NHTSA Complaint #11193368 — 2018 FORD F53

VEHICLE SOLD AS NEW TO ME BY GIANT RV WITH A 15 YEAR OLD TIRE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THIS WAS A MISMATCH, OFF BRAND "EXPIRED" TIRE THAT CAUSED A BLOW OUT REQUIRING REPAIRS AND CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY OF RISK. THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE OR PROVIDER NECESSARY BACKGROUND AS TO THE CAUSE OF WHY THIS TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY REPLACED. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A NON DISCLOSED VEHICLE EVENT (ACCIDENT ETC.) THAT CAUSED DAMAGES WHICH WERE IMPROPERLY AND UNSAFELY REPAIRED WITHOUT PROPER DISCLOSURE. CONCERN BEING THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER HIDDEN ISSUES WHICH MAY CONTINUE TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. WHEN ASKED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (THOR) PLACE BLAME WITH FORD AS THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER. I DO NOT BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY STORES AND INSTALLS 15 YEAR OLD TIRES ON BRAND NEW CHASSIS. I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN EVENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TRANSPORTED BY GIANT RV FROM THOR'S MANUFACTURING CENTER TO THEIR DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. I BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FOR THE LOWEST COST AS POSSIBLE WITH INFERIOR AND UNSAFE MATERIAL - PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY VEHICLE AT RISK. I FEEL IT IS REASONABLE AND AND I FEEL A RESPONSIBLE DEALER WOULD DO ALL THEY COULD TO DETERMINE WHERE AND HOW THIS HAPPENED. IF THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICE THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AND CONSUMERS AT RISK. THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE IN A TYPICAL TRAVEL SITUATION, AFTER RECENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER (GIANT RV) FOR UNRELATED WARRANTY ISSUES. TIRE BLEW OUT ON 2/24/19 DURING REGULAR TRAVEL. (FEWER THAN 4,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE COACH). THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FRONT DRIVER SIDE MISMATCHED TIRE THAT HAD A DOT DATE OF 2005 AND FAILED DUE TO AGE. THE UNSAFE TIRE WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING A 2005 DATED DOT TIRE BY BOTH HIGHWAY PATROL AND A TIRE AGENCY WHICH DID THE ROADSIDE REPAIR FOR ME. THE TIRE WAS PROVIDED TO GIANT RV SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY TOO AGREED THAT THIS WAS AN UNSAFE ("EXPIRED") TIRE. ULTIMATELY THOR AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TIRE. *DT *JB