NHTSA Complaint #10992230 — 2018 FOREST RIVER CHEROKEE

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE ON A DUAL AXLE TRAVEL TRAILER (CAMPER) (FOREST RIVER, CHEROKEE 19RR, VEHICLE ID NO. [XXX]; LENGTH WITH HITCH, 23 FEET 11 INCHES, WIDTH 8 FEET) UNLOADED VEHICLE WEIGHT: 4,180 LBS. GVWR: 7,574 LBS. MANUFACTURED DATE 3/30/2017. THE TIRE INVOLVED WAS A REAR, DRIVER?S SIDE AXLE, CASTLE ROCK BRAND ST205/75R14; DOT JUJT YMT 4716; MAX LOAD 800KG (1760 LBS) @ 50 PSI COLD; TREAD 2 NYLON + 2 STEEL SIDEWALL PLY 2 NYLON; SPEED RATING ?L?; MADE IN CHINA MLR06. I HAD PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD IN SAINT CLAIR, PA FOR GAS AND COFFEE AND WHEN STOPPED SAW PRIMARILY A RIM EXPOSED. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 980 MILES ON IT, HAVING PICKED UP THE TRAILER NEW, IN WOLCOTT, IOWA ON MAY 17, 2017 AND THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON MAY 20TH, 2017. DUE TO VERY HIGH WINDS EXPERIENCED THE FIRST TWO DAYS, WE SELDOM REACHED 65 MILES AN HOUR AND, EVEN ON THE THIRD DAY NEVER EXCEEDED 70 MILES AN HOUR. TOTAL LOADED WEIGHT WAS LESS THAN 1,000 LBS. ALL FOUR (4) TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE IDENTICAL AND WERE SAID TO BE INFLATED WITH NITROGEN AND, EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS. EACH TIME, BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I INSPECTED EACH WHEEL PRESSURE MONITOR TO ENSURE THEY REMAINED GREEN (50 LBS OF PRESSURE INDICATED AND INITIALLY CONFIRMED WITH A RELIABLE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE) AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME FELT EACH OF THE FOUR SIDE WALLS WITH THE BACK OF MY HAND AND NEVER FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE HOT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE FAILED TIRE/WHEEL ON THE TRAILER AND HAVE RETAINED THE WHEEL (LOWER SECTIONS OF BOTH SIDEWALLS REMAIN INTACT, ON THE WHEEL.) I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND I AM UNCOMFORTABLE CONTINUING TO USE THE THREE THAT REMAIN ON THE TRAILER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE IF THESE TIRES ARE SAFE AND IF THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR