NHTSA Complaint #10984716 — 2015 KIA FORTE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED AND EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SUFFERED ANOTHER BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME AND THE CONTACT NOTED BLISTERING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES. THE TIRES EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FOURTH TIME, AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ALSO HAD A BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAND OF THE TIRES VARIED, INCLUDING FIRESTONE, UHP, AND HANKOOK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S RIMS WERE TOO LARGE AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RIM AND THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND SOLD THE CONTACT THE FIRST NEW TIRE. A DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE. FIRESTONE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE TIRES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.