NHTSA Complaint #756317 — 1991 FORD TAURUS

PURCHASED 4 NEW COOPER TRENDSETTERS SE ON MARCH 30, 2000 (MILEAGE AT 99,350). FIRST TIRE PROBLEM IN AUGUST 2001(MILEAGE AROUND 119,000) WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY CAR'S FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING. SLOWED DOWN AND PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER, WHILE DOING SO THE ENTIRE TREAD OF TIRE (FRONT DRIVER SIDE) FLEW OFF HITTING DRIVER'S DOOR LEAVING DENTS AND DENTING THE TIRE WELL. TIRE WAS NOT REQUESTED FOR REPLACEMENT AS THE CAR WAS NOT TAKEN TO A COOPER DEALER AND WAS NOT SAVED.(REPLACED WITH A GOODYEAR) SECOND TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO WEAR OFF ON NOVEMBER 20, 2001 ALSO ON FREEWAY. WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE TO GAS STATION. TREAD WAS ABOUT TO COME COMPLETELY OFF. MECHANIC CALLED COOPER FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD BEEN PLUGGED (NAIL HAD BEEN IN IT; PLUGGED BY A COOPER DEALER) THEY INSIST THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE MECHANIC DISAGREES AND SAYS THAT I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IN THAT CASE I GUESS I GOT LUCKY TWICE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: U9URC2H469 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)