Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
TIRES
03031000206/01/200410012160Use of correct installation procedure for loose hubcap assembly. this service bulletin replaces 030310002. *eh02/16/2005

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
TIRES
11/30/20081
 My son was driving on i-74 north of indianapolis at the posted highway speed of 70 mph when the right rear tire on our chevy tahoe deflated. the tire was a kelly safari - 265/75/16. there was no apparent reason why the tire suddenly went flat, such as a road hazard or a nail in the tire. goodyear customer service was unresponsive when i called them. my tire dealer, tire discounters, gave me $60 credit toward the purchase of four new tires since i was uncomfortable with the remaining three tires. the kelly sufari tire had approximately 30 thousand miles (over one half the original treadwear was remaining at the time of the deflation). the tire was a little over 3 years old and the other three were still in good condition. my son was able to control our tahoe and pull to the side of i-74 without losing control. i will never purchase another goodyear tire because of this problem and the lack of concern exhibited by goodyear's customer service department. i hope this deflation problem gets recorded and the nhtsa follows up with goodyear. i see i was not the first to have a blow-out deflation problem with a kelly safari tire. *tr
01/02/2005
 Tires routinely require air to be added. tires have been replaced and continue to require air be added every few weeks. have asked the dealer regarding this and was told they were not aware of any issues related to rim leaks or reasons for this. have noticed this issue on other tahoes. *nm
07/03/200368726111/11/2002
 I have a 2000 chevrolet tahoe with firestone le tires p26570r16. i experienced a blowout on july 3, 2003 on the left rear tire. i purchased this vehicle in november of 2002, these tires were brand new at the time. i would like to have these tires replaced under the recall.*ak
03/09/2002103/16/2000
 Right front tire had some tread separation while consumer was driving. there was no damage to the vehicle. original equipment, 24ooo miles, wilderness at p265/75r16, mounted on a chevrolet, tahoe, 2000.*ak the tread separation was discovered after the tires were rotated and balanced. the tires were rotated because of vehicle pulling to the right and the left. consumer states that the heater needed to be repaired. *jg
12/03/20011
 The tires were checked and inflated to 39 psi before leaving home for the 112 mile trip. on the return trip after approx. a one hour stop the right rear tire blew after about 50 miles. the tire has an l shaped split about 12 long 3/4 down from the edge of the tread then a 90 degree turn and an opening all the way to the bead. the sidewall of the tire below the 12 split has the cord boby of the tire atached to it. the cord has separated from the tread portion and is hanging down inside the tire. the tread to bead split is completely open both plies of cord split at the same place. i no longer believe that these tires are safe. my gm dealer had two reported failures of this type of tire on the same day the other person said his tire failed in the same manner at 18,000 miles. gm is willing to replace the tire with another firestone wilderness at, but i would like them to replace the tires with another brand.*ak (dot number: w273 tiresize: p265/75r16)
10/17/2001106/01/2000
 Travelling on interstate 29 in missouri at the posted speed limit of 70 mph, having driven for two hours in 65 degree weather, the right rear tire separated, and i was able to safely navigate the tahoe onto the shoulder of the freeway. the entire circumference of the tire separated from itself on the outer side. there is no sign of a blow-out; we have kept the tire and taken pictures to hopefully have the situation diagnosed. have never experienced a tire malfunction of this type in our lives. as i was driving on an uphill grade at the time of failure, presumably this made it easier to control the vehicle to a stop before i could have rolled down a slight embankment. please advise. . .this serious malfunction could easily cause severe injury or death! thank you. *ak (tiresize: p265/70r16)
09/07/2001103/01/2000
 This tire blew up while i was driving my 4 children on 87north. i was able to retain control of the car although i was petrified. the tow guy could not change the tire because the explosion ruined the hoist mechanism to access the spare tire. we were flatbedded to a reapir shop. we had to buy a temporary tire. the next day we replaced all four tires with michelin tires, never wanting to own firestone tires again. everyone who saw the tire said i was very lucky that the car didn't flip and that we did not incur serious injuries. i was very thankful that a potentially serious situation did not result in severe injuries. this tire was clearly defective. i want people to know this so they don't get hurt. i have requested that firestone reimburse us $666.83 for the expenses involved in this ordeal. sincerely, lisa quattrocchi. *ak (tiresize: p265/70r16)
09/01/20001
 Right front tire (no make or model provided) experienced a blowout, causing the vehicle to go off the road, come back onto the roadway, and crash into a cement wall, the consumer stated that he believed the back right tire experienced a blowout as well, during the crash the airbag experienced a no deployment, one person was injured due to the incident. (ohio traffic crash report) *slc
11/03/2000101/01/2000
 Driving on clear paved road 30 miles per hour right rear tire suddenly felt flat. we immediately pulled to side of road and found tire completely flat and ripped open at tread line about half of the full circle of the tire. we changed to spare and immediately drove to firestone retailer in scottsdale and showed him tire. he claimed we had run on it and caused tread seperation. we ran about thirty feet after feeling tire go flat.to pull off road and safely stop on side. i have been driving 50 years and experienced several flats under far worse conditions and never had a tread seperate from the sidewall like this.i would like to send you the tire so that you may see if this is faulty manufacture and if we can get rid of these tires and get some replacement cost. we dont feel safew driving on them. thank you allan and barbara stanley (dot number: 114s m+s tiresize: p265/75r16)
07/29/2000103/01/2000
 The tire was discovered defective when it was spin balanced after a tire rotation. originally it was on the rear, but when moved up front a vibration was noticed. it was checked and balanced, but could not be balanced. it appeared warped and wobbled while on the balancer. the tire was defective early on, but wasn't noticed until it was put up front. tried putting on over 4 oz. of weight on each side, but still wouldn't balance. this could possibly be initial signs of belt separation? (tiresize: 265/70r16)( dot number: tire size: 265/70r16 )
05/30/2000102/01/2000
 My wife and i had been to dallas texas visiting family, and we were just south of paris texas returning home when the tire failed. i had no warning, although i had noticed a handling problem which i had attributed to the road. the tire failed completely. although the tread was still in place, the entire outside side wall of the tire was gone. my wife took a picture of the vehicle while i was changing the tire, and the tire is very evident. i can supply the picture (negative), or email a .jpeg file if you wish to see what the tire looked like. i had stopped for gas approximately 30 minutes prior to the failure, and did not notice that the tire was low on air. the gas tank fill is right next to the tire, and i think i would have noticed if the tire was low. the tire store in paris texas where i bought a replacement tire (same make and size) did not notice any punctures or failure in the tread. the tire dealer was discount wheel & tire, 3215 n.e. loop 286, paris texas, 75460 (903)784-4799. if you desire any addtional information, please feel free to contact me. thank you. *ak( dot number: 027680 tire size: p265/70r16 )
2
 Consumers vehicle experienced 2 tire failures, first a flat then a blowout on the highway(firestone wilderness tire). nlm
05/27/2000105/20/2000
 Left tire comes completely off the rim
TIRES - SIDEWALL
10/12/20046000007/18/2002
 Firestone wilderness at tire failure p265/75r/16, coming off highway at approx. 55 mph slowing down to around 45mph when heard a sound like something was scrubbing. pulled over and noticed front left tire flat. has 4 inch long slit with a slight curve in it. stress cracks similar in curvature all around slit and tire.*ak
08/03/2001111/01/2000
 Heard a pop sound, vehicle tracked sideways, preceeded to shoulder through traffic, tire sidewall was shredded. *ak (dot number: w273 tiresize: 265/75 r16)
08/03/2001111/01/2000
 Heard a pop sound, vehicle tracked sideways, preceeded to shoulder through traffic, tire sidewall was shredded. *ak
10/22/2000110/01/2000
 This tire had a major blow out through the sidewall. side wall had a major split on the outside and the inside. nothing was hit. the vehicle crossed 3 lanes of traffic before control was established. the vehicle had just been picked up the 2 days before and the air pressure can not be verified. tires did not appear to be under inflated.*ak (dot number: pd70 tiresize: p245/75r16)
TIRES - TREAD/BELT
05/09/200454350101/04/2003
 Tire tread separated from rest of tire while driving on freeway. as tread separated from right front tire, it struck the tubular running board, breaking the right front plastic step off. it also struck the right-side mirror, breaking the plastic shell and motorized adjustment controls, and struck right rear fender flare, causing it to become loose. at this point, it is unknown if other damage was caused, as i have yet to take it to service shop for estimate. tire that separated was properly inflated prior to trip from yuma to phoenix. tire brand was firestone wilderness at, which was not lot # recalled in prior problems concerning ford explorers with firestone tires. vehicle was 2000 chevy tahoe 4-dr 4x4 z71.*ak
09/01/20010
 Pe00 020; consumer noticed that driverside tire tread separated from all sides. firestone, wilderness le, p265/70r16, dot 8x72wl2311011300 dealership was aware of problem.*ak
07/09/2001105/04/2000
 While traveling 50 mph on highway on dry road conditions right rear original equipment firestone, wilderness le tires with 33,000 miles, size unknown tread began to peel away from tire. dealer was contacted. *ak the consumer had another incident of tire peeling while traveling but the tire dealer pointed out it was due to road hazard.(tire size (265r16) *yh
09/02/2000
 Pe oo 020. consumer was traveling about 60mph on highway and felt a shaking noise. all four tires had uneven tread wear, and they were peeling. firestone, wilderness #at, p265/7516. she contacted firestone, and they told her that she has to wait until tires were recalled. *ak
08/01/2000110/01/1999
 We did not have accident, but with news about firestone wilderness tires we do no want to replace the bad tire with the same thing. we have ordered a different brand of new tires for the tahoe because we think they must be unsafe. is there any way that we can get an adjustment on the cost of the tires that we are removing? *ak( dot number: w273 wmb tire size: p265/75r16 )