NHTSA Complaint #733180 — 1999 FORD F-350

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AN APPROX. 3INCH SECTION OF THE SIDE WALL ON THE OUT SIDE OF THE TIRE, A SECTION STAYED ON THE RIM AND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS INTACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION ON THE TREAD. THE LOCA FIRESTONE DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRE AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME TYPE FOR A PRORATED PRICE OF $64.78. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY ME BEFORE I LEFT FOR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND INFLATION AND CONDITION APPEARED OK. THE FAILURE OCCURED APROX. 35 MILES INTO THE TRIP AT ABOUT 9:30 AM PDT AND THE TEMPERATURE WASAPPROX. 60 TO 70 DEGREES. THE FAILURE OCCURED ON BUSINESS IS80, WESTBOUND , INSIDE LANE. THE PICKUP WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WITH A GROSS COMBINED VEHICLE WEIGHT OG 18560LBS, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN RUSH TRAFFIC AND ON THE INSIDE LANE OF A SIX LANE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND MOVE SAFELY TO THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I AM RELUCTANT TO USE MY TRAILER WITH THESE TIRES AS I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE BECAUSE OF INACACTION BY FIRESTONE AND FORD TO REPLACE THESE ALLEDGED DEFECTIVE TIRES. I URGE YOUR AGENGY TO INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THESE TIRES IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, I WILL BE CONTACTING MY CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR ACTION ON THIS SERIOR PROBLEM. THANK YOU AND I ADDED TO THE FATALITY LIST. *AK (DOT NUMBER: DO 8062 TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)