NHTSA Complaint #11047972 — 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA BLUEARTH S34 TIRES, SIZE: P215/45R/17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME UNSTABLE AND A THUMPING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR END. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING IT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT INSIDE THE TIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED ALONG WITH THE LOCAL TIRE DEALER (LES SWAUB AND GOODYEAR). THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,900.