NHTSA Complaint #770638 — 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAME FLAT AT 75 MPH ON I-15 IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND EXAMINED THE TIRE, I FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE METAL RIM. THE ONLY TIRE RESIDUE WERE THE TIRE BEADS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL-WELL HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ALL THE MUD SHIELDS, INDICATIVE OF THE TIRE THREAD SEPERATING FROM THE TIRE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 81 DEGREES. DROVE 30 MILES INTO THE NEXT TOWN ON THE "DOUGHNUT" TIRE, AND FOUND A TIRE DEALER. BOUGHT 4 NEW NON-FIRESTONE TIRES. WHILE THE CAR WAS UP ON THE RACK, I EXAMINED THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THEY ALL SHOWED THE THREAD WEAR INDICATORS. MILEAGE ON THE TIRES AT THIS TIME WAS 14,750 MILES. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FIRESTONE SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMPENSE ME BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE. I TOLD THEM IT WAS IN THOUSANDS OF PIECES ON THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE ME SATISFACTION. NOR WOULD GENERAL MOTORS GIVE ME SATISFACTION FOR THE SAME REASON. DT