Tires Problem on the 2003 FORD FOCUS
Car problem(s) with the 2003 FORD FOCUS.
This database includes information received by NHTSA from consumers either directly or as recorded by the Vehicle Safety Hotline. This information may be used by NHTSA during the investigation process.
You may file your own complaint by calling the NHTSA Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153. You can also file your complaint online.
Problem with Tires
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Sep 30, 2015 - Sugar Hill, GA - Sidewall
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE PRIMEWELL PZ900 TIRES, SIZE: P205/50Z/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A ROAR AND FELT A VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
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Nov 22, 2014 - Sandusky , OH - Tires
SIDEWALL OF TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRES ARE NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS OLD. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. DOUGLAS XTRA TRAC II 185/65/14.
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Jul 02, 2012 - Ann Arbor, MI - Tires
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. SUDDENLY I HEARD A CRASH SOUND IN THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I FELT THERE WAS A FORCE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE TIRE. THEN I NOTICED BLACK SMOKES BEHIND MY CAR AND THEN I STOPPED. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE ROADSIDE ASSISTANT. THE AAA GUY CAME AND CHECKED MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN AND THE BROKEN PART DAMAGED MY TIRE TOO. I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE COIL SPRING ON 2000-2003 FOCUS THEN I CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. HOWEVER, THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME MY FOCUS WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. CLEARLY THIS IS THE FAULT OF FORD. THE AAA GUY TOLD ME IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD PROBABLY BE KILLED. I URGED THE NHTSA TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE THIS ACTUALLY KILLED LOTS OF PEOPLE. I ALSO URGED FORD TO PLACE A RECALL TO CHECK ALL THE COIL SPRING ON ALL CARS THEY MAKE TO MAKE SURE THIS PART HAS NO PROBLEMS.
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Mar 03, 2011 - New Hartford, CT - Tires
DRIVING TO WORK, NO RAIN, NO ICE ON ROAD, NORMAL BUT COLD CONDITIONS (30F) AND COULDN'T STOP MY VEHICLE WITH LOW ROLL RESISTANCE TIRES. WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES MY CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A SLIDE/SKID AND I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. WAS GOING AROUND 35 MPH AND SHOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP.
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Jul 07, 2010 - Midland, 00 - Tires
JULY 2010 IGNITION IS LOCKED, KEY WILL NOT TURN IN IGNITION. IT WAS HAPPENING EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT TODAY, JULY 7, 2010, IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL EVEN WITH TAPPING LIGHTLY ON THE END OF THE KEY AND PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN WHILE TURNING THE KEY NOTHING HAS YET TO BE DONE AS I AM STILL WAITING FOR FORD TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO PICK IT UP! JUNE 2010 DRIVERSIDE SPRING COIL SNAPPED - NO LETTER TO THE OWNER OF THE FORD MODELS WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENDED BY FORD (BECAUSE THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM) JUNE 2009 - DRIVERSIDE FIREHAWK GTA FACTORY INSTALLED TIRE BLEW RIGHT OFF THE STEEL RIM, LEAVING THE STEEL FROM THE TIRE ON THE RIM ... THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THANK GOODNESS.
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May 09, 2009 - Naples, FL - Tires
VALVE STEM FAILURE ON FORD FOCUS.
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Dec 11, 2007 - Manteno, IL - Tread/Belt
TIRE FIRST WENT FLAT WHEN THE TIRE WAS REFILLED WITH AIR A BUBBLE BEGAN TO FORM AND AFTER THAT THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE.
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Apr 06, 2006 - Romeoville, IL - Tires
I HAVE PURCHASED 3- COOPER LIFE LINER TOURING SLE 205501687 H TIRES. 2 WERE ON THE REAR. 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. I REPLACED IT. 2 WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR WENT FLAT. I FILLED IT AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THE RIGHT REAR WENT FLAT. I PUT A SPARE ON AND TOOK THEM WHERE I BOUGHT THEM. THEY RAN TESTS AND FOUND NOTHING TO BE WRONG WITH THE TIRE AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY JUST WENT FLAT. I REPLACED THE 2 REAR TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND HAVE YET TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM.
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Feb 27, 2006 - Marlette, MI - Tires
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS PREMATURE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND NEED REPLACING A THIRD TIME. THE BRAND OF TIRE HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, BUT THE TIRES HAD NEVER BEEN ROTATED. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - THE FIRST SET OF TIRES WENT BALD AT 22568 MILES. THE SECOND SET WENT BALD AT 31500. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE REAR TO SPECS AND ALIGNED THE FRONT END AND STRAIGHTENED THE STEERING WHEEL.
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Jan 10, 2006 - Baldwin City, KS - Tires
MY BOYFRIEND AND SON TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT WASHED. WHEN THEY TURNED THE CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN. CAUSING THEM TO ALMOST CRASH. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER THINGS HAPPEN WITH THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MAY 2004 USED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BACK TIRES 4 TIMES IN A YEAR. THEY ALL HAVE CUPPED. EVERY TIRE PLACE WE HAVE WENT HAS SAID THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS A DEFECT IN IT. ALSO, MY SEAT BELTS USED BY MY CHILDREN DO NOT ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. LAST JAN, THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST. OTTAWA FORD DID FIX THIS ISSUE AS A SPEED CONTROL SENSOR WIRING PROBLEM. WITH THE STEERING ISSUE THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION OR MEANS OF INCOME TO FIX. I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS.
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Oct 25, 2005 - Hannibal, MO - Tread/Belt
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND AND HIT AN EXIT SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. BOTH INSURANCE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT WITH GOODYEAR. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
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Oct 11, 2005 - Three Rivers, MI - Tires
DT: THE CONTACT STATES SHE OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE REAR TIRES KEPT GOING BALD ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE ONLY. THE VEHICLE IS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK FRAME TWO KITS, ONE ON EACH SIDE DUE TO AN ENGINEERING NOTICE PUT OUT ON THE TIRES. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND SHOCKS REPLACED RECENTLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CAR BOUNCED, AND WHEN SHE HIT A BUMP THE CAR PICKED UP, AND THE REAR END MOVED TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT. SHE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REALIGNED AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. SOMETIMES THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK THE VERY NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT ALIGNED AGAIN, AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT CHARGE THEM FOR THE SERVICE.. THE FRONT BRAKE PAD AND THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES. SHE TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER ,AND THEY TOLD HER SHE WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SHELL OUT MONEY BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE TIRES, AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY DOID NOT COVER THE TIRES BECAUSE IT WAS BLAMED ON UNEVEN WEAR OR/AND THE ALIGNMENT.
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Mar 07, 2005 - Macungie, PA - Sidewall
FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A POTHOLE WAS STRUCK WITH THE RIGHT FRONT, CAUSING A BLISTER TO THE SIDEWALL AND A SLIGHT BEND TO THE RIM. UPON REVIEW OF THE SHALLOW DEPTH OF THE POTHOLE, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT CAUSED A PROBLEM. ONE WEEK LATER, THE REAR TIRE ON THE SAME SIDE SHOWED A BLISTER. THE RIM WAS FINE AND HAVE NO RECALLECTION OF HITTING ANYTHING. ANOTHER WEEK AND ANOTHER POTHOLE. THIS TIME A FLAT, ON THE SAME FRONT. NOW A SEVERELY BENT RIM; ON THE INSIDE. THE RIM WAS REPAIRED AND THE TIRE REINSTALLED. HOWEVER, NO NEW BLISTER OCCURRED ON THE INSIDE WALL. I HAVE MADE THIS SAME COMMUTE FOR 10 YEARS WITH OTHER VEHICLES SHOD WITH OFF-BRAND TIRES, AND NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT OF ANY KIND.
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Jan 21, 2005 - Whitehall, MT - Tires
BUY THE CAR IN LIVINGSTON MONTANA 09-28-2002 THE VIN [XXX] THE CAR HAD ONLY LIKE 20 MILES WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. WE WENT ON VACATION THAT SUMMER WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY IN LIVINGSTON ,MONTANA WE WERE IN ID SO THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANY THING FOR US. WE HAD TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT TOWN ABOUT 14 MILES BACK . WE GOT BACK WE TOOK IT TO FORD COMPANY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND SHAKING REALLY BAD AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT LOCK (IT WILL NOT LOCK IF WE PUSH THE BUTTON ) WE DO NOT USE THE TRUNK STILL ,THE CLUTCH POPS OUT THEM TOLD US TO DOUBLE CLUTCH AND IT ( STILL POPS OUT WENT YOU BACK UP SOMETIMES). WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THEY ,THEM ON 09-24-2003 THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS ALMOST I HAVE A LISTED OF THING WANT WAS WRONG AN STILL WRONG WITH THE CAR ,WE TOLD THEM WE WANT AN NEW CAR BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT GIVE US ONE OR WOULD NOT WORK WITH US , THEM SAID I'M SORRY BUT WE COULD NOT DO THAT. I KNOW YOU FOLKS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE CAR BUT I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. I WAS MAD AN STILL WE BOUGHT ABOUT FOUR SETS OF TIRES FOR THAT CAR . THE CAR WAS ONLY HAS 48003 MILES, WE HAD MANY OUTS ,WE HAD A BACK BLOW AGAIN IN NOV- 2004 . MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE SHE IS SCARED OF IT. IT PULLS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD IN THE BAD WEATHER WE LIVED IN WHITEHALL , MONTANA VERY SMALL TOWN IF WE WANT TO GO SHOPPING YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 20 MINS PLUS AWAY, SHE WAITS ON THE WEEKENDS TO TAKE MY CAR. SHE ONLY DRIVES THE CAR TO TAKE OUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHICH IS A MILE THERE AND BACK. PLEASE HELP US A GET DIFFERENT CAR. THAT MY WIFE WILL NOT BE SCARED OF. UPDATED 07/24/2012
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Dec 13, 2004 - Dickinson, ND - Tires
REAR TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY ON 2000, 2001 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS. ALL HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED BECAUSE OF REAR TIRE WEAR AND MISALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES BEGAN THUMPING AND THE TREAD WALL STARTED CUPPING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS HAD THREE VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE 2000 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS ONLY THE 2003.
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Apr 29, 2004 - Palm Coast , FL - Bead
. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. ON OCTOBER 31 OF 2003, I PURCHASED FORD FOCUS SE, BRAND NEW.. FOR FIVE MONTH I OWN THIS VEHICLE, I WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ALL KIND DIFFERENT PROBLEMS 9 TIMES. IT WAS: CONSTANT VERY STRONG VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CONSTANT GROUNDING NOISE COMES FROM ENGINE SITE AND TRANSFORMED TO AN ULTRASOUND NOISE AT HIRE SPEED, THE SQUEALING HAS INTENSIFIED AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, HAD TO USE TOW TRACK.( DEALER SAD THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ) ,BUT TRANSMISSION STILL LOCKS AND JERKING CONSTANTLY, SQUEAL NOISE FROM BREAKS, (DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND RESURFACE DRUM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR REAR BREAKS AND NOISE AND PULSATION IS STILL THERE., DEALER FOUND DEFECTIVE RIMS, DEFECTIVE TIRES, THROTTLE PROBLEMS, BRAKES PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR INTENSIFIED. I GOT MY CRUSE CONTROL ACCELERATED BY IT SELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP AND JERKING INTERMITTENTLY, BRAKES SQUEALING AND PULSATE THE FORD DEALER SALES AND SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT RETURN FOR SERVICE AND WAIST ANY BODYS TIME, HE SAID THAT WHAT I HEAR AND FILL IN MY FORD FOCUS IS NORMAL . FORD WARRANTY IS NOT WORTH A PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON. SO, FORD WONT FIX MY CAR AND I CANNOT DO IT OTHER WISE. AS A RESULT OF STRONG VIBRATION AND SQUEALING NOISE I AM LOOSING BALANCE, HAVE SEVERE HEADACHE, ALL BODY EKING, I HAVE PAIN IN BOOTH OF MY ARMS, AND I HAVE DIFFICULTY TO WALK AND MY RIGHT LEG BECOME NUM. I HAVE TO USE WALKING CANE AND KNEE AND ANKLE SUPPORT. I SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I AM PLEADING TO YOU, TO HELP .ME TO GET A FULL REFUND FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, PLUS A COMPENSATION FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ORDEAL.
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Apr 24, 2004 - White Lake, MI - Tread/Belt
CONTINUOUS FRONT END VIBRATION. 1 TIRE BLOWOUT AT 5,000 MILES, ANOTHER BLEW A BELT AT 14,000 MILES. FIRESTONE FIREHAWK 205, 50 R16.
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Apr 22, 2004 - Woodruff, WI - Tires
BOUGHT 2003 FORD FOCUS AUGUST 2003; MARCH-APRIL 2004 HEARD THUMPING NOISE OFF REAR TIRES. (PLEASE NOTE: I PUT ON 3,000 MILES MONTHLY AND CHANGE MY OIL MONTHLY AS WELL AS ROTATE MY TIRES EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE.) TREADS ARE WEARING IN COASTER SIZE SPOTS, BUT UNDER 25%. GOODYEAR IS REPLACING ONLY ONE TIRE UNDER THE "WARRANTY" "NUISANCE" CLAUSE. WILL MONITOR ALL TIRES. THE OLD TIRE IS WAVY, UNLIKE THE OTHERS, WHICH ARE FINE THUS FAR. GY SUGGESTED POSSIBLE SUSPENSION, BUT DOUBTED DUE TO THE YOUTH OF THE CAR AND TIRES AND ALSO SUGGESTED ALIGNMENT. HAD THE NEW TIRE PUT ON...FREE..AND HAD A "FREE" ALIGNMENT ANALYSIS PERFORMED.
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Apr 10, 2004 - Canton, OH - Sidewall
I HAVE HAD BULGES DEVELOP IN THE SIDEWALL OF TWO FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02 TIRES THAT CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2003 FOCUS ZX3 HATCHBACK. THE FIRST TIRE BULGED AT 3800 MILES AND THE DEALER RELUCTANTLY REPLACED THAT TIRE. NOW AT 11,500 MILES A SECOND TIRE HAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE FIRST BULGE I ATTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NOW THAT THE SECOND TIRE HAS BULGED, AND MANY OTHERS REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I THINK FIRESTONE HAS ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM DEVELOPING. FORD/FIRESTONE SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE TIRES AT NO COST.
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Feb 28, 2004 - Mooresville, NC - Sidewall
FRONT WHEEL ALOY RIM IS BENT DUE TO FAULTY FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 02 205/50R16 TIRES WITH WEAK SIDEWALLS. TIRE HAS BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL DEALER STATED FIRESTONE PROBLEM NOT FORD PROBLEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED THE TIRE AND RIM UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THE DENTED RIM CAME FROM THE VEHICLE HITTING A ROCK OR POTHOLE. THE BENT RIM CAUSED THE TIRE TO HAVE BUBBLE ON IT. THE DEALER ULTIMATELY REPLACED THE TIRE BUT NOT THE RIM. THE NEW TIRE WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT PUNCTURED AND DESTROYED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE FIREHAWK TIRES HAVE DESIGN FLAWS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
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Nov 12, 2003 - Nitro, WV - Sidewall
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON MY CAR SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR INTEGRITY SIZE P185/65/R-14. THE SUDDEN BLOWOUT CAUSED 900 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND THE DEALER AND TIRE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY.
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Aug 01, 2003 - San Jose, CA - Tread/Belt
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAS STRESS MARKS.
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