NHTSA Complaint #760591 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

I EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, SIX MONTHS APART, ON MY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. BOTH INSTANCES I WAS TRAVELLING ON PAVED ROADS ABOUT SIXTY MPH. I HAD SOME CAMPING GEAR IN THE PICKUP BED, BUT BY NO MEANS AN EXCESSIVE LOAD. IN EACH INSTANCE I FELT A SLIGHT WOBBLE, THEN EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE. THE SIDEWALLS WERE COMPLETELY SHREDDED ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE I WENT TO A LES SCHWAB DEALER IN LAKEVIEW, OREGON (ONLY DEALER NEARBY). THEIR PERSON SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A TIRE FAILURE. I BROUGHT IT BACK WITH ME TO MY HOMETOWN OF KENNEWICK, WA, AND TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR OUTLET TO REQUEST AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FIRE. THEY TOLD ME IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD PROBLEM(I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING), AND SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I LEFT IT AT THAT, EXCEPT TO WRITE GOODYEAR AT AN ADDRESS IN MY OWNERS PAMPHLET OUTLINING MY WARRANTY. I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT, EXPRESSED BY DISAPPOINTMENT, BUT NEITHER ASKED FOR NOR RECEIVED A REPLY. THE SECOND FAILURE SIX MONTHS LATER ON ANOTHER OF THE SAME TIRES I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE MUCH, SO I PURCHASED A NEW SET OF TIRES. I DID NOT CONTACT GOODYEAR AGAIN AS I DID NOT EXPECT ANY RESPONSE BASED ON NOT RECEIVING ANY LAST TIME. LUCKILY, EVEN THOUGH BOTH TIRES FAILED COMPLETELY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE IN A CONTROLLED MANNER WITH NO INJURY OR DAMAGE. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO YOU IN CASE YOU RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF A NUMBER OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN LIKE GOODYEAR TIRES. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: M6HFEKWR20 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)