NHTSA Complaint #11708071 — 2023 SUBARU IMPREZA

The original equipment (OE) tires (Size: 225/40R18) on a 2023 vehicle exhibited severe, deep concentric cracking on the outer sidewalls and near the bead/rim line of all four tires at approximately 30,000 miles. The safety of the driver and passengers was put at extreme risk as the structural integrity of the tires was compromised, posing an imminent threat of catastrophic high-speed blowouts on the expressway. The failure was confirmed and reproduced by two separate professional facilities: the original vehicle dealership and an authorized tire manufacturer dealer. Both independent inspections concluded the vehicle was unsafe to drive and required immediate replacement of all four tires. The manufacturer's engineering review also inspected photographic evidence and acknowledged a material defect related to a "soft compound" breakdown. There were no warning lamps or symptoms prior to discovery; the defect was only found by a technician during a separate flat tire repair. Despite the manufacturer formally authorizing a 75% "goodwill" credit (Authorization #35936) after acknowledging the defect, they failed to complete the agreement due to internal communication breakdowns with their authorized dealers. This resulted in months of delay, forcing the consumer to pay the full replacement cost out-of-pocket to mitigate the documented safety hazard. The defective tires are available for inspection upon request.