NHTSA Complaint #732105 — 1997 BUICK LESABRE

ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 02, 2000, I WAS MAKING A TRIP TO JACKSONVILLE, FL. TO MY SISTERS WITH MY 79 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND 75 YEAR OLD FATHER. RIGHT OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE, FL. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY A 10" IN LENGTH AND 7" WIDE PIECE OF RUBBER SEPERATE FROM THE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND STOP. I HAD TO FOLLOW A POLICEMAN FROM INTERSTATE 10 TO A BACK HIGHWAY TO GET BACK TO TALLAHASSE TO GET MY TIRE REPLACED. WHEN THE GOODYEAR MECHANIC GOT THE CAR UP ON THE RACK HE CALLED ME AND MY FATHER OUT TO LOOK AT THE OTHER THREE TIRES. ALL OF THE TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO SEPERATE IN THE MIDDLE. I CHOSE TO RELACE ALL FOUR TIRES BEACUSE I WAS AFRAID THE REST WOULD DO THE SAME THING AND I DID NOT WANT TO CHANCE INJURY. I HAD MY SON DO A VISUAL CHECK OF THE TIRES BEFORE I LEFT ON THE TRIP AND HE SAID I SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER 10,000 TO 15,000 MILES LEFT ON THE TIRES HOWEVER, WE COULD NOT VISUALLY SEE THE SEPERATION IN THE MIDDLE. I WANTED TO KEEP THE TIRES AND BRING THEM BACK TO PASCAGOULA WITH ME BUT I COULD NOT KEEP THE TIRES BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ANY ROOM IN MY CAR. I HEARD ON THE NEWS A FEW DAYS AGO THAT THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH GENERAL TIRES. I FEEL I SHOULD LET SOMEONE KNOW ABOUT THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER TO TRY AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE TIRES BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION. MY CURRENT MILAGE IS 46,060 NOT WHAT I LISTED AT THE TOP PART OF YOUR FORM. SHOLUD YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU MAY PROVIDE IN THE RESEARCH OF THIS INCIDENT.