NHTSA Complaint #11082652 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

RE:HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 255/50R20 105H-ON 01/20/18, I WAS ADVISED BY A NEW FRIEND TO HAVE MY TIRES CHECKED OUT. HE NOTICED THE PIECES OF TIRE CHIPPING OFF AND WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I TOOK MY CAR TO OLIN MOTT, A LONGTIME & REPUTABLE AREA TIRE STORE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF "PEELING" & RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD FIRST PURCHASED IT. ON 01/26/18 I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT. THE DEALERSHIP CAME BACK & SAID THAT THEY'D HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT W/ THE TIRE MANUFACTURER & THEY'D TAKE PICTURES OF ALL 4 TIRES & WOULD LET ME KNOW WHAT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER SAID NEEDED TO BE DONE. 6 DAYS LATER, THE DEALERSHIP CALLS STATING THAT HANKOOK TIRES ADVISED THAT ALL 4 TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED & THAT THE'DD OFFER A 50% PRORATA PRICE BASIS. MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURE STICKER DATE IS 04/17. I PURCHASED MY CAR ON JUNE 14, 2017 BRAND NEW. LESS THAN 8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. AS OF 01/26/18, I HAD APPROX 14,300 MILES. NOW AT 16,400 MILES, THEY ARE PEELING AND NOW CHUNKS ARE NOW COMING OUT OF ALL 4 TIRES. I HAVE AN APPT IN 05/12/18 TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES. BC AFTER PAYING $40,000 LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, I HAVE TO SAVE THE MONEY. THIS TIRE HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE USA. FORD WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THEY CONTRACTED W/ HANKOOK TIRES IN 2011 FOR HANKOOK TO BE THE OFFICIAL FITMENT TIRE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER. ALSO, FORD/LINCOLN EXTENDED THEIR CONTRACT RECENTLY. OTHER BRANDS SUCH AS HYAUNDI HAVE RECENTLY CANCELLED THEIR PARTNERSHIP W/ HANKOOK. IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE ABOUT THESE TIRES, IT'S MY FEAR THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. FORD SHOULD ALSO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BC THEY PUT THE TIRES ON THEIR NEW VEHICLES THEY WANT TO SELL & DO SELL. LOCATION: TAMPA, FL. PLEASE HELP US, THE CONSUMERS. THANKS!