NHTSA Complaint #736667 — 1997 DODGE RAM 1500

OUR FIRST BLOW OUT CAME ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF OUR NEW DODGE RAM VAN. AFTER RETURNING TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE ONE TIRE. SINCE THAT DATE UP UNTIL JULY 1999, I HAD 11 FAILED TIRES. EITHER BLOW OUTS OR FLATS. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER MARK THOMAS MOTORS, CHRYSLER, MARK III CONVERSION, GOODYEAR (THIS PROCESS TOOK ABOUT 4 MONTHS), THEY AGREED MAYBE MY TIRES HAD A PROBLEM. THEY AGREED TO PAY 200.00 TOWARDS A 500.00 BILL TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I HAD NO CHOICE SINCE I REALLY WANTED TO DRIVE MY NEW VAN. THEY SAID THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN TO LIGHT TO BE PUT ON THE HEAVY DUTY VAN. I HAVE SINCE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REPLACEMENTS, ALSO GOODYEAR WRANGLERS. THESE WERE TO BE FOR HEAVY DUTY WEAR. THEY ARE FAR FROM WEARING WELL. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NONE AS SERIOUS AS THE TIRE PROBLEM. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I WAS TOLD BY ALL AGENCIES THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THIS ORIGINAL TIRE PROBLEM. IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD ALONG WITH A FINAL THREAT TO CALL MY ATTORNEY BEFORE I GOT ANY ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRESTONE PROBLEM..I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM OUT TO THE PUBLIC..MY CHILDREN, THEIR FRIENDS, MY HUSBAND AND MY LIFE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. TO BAD GOODYEAR DOES NOT FEEL THE SAME. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY DEALER AGAIN AS OF TODAY 112100. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND OBVIOUS CONCERNS IN THIS MATTER. KAREN BACA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )