NHTSA Complaint #11118925 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE RAPIDLY DEFLATED. INSTALLED THE FACTORY SPARE TIRE. NOTED A 2" LONG SLICE ACROSS THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPLACEMENT. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT PUNCTURED. THE TIRE FAILED. THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE IN SIMILAR CONDITION. YOU COULD PICK PIECES OF RUBBER OUT OF THE TIRE WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. TIRES ARE 1 YEAR OLD AND HAD 20,000 MILES ON THEM. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 TIRES, SIZE: 255/50R20. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED A $196 CREDIT PER TIRE FOR A TIRE OF MY CHOICE. I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. IT THE FAILED TIRE HAD BEEN ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.