NHTSA Complaint #714406 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

I PURCHASED A 1999 DODGE INTREPID IN FEBRUARY OF 1999 (NEW) FROM SANTA ROSA DODGE IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR QUANTUM SERIES TIRES. DURING THE SCHEDULED 6,000-MILE SERVICE AND IN THE PROCESS OF ROTATING ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD DEVELOPED A 4" DIAMETER BULB IN IT ON THE INTERIOR. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT INTO A GOODYEAR DEALER AND HAVE IT REPLACED AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY AND NOT DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S. THIS GOODYEAR DEALER INSTANTLY STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY SOME SORT OF ROAD HAZARD AND WAS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY. I SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED GOODYEAR IN AKRON, OHIO AND THEY SUGGESTED I GET A SECOND OPINION, WHICH I DID. IN ADDITION, AFTER A VERY BRIEF INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A TEAR ON THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE TIRE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A MILD BUMP WITH A WELL ROUNDED CURB COULD NOT CAUSE A TEAR ON THE OUTER WALL OF THE TIRE LET ALONE CAUSE A TEAR ON THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE TIRE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION, AS GOODYEAR NO LONGER SELLS THESE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )