NHTSA Complaint #11051862 — 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

ON NOVEMBER 27 2017 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A MAJOR BLOWOUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE. AAA PLACED THE SPARE ON THE VEHICLE AND WE DROVE IT TO LAKELAND TOYOTA IN LAKELAND FLORIDA. THEY GAVE US A RENTAL VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO PORT CANAVERAL TO GO ON A CRUISE. ON FRIDAY WE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THE TIRE AND CHARGED US $327.09 FOR A NEW TIRE. I REQUESTED. THE OLD TIRE SO I COULD HAVE IT EXAMINED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TURNED IT OVER TO WASTE DISPOSAL. I ADVISED THEM THAT VIOLATED THE SPOILATION DOCTRINE IN THIS STATE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE HAD 6805 MILES. AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 4 ON THE WAY TO PORT CANAVERAL. I HAVE THE RECORDS OF LAKELAND TOYOTA FOR YOUR REVIEW...THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER HL 422 P245/55R19. I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT WAS WRONG FOR THEM TO NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES..AND THEY SHOULD REPORT THE MATTER TO YOUR AGENCY