NHTSA Complaint #735093 — 1996 FORD WINDSTAR

ON AUGUST 16, 2000 I WAS THE VICTIM OF A MINOR AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN A NEW FR440 TUWSPS21570R15 TIRE, PURCHASED ON MAY 22, 2000 AND LOCATED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, EXPLICABLY BURST WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AROUND A CORNER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. MY MINIVAN SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE, DOING DAMAGE TO THE BODY AND THE FRAME. THE TIRE WAS SO SHREDDED AFTER SLIDING OFF THE ROAD IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT CAUSED IT TO BURST. HOWEVER, I HAD PURCHASED ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE ON THE TIRES (AFTER REPLACING TIRES I HAD JUST BOUGHT IN APRIL THAT WERE PUNCTURED BY A SHARP STONE). A FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER WOULD NOT FIX THE DAMAGE CAUSED IN THE ACCIDENT AND I WAS FORCED TO UTILIZE INSURANCE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES IN USAGE WHEN IT BURST.*AK (TIRESIZE: 21570R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )