2004 KOMFORT 28FS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KOMFORT 28 TRAVEL TRAILER RV. THE VEHICLE HAD MISSION LOAD MAX RADIAL ST225/75R15 LOAD RANGE D TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE FACILITY WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED WOULD NOT DISCLOSE THE NAME OF THE MANUFACTURER SO THAT THE CONTACT COULD REPORT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KOMFORT TRAILBLAZER (NA). THE VEHICLE HAS MISSION LOAD MAX RADIAL TIRES (NA). THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED A HOLE WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

WHILE TOWING A 2004 KOMFORT TRAILBLAZER T25S TRAVEL TRAILER, HAD TWO (2) NANKANG MISSION LOADMAX TIRES ST225/75/R15 (DOT WEHH 2733103 0705) FAIL WITHIN 150 +- MILES OF EACH OTHER ON JULY 7 & JULY 9, 2006. TRAILER HAD APPROXIMATELY 6000+- MILES, OPERATED AT 55 MPH AT TRAILER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED PRESSURES OF 50-PSI COLD. TIRES SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES: TIRE FAILURE #1 TREAD SEPARATED IN ONE PIECE FROM CASING / BEAD CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE AS IT WAS EJECTED. TIRE FAILURE #2 HAD PARTIAL SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM CASING / BEAD CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE TO TRAILER SIDING AND UNDERCARRIAGE FROM TREAD / STEEL BELTING. CONTACTED 800-227-8925 NUMBER ON TIRE CASING AND SPOKE WITH A TIRECO REPRESENTATIVE. TIRECO REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES WITH A MILESTAR BRANDED TIRES AND REQUESTED THE RETURN OF OLD TIRES (2 FAILED, 3 NON-FAILED) TIRES FOR THEIR INSPECTION. TIRECO STATED THEY WOULD REVIEW A TRAILER REPAIR REQUEST PROVIDED 3 WRITTEN ESTIMATES SUBMITTED, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR MOUNTING, BALANCING, CAR RENTAL, TOWING, STORAGE, LODGING, DOWNTIME OR LOST WAGES. UPON MY INSPECTION OF THE 3 NON-FAILED TIRES, I HAVE OBSERVED WHAT APPEARS TO BE STEEL WIRE STRANDS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE TREAD FACE OF 2 TIRES WELL ABOVE THE WEAR BARS, REMAINING TIRE WAS MOUNTED AS A SPARE AND HAS NO WEAR. I HAVE RESISTED RETURNING THE SET OF 5 TIRES TO TIRECO; RATHER I REQUEST NHTSA OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF MISSION LOADMAX TIRE FAILURES THROUGH RV WEBSITES ON THE INTERNET AND NOTED THAT TWO OTHERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA. I WILL RETAIN THE TIRES PENDING DIRECTION OF NHTSA SHOULD YOU (DOT) WISH TO EXAMINE. *JB