Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
TIRES
112/29/1996
 Tire exploded at 40 mph on a clear paved road. *la the consumer lost control of the vehicle for a brief moment when the tire failed. *scc *jb
08/02/20031
 While driving 65 mph front passenger side tire blew out. firestone, steeltex radial a/t tire. *ak
10/11/200210/01/2000
 Tread separated with no warning on highway. tire pressure at manufacturer's recommended 80 psi. dt
05/27/2001101/01/1999
 I purchased this suburban used from valencia nissan with 23,000 miles on it. they stated the tires were new at that time. on the indicated date, i was towing a travel trailer on the freeway at 60mph, the truck started to rattle then the left rear tire exploded. i safely stopped on the shoulder. i had my wife, 4yr old & 2yr old in the vehicle with me. after inspecting the tire, the tread completely separated from the tire in the same fashion that the recalled firestone tires did. i wanted to know if this set of tires was also under recall. i would like if you could call me regarding this matter. thank you.*ak (dot number: v611b1a tiresize: 245/75r16)
04/05/1999102/28/1998
 Tires(no make or size) are wearing and are causing vehicle to pull to the right, dealer rotated and aligned tires, front wheel cover was loose, dealer fastened the wheel well flap. *slc
09/26/2000103/01/1997
 Tire on hazardous materials response vehicle - u.s. government owned tag no. i258844; tire is in evidence locker; tread separated from tire at highway cruising speed of 65 mph - speed set by cruise control; tread wrapped around wheel axel, but did not go flat; left rear tire also replaced after inspection at tire shop; all tires had been regularly checked and were properly inflated. *ak (dot number: unknown tiresize: lt245/75r1)
08/18/2000206/01/1998
 While on vacation had two tires blow out on i75 just south of atlanta. had to purchase new tires from the firestone dealer on the south side of atlanta. they said this tire was not in the recall list but it came apart just like the others. it was a very, very scary experience the tires that blew out were purchased at the firestone dealer on us41 in fort myers, fl. which is my home.*ak (tiresize: 245/75r/16)( dot number: tire size: 245/75r/16 )
09/11/2000104/01/1997
 The tread seperated form the tire( dot number: tire size: lt26575r16 )
05/01/1997
 Steering wheel sometimes jerks out of my hands as if i've hit a patch of ice. also feel the truck bouncing while driving as if there is a bubble in the right front tire. took the truck to the dealer about 7 times with not resolution. had the truck checked at goodyear dealer 6 months after purchase. goodyear said the the tires were defective. said they were cupped or chopped. i paid $700 dollars to replace tires after dealer refused to do so, but still experience bouncing sensation at 60-70 mph. noticed both problems the day i bought the truck.*ak( dot number: tire size: 245/75r16 )
08/22/200005/01/2000
 Shaking, vibrations, at various speeds.( dot number: vn11bab tire size: lt24575r16 )
07/15/1997105/01/1997
 While traveling less than 5 mph in a rolling backup the right rear tire on our suburban literally exploded. i pulled off the side of the road immediately, and found a very large hole in the sidewall of the tire. there were no foreign objects in the road, and no indication of any kind of puncture to the tire. the sidewall of the tire blew outward, and left a hole approximately 4 wide by 7 inches long. the vehicle was less than two months old, and had approxmately 1200 miles on it. i had the vehicle in for its first oil change 3 days earlier, and among other things had the tire pressure checked. i contacted a local firestone dealer about replacing the tire, and was told that they could not replace the tire with an exact match, since that particular line of tires (steeltex at) was a tire made exclusively for gm trucks as original equipment. i contacted the gm dealer (gilchrist chevrolet in tacoma wa) and they replaced the tire at no charge. with the recent revelations about firestone tire defects, i am concerned about the firestone tires on my suburban. the steeltex at series has not been mentioned in any of the news reports, but i know of one other person who has had similar problems with the firestone steeltex tires on his gm truck.( dot number: tire size: p265r16 )
01/01/200003/01/1999
 I had the universal joints replaced, (dealer stated it was needed), and ever since, i have noise which seems to come from driveshaft. i had them ( dealer ) check, and they said that it was the tires, or perhaps a bearing. this noise was not present prior to getting u-joints, however i also had cupping on a right front tire, and they replaced a model, or something. i saw on the ntsa bulletin no. 9610 of jan 4, 2000 , that 1997 suburbans had a component problem. *ak
06/17/1997
 Michelin tires leak everytime the weather gets cold.
TIRES - SIDEWALL
10/15/20005
 Separation & cracking, even on sidewalls (tiresize: lt24575r16)( dot number: tire size: lt24575r16 )
TIRES - TREAD/BELT
07/15/2007132000108/01/1999
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet suburban. while driving 65 mph, the contact heard a loud noise and lost control of the vehicle. he crashed the vehicle into a wall. the driver side rear b.f. goodrich tire tread separated and caused the failure. the road conditions were dry. the front end of the vehicle was damaged. the vehicle was towed. the contact still has the tire and the tread. the dot number was unknown. the tire failure mileage was 45,000 and the vehicle current and failure mileages were 132,000.
04/24/2005111/01/1996
 Dt: the consumer stated the right rear tire came apart on the interstate. the consumer has written to bridgestone. they would need the tire to be sent to them to determine the cause of the tire separation. consumer refused to send the tire to the manufacturer. *ak there was damage to the vehicle. *jb
1
 At 40 mph vehicle started wobbling. consumer pulled vehicle over and noticed that rear tire separated. firestone, steel tex 245/1675r. *ak
08/05/20031
 Consumer states while driving at 67 mph and with no warning right front tire tread started to separate, causing tire to blow out. consumer had to pull over. firestone, size# lt 245/75r16, dot# unknown. dealer has been notified. *ak
09/22/2001101/01/1999
 Tread intact separated from side walls & wheel, tires inspected last month during a rotation and brake job. *ak (dot number: urbm053271 tiresize: lt24575r16) (dot number: urbm053271 tiresize: lt24575r16)
09/01/2000
 Tread on three of four tires is starting to seperate and tires are cupping. *ak (tiresize: lt24575r16)
04/04/19998
 Consumer has replaced 8 firestone steeltex tires lt24575r16 because of tread separation, bulges and belts coming through tire, one of the tires only give 5 miles before it popped, brake line leakage due to tread separation (4/00).
02/01/1999112/01/1998
 Both front tires had separated belts causing noise while driving (firestone steeltex radial at lt 245/75r16 m+s) tires. nlm
05/21/2000206/01/1997
 Left front tire belt separated at 65mph, vehicle stoped, tire replaced and upon examening remaining tires, right front tire showed signs of belt seperating. consulted firestone dealer in houma, and was told the seperation was caused by road hazards. replaced both front tires on 21/may/2000 with another brand. there are 2 remaining tires on vehicle which will be replaced this month.*ak (dot number: vn11b1a tiresize: lt24575r16)
09/26/2000212/01/1996
 While drving at highway speed felt vibration in steering wheel and stopped to determine what was wrong. discovered that a section of tread (4x4) had come off right front tire. replaced with spare, and continued to next town. was unable to purchase replacement, and continued trip without spare. on return trip on september 28, 2000 and pulling a trailer, right rear tire experienced a complete tread separation. because of no spare, had to have vehicle and trailer towed home. firestone, steeltex r42 on a 1997, cheverolet, suburban; original equipment, 245/75r16, dot# unavailable. tire has about 60% of tread left. has tires available for analysis and photos upon request.
06/30/2000101/01/1997
 Rear tire tread separated from tire belts causing entire tread to peel from casing resulting in serious roll over accident.( dot number: 0500 tire size: lt24575r16 )
08/20/1998
 Pe00020, steel tex at which were orginials on the 1997 chevrolet subarban, tire size lt24575r16, driver on aug 20, 1998 at 9,000 miles and passenger tire on jun, 1999 at 19,980 miles; there was a long crack down the middle of the tire which seemed that tire was separating. please provide further information.*ak firestone at 245/75/r16 *mw
08/04/20001
 Was driving 65mph and vehicle started vibrating. then heard a loud noise. pulled over & checked the tires. noticed left front tire had lost tread. exchange tire with spare tire. took tire to firestone & received a replacement. does not have the tire or dot number. 1997 chevrolet suburban. firestone size lt245/75r15 with 10,000 miles on it. *ak firestone 245/75/r16 *mw