NHTSA Complaint #754978 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

TRAVELING WEST ON I-80, APPROX. 10 MILES FROM SHARON PA. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW UP AND SHREDDED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AIR PRESSURE LOSS (IE; PULLING) PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT AND UNWRAVELING OF THE TIRE. I HAD ALL I COULD DO TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND GET TO THE RIGHT SIDE BERM. THERE WERE FIVE OF US IN THE VEHICLE. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER, NOT CHRYSLER CORP. I WAS ADVISED BY THE DODGE DEALER I DID NOT PURCHASE THE EXTENDED TIRE WARRANTY. AS AN OWNER OF A LARGE INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE REPAIR AND COLLISION SHOP, WE EXAMINED THE TIRE CLOSELY. WE NOTED A AN OBJECT APRX. 1/4" DIAMETER TAPERING TO A RELATIVE POINT THAT PUNCTURED THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A DRIED SMALL ANIMAL BONE. A HUNTER/FRIEND ADVISED ME IT APPEARS TO BE A SMALL BONE FROM A BIRD. WE HAVE SEEN MANY PUNCTURES, BLOWOUTS AT CITY AND HI-WAY SPEEDS, BUT NEVER A TIRE "UNWRAVELED" LIKE THIS. IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE ALL THE PICTURES INVOLVING THE FIRESTONE/FORD FIASCO. I AM ONLY LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. I NOW HAVE RESERVATIONS IN GENERAL ABOUT THE TIRES. I WAS FORTUNATE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND AVOID SWAYING INTO A SEMI NEXT TO ME. ANY ADVIDE WILL BE APPRECIATED. OUR GY VENDOR HAS OFFERED TO GIVE IT TO GY FOR THEIR ANALYSIS. THANK YOU. RICHARD A. SACHA. *AK (TIRESIZE: 31X10.5 15)