NHTSA Complaint #766342 — 2001 FORD EXPEDITION

PRIOR TO LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR A TRIP TO NAPA VALLEY WITH MY FAMILY, I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURES ON ALL FOUR TIRES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. I HAVE 6 RELATIVELY SMALL-SIZED ADULT AND A CHILD AS PASSENGERS. 25 MILES INTO THE TRIP, TRAVELLING ON THE SLOW LANE OF INTERSTATE 880, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I CAN SEE SMOKE FROM BEHIND THROUGH MY SIDE MIRROR AND A SHUDDER. REALIZING I HAD A FLAT TIRE, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE OUTER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED ITSELF FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. AN OFFICER OF THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL BY THE NAME OF OFFICER ESPIRITU ASSISTED US IN GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED TIRE THEN BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERN BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF IT AS SOON AS I GOT HOME. THE AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVER/MECHANIC WHO HELPED US EVEN COMMENTED THAT THE TIRE IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. THE TIME AND DATE OF THE INCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 9:15 - 9:45 AM OF AUGUST 25.*AK