NHTSA Complaint #876044 — 1996 DODGE PICKUP

CONSUMER HAS A 1996 DODGE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70MPH, AND REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE SEPARATED. TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMY BEFORE TIRE BLEWOUT. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER JUST PULLED OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16 AND ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 38,000 MILES. GOODYEAR CUSTOMER SERVICE REFERRED CONSUMER TO BELL TIRE WHICH DID NOT MAKE THE TIRE ANYMORE. SERVICE MEN OFFERED TO REPLACE GOODYEAR TIRES WITH WRANGLER /AT BLACKWALL WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT GOODYEAR WOULD PAY FOR THEM.THEN VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP CONSUMER WHO RECEIVED A BILL OF $320. CONSUMER HAD NO ARGUMENT BECAUSE OF A GOOD DEAL FOR THE SET. CONSUMERS ARE CONCERNED THAT TIRES HAD CAUSED 9-15 DEATHS BASED ON MEDIA INFORMATION. *AK THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW. THE PLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND STARTED BOUNCING SO THE CUSTOMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *YH