NHTSA Complaint #730721 — 2000 FORD F-250

REAR SUSPENSION TOO WEAK TO CARRY TRUCK BODY CAUSING OVER TRAVEL ON SPRINGS WHEN DRIVING WITH 500LBS OR MORE IN TRUCK BED. MY TRUCK CAN EQUIPED WITH A SERVICE BODY TOOL BOX.THE TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO RUB TO UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK. FORD DECIDED TO REPLACE SUSPENNISION WITH A LARGER CAPICITY. I WAS STUCK WITH THE INSTALLATION COST OF $600.00 TIRES: MY LEFT FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A SIDEWALL BLISTER THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL IN JUNE,2000. GENERAL TIRE REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES AT NO COST BUT AGAIN I PAID FORD $25 INSTALL COST. NOW A FEW DAYS AGO MY LEFT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A SIDEWALL BLISTER THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL. I'VE REQUESTED THAT GENERAL TIRE REPLACE ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURE BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE BUT I DON'T TRUST THERE QUALITY ENOUGH TO RIDE MY FAMILY ON. FORD HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 20 OR MORE GENERAL TIRES ON THE SAME STYLE TRUCK IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. SIDE WALL BLISTERS ARE VERY DANGERS AND CAN EXPLODE AT ANY TIME ESPECIALLY AS THE TIRE GETS HOTTER. GENERAL TIRE INFORMED ME OVER THE TELEPHONE THAT THEY ARE GETTING A UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF REPORTS FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAME TIRE. THESE TIRES MAY BE MISSING THE NYLON PLY IN THE SIDE WALL OR THE COMPONET COMPOUND USED FOR ADHESION IS DEFECTIVE.( DOT NUMBER: ADOR1JC289 TIRE SIZE: LT23585R16 )