NHTSA Complaint #731199 — 1993 FORD TAURUS

BLOWOUT OF LEFT REAR TIRE ON 93 FORD TAURUS IN SEPTEMBER 1998. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRE, BUT NOT THE TREAD. THE TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE TIRE AND FLEW UP ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR CAUSING DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED, ALTHOUGH THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN COLORADO DURING A TRIP. THE CAR WAS LICENSED AND REGISTERED IN TEXAS. THIS WAS THE LAST OF SEVERAL PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH FIRSTONE TIRES WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN 1998. WE PUT FOUR NEW FIRESTONE TIRES ON ANOTHER CAR (A 1984 VOLVO) AND HAD SEVERAL FLAT TIRES AND A BLOWOUT. UNFORTUNATELY WE NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTEE AND REPLACED. WE SAVED THE TIRE FROM THE TAURUS' BLOW-OUT. THANK YOU FOR COLLECTING THIS INFORMATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: DOTHYUR16A TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )