NHTSA Complaint #11084847 — 2014 FORD E-350

I WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO FLEET SERVICES. WE HAVE SEVERAL 2014 FORD E-350'S IN OUR RENTAL FLEET. SOME TIME A FEW YEARS BACK MICHELIN RECALLED MANY OF THE LTX TIRES ON MANY OF OUR VANS. THE DOT CODE ON THE TIRES ON THIS VAN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE MICHELIN RECALL. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO THIS TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION ON A REAR TIRE, VAN FULL OF PASSENGERS. WE ARE REALLY LUCKY THIS VAN DID NOT ROLL OVER. THIS HAPPENED TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS WITHIN THE POSTED LIMIT. THE TREAD AS IT CAME SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE DAMAGED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VAN & PULLED A LOOSE HEATER HOSE WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE VAN OVER HEATED & LEFT A GROUP STRANDED IN THE DESERT. WE BELIEVE MICHELIN MAY WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE DATE CODES THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE TIRE IN THE PHOTOS THAT STILL HAS TREAD WAS REMOVED FROM THE SAME VAN (SPARE POSITION) BEFORE IT FAILED. YOU CAN SEE IT WAS GETTING READY TO LOOSE THE TREAD AS WELL AND IT WAS NOT ON THE ROAD AND NOT EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE SUN LIGHT. WE WILL SEND THESE TIRES BACK TO A MICHELIN DEALER & SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO FOR US.