2000 Ford F-350 Tires

On [XXX], I rented a Class C motorhome from Cruise America at their Duluth, Georgia branch (Reservation #[XXX]). When I picked up the vehicle, the Cruise America employee pointed to a handwritten note taped over the tire pressure warning light on the dashboard that said: “ignore tire sensor.” The note was already in place before I arrived, suggesting that other renters may have used the vehicle in that same unsafe condition. Three days later, while traveling northbound on [XXX] near Memphis, Tennessee, the RV suffered a sudden tire blowout at highway speed. We narrowly avoided a collision while maneuvering to the shoulder. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident was extremely dangerous and could easily have resulted in fatalities. Cruise America knowingly rented out a vehicle with an active tire pressure warning covered and concealed, depriving the driver of critical safety information. The company did not repair or document the issue, instead instructing renters to “ignore” the tire warning. This conduct may violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138 (49 C.F.R. § 571.138) and 49 U.S.C. § 30122, which prohibit making safety equipment inoperative or misleading drivers about safety system status. While TPMS sensors can fail naturally, covering the warning light constitutes deliberate concealment and undermines the system’s purpose. I am concerned that Cruise America may be circulating other rental vehicles in similar unsafe condition. Please investigate whether Cruise America, Inc. is in compliance with federal vehicle-safety laws governing TPMS functionality and rental-vehicle maintenance standards. Specifically, whether any branch locations are renting vehicles with disabled, covered, or ignored tire-pressure monitoring systems or other concealed safety warnings. Reported to Cruise America Customer Relations (Case #[XXX]). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I had purchesed a set of Dick Cepek Extreme Country LT315/75/R16. The tires have 9/32nd left with approximately 15,000 miles. While driving on the highway the sidewall of the tire peeled off in one strip causing the tire to no longer hold its shape and blow out. Had it been a steer tire the incident could have been much worse. Twenty minutes prior to the failure all tires were inspected and confirmed to be inflated to the proper psi and without damage.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: TRANS FORCE AT, TIRE SIZE: LT 265/75R16, AND DOT NUMBER: 8XW8TR7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEENING SERVICE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE, (1439 S WASHINGTON ST, GRAND FORKS, ND 58201, (701) 203-558) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 271,374 AND TIRE WAS 42,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH SIX BF GOODRICH COMMERCIAL T/A ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE: LT235/85/R16 /LRE MPLUS (NA). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES OF USE, A BUBBLE WAS PRESENT ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE OUTER REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN T/A TIRES, SIZE: LT285/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND, UPON EXITING, NOTICED THE TIRE TREAD ON THE ROADWAY ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND RUNNING BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED, BUT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 123-53467. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,589 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

MESA A/P2 TIRES, CRACKING AROUND BEAD WITH ONLY 3889 MILES ON SUPPOSEDLY NOT BIG O BRAND MESA NOT FOUND IN MENU

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A SET OF YOKOHANA LT TIRES, SIZE: 265 75R 16 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND FENDER. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE IRE EXPLODED, ALSO CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TIRES. THE VEIHCLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AFTER COMPLAINING TO BF GOODRICH ABOUT (4) CRACKING SIDEWALLS AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE SURFACE CRACKS AND IF THE TIRES HELD AIR THEY WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE GOOD AT (1) YEAR OLD WITH 20,000 MI. (1 1/2) YEAR LATER THE SIDEWALL AND TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY. I HAVE NOW REPLACED ALL (4) TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE BRAND. *TT

2000 FORD F350, UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, STRUCK THE DITCH AND STRUCK A FENCE. BF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0415-89)*JB UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF

2000 FORD F-350 TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DAMAGES TO THE RIGHT FENDER AND MIRROR. *KB THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FENDER, RIGHT MIRROR, BOTTOM RIGHT DOOR, WHEEL AND RIGHT SIDE RUNNING BOARD WERE DAMAGED. *NM *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, A VIBRATION COULD BE FELT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE TREAD FALLING OFF THE TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS SEVERELY DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT PROVIDED REGULAR SERVICE TO THE TIRES AS WELL AS KEEPING UP WITH THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE OF 80 PSI. THE TIRE HAD NOT YET BEEN EXAMINED. THE TIRE WAS A COOPER DOMINATOR SPORT A/T. SIZE: LT265/7516. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

DT: WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 528 ON 7/1/04 AT AROUND 9 A.M AT 75 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LIFT UP ON ONE SIDE ABOUT TWO FEET. IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT DENTED THE SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS FENDER AND DAMAGED THE TRIM PANEL ON THE TRUCK. THE TIRE WAS STILL FULL OF AIR. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO LIMP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON FOR FREE. IT IS NOTED IN THE REPAIR INVOICE THE MILEAGE 57663 AND THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE. THE TIRES STILL HAVE GOOD TREAD AND SEEMED TO BE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. THE THING THAT SCARED THE CONSUMER THE MOST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HE TOOK THE TRUCK TO SEARS AND HAD A COMPLETE SET OF NEW TIRES COOPER BRAND INSTALLED. THE TIRES THAT WERE ON THE TRUCK A 2000, F-350 WERE STEELTEX A/T, LT265/75R16 123/1200 M/S LOAD RANGE E. THE CONSUMER HAS SOME OTHER #'S THAT COULD HELP IN SEEING IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, 28216 EX, BM14474-3, E4 00 8061. WHEN THE CONSUMER ASKED THE SERVICE TECH. AT GREENWAY FORD ABOUT THE PAYMENT ON THE DAMAGE, HE WAS TOLD TO TALK TO FIRESTONE. HE TALKED TO THE MANAGER AT THE FIRESTONE IN MERRITT ISLAND AND HE SAID THEY SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR 50,000 MILES ALTHOUGH THEY STILL HAD VERY GOOD TREAD ON THEM.*AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65 TO 70 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW UP. AS RESULT, DRIVER LOST THE CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FIRESTONE, STEELTEX RADIAL, SIZE 265/75R16 DOT VDW81XL2400. THE DRIVER AND WIFE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. *AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND CAME APART WHILE DRIVING ON I-17 40 MILES S OF FLAGSTAFF, AZ. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR 1/4 PANEL OF OUR F350 AND COMPLETELY REMOVED THE WHEEL WELL. THE TAIL PIPE WAS BENT AND THE BODY OF THE TRUCK WAS SCRATCHED AND BENT. THE TIRES ON THE TRUCK WERE FACTORY ISSUE, AND HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT. WE CHANGED THE TIRE, MOUNTED THE SPARE, BOUGHT A NEW TIRE IN FLAGSTAFF AND FILED A CLAIM W/ FIRESTONE. WE RECEIVED A 'LETTER' YESTERDAY DENYING OUR CLAIM BASED ON THEIR EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE WE SENT TO THEM. THEY ARE CLAIMING DAMAGE TO THE TIRE FROM A POT HOLE OR LIKE INCIDENT. WE ARE MAILING BACK TO THEM THE FORM TO RECLAIM OUR TIRE. WE ALSO MAILED MANY PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK WHICH WE HAVE FILES OF. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO OUR RIGHTS IN THIS MATTER. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *LA

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *NM

FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *BF THIS WAS A VIOLENT AND CATASTROPHIC EVENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRE SHREDDED SENDING DEBRIS HIGH INTO THE AIR AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

LTR IN REGARDS TO HER 1/25/04 INQUIRY RE MILTON MATTHEWS PROBLEM W/ HIS BRIDGESTONE TIRES, REQUEST VERIFICATION OF CONSTITUENT'S NAME AS MILTON MATTHEWS AND NOT DAVID MATTHEWS, REF ES04-001320 /S/ BREENER 3/3/04. *PH *MR

LTR FM DAVID MATTHEWS (NV) RE DEFECTIVE BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T TIRES REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO TREAD SEPARATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL, REPLY TO LAS VEGAS OFC. *PH WHILE DRIVING LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING OVER $1000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGES TO LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL.*MR *NM *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RADIAL TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATION CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. SIZE#P18565R,15 DOT#123/120QM/S. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

REPEATED TIRE BLOW OUTS, ONE IN JUNE 2003, ONE IN SEPTEMBER 2003, SAME TRUCK, SAME TIRE LOCATION, SAME BRAND TIRE. *AK

TIRE PRESSURE SET AT MFR SPEC. TIRE WAS NOT OVER LOADED. NO PUNCTURE. TIRE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. TREAD SEPARATION, DESTROYED TIRE AND DEFLATED. *JB *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUR-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770831

VEHICLE'S TIRE VALVE STARTED LEAKING AND WAS SPLIT AT THE BASE. PART WAS REPLACED , PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. *MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE CONSUMER FELT A HEAVY VIBRATION THAT INCREASED. THE CONSUMER TAPPED ON THE BRAKE AND IT SLOWED, THEN THE CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISES AND SAW RUBBER FLYING TO THE LEFT BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS FULLY INFLATED BUT WITH NO TREAD. *SCC *JB