NHTSA Complaint #11257310 — 2004 JEEP LIBERTY

TIRE PRESSURE IN ALL VEHICLE AND TRAILER TIRES CHECKED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON 270 MILE TRIP. DRIVING 10 MPH UNDER SPEED LIMIT IN RIGHT INTERSTATE LANE WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, SIDEWALL OF THE HANKOOK DYNAPRO AT/M TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE MOUNTED ON VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR. NO BRAKE APPLIED. VEHICLE'S RAPID LOSS OF SPEED AND INSTABILITY CAUSED TRAILER TO GO OUT OF CONTROL DESPITE NEW ANTISWAY BAR. VEHICLE PULLED/TURNED RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT, LEAVING THE ROADWAY TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 80' BEFORE COMING TO REST 90 TO THE ROADWAY IN THE DITCH. TRAILER BROKE FREE FROM VEHICLE DESPITE SAFETY CHAINS, ANTISWAY BAR, AND BALL LEVER LOCKED WITH PADLOCK. PADLOCK BODY WAS BROKEN BY THE BREAKAWAY AS WERE THE SAFETY CHAINS. ANTISWAY BAR RECEIVED AN APPROXIMATELY 30 CURVE TO THE BRAKING BAR (REESE BRAND). VIOLENT WHIPPING MOTION (RECORDED ON FRONT AND REAR DASHCAM CAMERAS AND BY WITNESSES) CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IMPACTED BY THE TRAILER. TRAILER RECEIVED SOME FRONT BODY DAMAGE. FAILED TIRE HAS BEEN RETAINED. SPARE TIRE INSTALLED ON SITE. TIRES WERE A SET ALL WITH 8/32 TREAD. (NEW THESE TIRES HAD 11/32) TIRES WERE INSTALLED JUST UNDER 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE INSTALLATION INVOICE FOUR 4 TIRE INSTALLATION. ILLINOIS STATE POLICE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY TO INVESTIGATE. TROOPER CRABTREE.