NHTSA Complaint #727150 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PHOENIX ON 6/13/98. PRIOR TO MY DEPARTURE FROM L.A., ALL OF THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR THE DRIVE. THEY WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION. AT 9:30AM I WAS DRIVING EAST ON I-10 @ 75MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE ROAD BECAME BUMPY AND I SWITCHED LANES. MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LUNGED TO THE LEFT AND I REALIZED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN, AND THE RIM HAD CAUGHT THE PAVEMENT. I WRESTLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT WHILE HEADING FOR AN OFF-RAMP TO AVOID TRAFFIC & AN UPCOMING OVERPASS. IT FISH-TAILED BACK AND FORTH UNTIL AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT SLID THROUGH A ROAD SIGN AND THEN ROLLED OVER ENDING UPSIDE DOWN BESIDE THE ROAD, FACING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SUFFERED MANY CUTS TO MY HEAD (ALONG WITH MANY STRAINED MUSCLES.) I WAS LUCKY. THE CHP REPORT HELD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRASH. I CONTENDED AT THE TIME THAT THE BLOW-OUT WAS MORE ABRUPT AND SEVER THAN ANY I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED, AND THAT CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WITH SUCH AN ABRUPT BLOW AT THAT SPEED WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I DISPUTED THE REPORT. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THE DMV AND THE INSURANCE AGENCY. ALL HELD ME RESPONSIBLE AND THE DEALER OFFERED THAT I COULD TRY AND SUE THE TIRE COMPANY. I DIDN'T. AS A RESULT, I LOST A NEW CAR, AND SPENT MANY WEEKS RECUPERATING. MY INSURANCE RATES ALSO INCREASED AS WELL AS RECEIVING A POINT ON MY DRIVERS LICENSE. I DID MANAGE TO HAVE SOME PICTURES TAKEN OF THE FORD & THE BLOWN TIRE FOLLOWING THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN BY CHP OFFICER L. QUATTLEBAUM #12917, REPORT # 98060056. (THE REPORT MISTAKENLY LISTS THE TIRES AS GOODYEAR, BUT THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS AT'S AS MY PICTURES SHOW.) THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: 225/70R15S )