Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
TIRES
06/10/200637000210/20/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle vibrated badly at any speed. the dealership aligned the front end, balanced the tires, and rotated the tires three times to correct the vibration, but the problem persisted. the dealership determined the left front tire's belt was broken and replaced the tire. on june 10, 2006, the tread on the left front tire detached and caused extensive damage to the vehicle.
06/18/200435000105/04/2004
 While driving at 70 mph consumer heard a rumbling noise. consumer then pulled over to inspect the noise and noticed that the front left tire tread separated, but the tire still held air. consumer took the tire to a retail store and got it replaced, but the cause of the tread separation was undetermined (continental ameri gs60). *ak the driver's side window was inoperative. the dealer replaced the regulator. *nm
05/24/200433000111/01/1999
 While driving 70 mph front driver side tire blew out. as result, the vehicle was damaged over $1000.00. *ak *la
06/09/2004742004
 Failures: replace faulty general tires. replace fuel pump 26000 miles. eplace intake mainifold, eplace coil and spark plug wires at 52000 miles. replace window regulators (4x's), replace transmission 63000 miles. *ak replace wheel bearing 74000 mi driven gently by a little school teacher - what a hunk of junk
11/03/2003250003
 Ltr from congressman john l. mica & constituent request concerning unsafe tires.*mr tires blew out on three occasions.*ts (consumer james greenwell, 163 f. park drive, palm coast florida, 32137) (386-447-3571) *jb
370001
 Two days after purchase of vehicle right rear tire exploded while driving at 65 mph. cause of the failure was undetermined. *ak
09/19/200341156302/01/2000
 The consumer stated the vehicle had problems with 3 of the 4 tires which range from a tire blow out to tread separation. *ak when the tire blew out the consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and had an accident with another vehicle. *jb
05/11/2001308/23/2000
 Tires,rotors, tie rods, power windows malfunctioned. *ak
08/10/200111/01/2000
 Tires made in 4 sections, have hard heavy spots, tires can not be balanced, causing bad viabrations at all speeds and grossly effect steering, to the loss of control of vehicle. *ak (dot number: none show tiresize: p215/70/15)
11/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak (tiresize: p215/70r15)
11/07/2000111/07/2000
 Tire size p21570r15. dot# not available has a bump on it. when going over 30 mph vehicle vibrates, and the faster vehicle goes the more it vibrates. consumer can't steer with both hands because fingers will get numb. tire has large impression where tread meets sidewall. contacted dealer. *ak dealer stated that tires were made in 4 sections, then vulconized together before tread is molded on causing large dimples where the sidewall meets the tread. *slc
02/07/20011
 Since ownership of vehicle consumer noticed that the front tires were not balanced, vehicle would vibrate at 60 mph, consumer was advised by dealership that they would not try to balance tires until the vehicle had at least 1000 miles on it, once vehicle obtained the miles consumer took vehicle back to dealership and was then advised that the two front tires could not be balanced because they were defective, the rear tires were balanced but would not be satisfactory to transfer to the front as they would probably shake, consumer has replaced all four (general tires) and is now requesting reimbursement. *jb
108/01/2000
 The general tires are faulty causing the vehicle to pull to the left while passing other vehicles, alignments and rotations have been performed but the problems still exist, the tires have 1800 miles on them. nlm
07/30/2000207/01/2000
 Two front tires out of round, causing vibration at highway speed, dealer would not replace with another brand, but offered to replace with more firestones (dot number: w2x0aac080 tiresize: p225/60r16)
103/23/2000
 Consumer noticed a bulge in tire (firestone). nlm
101/01/2000
 Tire thread was disbonding, dealer would not do anything had to find a firestone store had to find one in another town( dot number: tire size: p225/60r16 )
105/31/2000
 While driving around 55-60 mph consumer noticed vibration coming from front end of vehicle, vibration could be felt throughout vehicle. consumer has contacted dealer, dealer unable to determine cause. tires were replaced. however, problem still occurs. *ak
06/09/20000
 Driver's side tire was leaking air. consumer had it replaced. according to consumer, dealership wanted a sealant on the tire, and in consumer's home town with a temperature of 118 degrees, sealant would melt. owner had wheel replaced at own cost, because he believed it to be porous and leaking air. buick reimbursed owner for replacement cost. *ak *ml
01/10/2000312/01/1999
 Dealer worked on front end 3 times. general replaced tires. still have the problem. i drove a diferent car, same tires, same problem. drove a car with different size tires, wider and 16 corrected the problem.also same problem as odi id: 858266 horn problem dealer unable to fix!!. *ak problem may possibly be related to the suspension. *slc
TIRES - BEAD
11/11/1999411/01/1999
 Have had to have all four new tires replaced at various mileage due to separation of radial cords. am experiencing the same problem with the replacement tires which seem to perform well for approx. 500 to 1000 miles before radials start to separate again. would like to know if this problem with this tire is a common occurance and if the manufacturer will own up to the fact that it is not a good or safe product.*ak (tiresize: p215/70r15)
TIRES - SIDEWALL
05/26/20021
 Big o all season radial, p215/70r15, dot dbm3bjlr3401, replacement equipment with 1300 miles on a 2000, buick, lesabre. sidewall blowout at 70 mph, no injuries.*ak photos attached. *tt
TIRES - TREAD/BELT
05/11/200865062105/01/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 buick lesabre. the vehicle has bridgestone insignia sl, size p/205/75/r15 tires. while driving 65 mph, the contact heard a strange sound coming from the vehicle and the engine began to lose power. he pulled to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to a local auto shop. a professional technician noticed that the tread from the passenger side tire had completely separated from the tire. as a result, the tread from the tire became trapped underneath the vehicle, which damaged the engine and fuel pump system. the vehicle is currently being repaired at the cost of $1,900. the contact has pictures of the failed tire. the failure mileage was 28,000. updated 05/29/08. *lj
06/10/200637000110/01/2000
 2000 buick lesabre tire tread came off while driving down the highway causing damages to the vehicle. *kb the consumer stated he experienced a vibration while driving. when the tread came off the tire, it caused damage to the fender of the vehicle. the right front tie rod end was loose, which was replaced by the dealer. *jb
06/11/200618000202/23/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated that the tire tread separated from the tire on two occasions. the first incident was with the right rear tire, while traveling in clear dry weather, at 40 mph. the second incident was with the right front tire while traveling in dry clear weather, at 55 mph. the service dealer suggested that the cause of the tread separation may be due to dry rot from the vehicle sitting too long. the manufacturer was contacted, but has not responded. the tires were replaced at the owners expense. updated 8/16/20 - *nm
07/25/200527500110/19/1999
 Dt: when starting the vehicle the consumer noticed a light illuminated on the dash panel that read check tire pressure. the consumer drove to a gas station inspected the tires and discovered that the right front tire was low. the consumer added air to the tire but suspected there was a slow leak because the tire would not hold sufficient air pressure of 30/30 psi. the consumer drove to the dealership where the vehicle was purchased. these tires were the original tires that were purchased on the vehicle. the dealer noted that the steel was coming through the tread, but would not replace the tires. dealer suggested that the consumer go to a general tire dealer because the tires were manufactured by general. the consumer went to redwood general tire dealer and they agreed the tread was coming through on the right front tire and suggested a replacement. the tire was replaced at the consumer's expense. the tire service shop said they would send the tire to the manufacturer for investigation. the consumer became concerned because he never received any further information about the tire so she decided to call the manufacturer. the manufacturer claimed that they never received the tire and that they would contact the tire service dealer. some time later the consumer called general and they finally did agree to some reimbursement for the tire.*ak *mr the dealer informed the consumer the tread was separating. *jb
11/21/200337776112/06/2002
 While driving one the tire tread on the consumer's 2000 buick lasabre separated form the tire. *nm *sc *jb
04/13/200045145101/01/2000
 While driving 70 mph, the consumer felt a severe vibration on the drivers side of the vehicle. soon after there was a loud explosion on the same side. after pulling over to the shoulder, the consumer discovered that tread separated from the tire. the tread damaged the left front fender and the headlights. *ak the remaining three tires showed signs of tread separation. *sc *jb
09/17/200336700102/01/2003
 While traveling at highway speed (65 mph), tread separated from right front tire, causing extensive damage to quarter panel, headlight, undercarriage. *la
05/29/200332692211/13/1999
 Within one week, both the left-rear tire, then the left-front tire experienced tread separation. *tt
08/20/20022
 While driving two front general tires had tread separation. dot # unknown. both occurring on the same day. consumer requested an investigation. *tt
09/08/200220611903/31/2000
 While driving the vehicles tread separated from the right rear tire which caused the vehicle to veer into a guard rail. other problems are as followed: drivers side and rear windows are inoperative, cruise control switch is inoperative and after it rains there is a water puddle on the driver side floor. *scc *nlm
08/20/20022
 Consumer stated that the two tires on the same vehicle seperated at the same time. (general tires)*scc the check tire pressure sign came on and the vehicle began to shake at a speed of 20 mph due to tire separation. dot # a3m3 ab7 389 *yh
08/20/20021
 While driving on dirt road then entering onto black tar owner received a message on console to check tires. he checked tires, and they seemed to be okay. once driving again vehicle started vibrating. currently two front tires belts are separating inside the tires. *ak general tires dot# a3m3 ab7 389.*jb
12/01/2000203/01/2000
 Steel belt separation. *ak (tiresize: p215/70 1r)( dot number: tire size: p215/70 1r )
12/01/1999
 Following inability to balance right front tire thompsons sent me to linville bros. in sacramento where they determined that the right front tire was separating its tread. tire was replaced on warrenty by buick. are my other tires likely to fail?( dot number: tire size: p225/60 p )