING UP A GREATER TIRE DEFECT.