Kathleen demeter, director office of defects investigations national highway traffic & safety administration 400 seventh street sw washington, dc 20590 dear kathleen I am writing on behalf of the second petition from lisoni & lisoni concerning the firestone steeltex class action suit. It is my desire that the federal safety agency allow that suit to proceed and stand on its own merit in the courts. I bought a new 1999 chevrolet suburban in nov of 1999 which came equipped with four lt245-75r-16 firestone steeltex tires on the ground and one spare. This vehicle was 100% dealer maintained and never ran off of paved roads. It primarily traveled from the la area or las vegas to lake tahoe. I have homes in all three areas and travel between them. During the course of these trips over the last several years, I have had three high speed blowouts and two tire tread separations. That is five for five of the tires firestone built and were delivered on my vehicle. I am in my mid 60s and have driven autos since I was 16 and have never had this type of substandard performance on any auto that I have ever owned. My major dissatisfaction and the reason for this letter is the total disregard firestone acknowledged in any of my several letters of loss claim with them. To this date, all I ever received from firestone was assurance their product was safe and that any problems that I was having was the fault of my misuse of their product. This total disregard for consumer safety and customer satisfaction needs correcting or this company should not be allowed to do business in our country. Please make firestone defend their customer commitment in court. Thank you jack t stone, jr. 319 makin ave. Palmdale, ca 93551. *jb
1999 Chevrolet Suburban tires complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 92, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving 70 MPH rear tire tread separated. As a result, vehicle almost rolled over, however, consumer maintained control. There was severe body damage to the rear wheel well.
While towing my 29' trailer through wyoming on interstate 80 at approximately 55 MPH my right rear tire blew. The tread separated and there was a large hole through the steal. The inside of my wheel was damaged and my quarter panel was covered with rubber where the tread separated and rubbed around the side of my suburban till I came to a stop on the side of the highway. I purchased a new tire. The tire that blew was 1 year old and had less then 10,000 miles on it, additionally the tire pressure was checked two days prior.
I purchased the used vehicle from glendale car connection at on 8/28/03. I noticed on the day of purchase it seemed hard to steer the vehicle so I mentioned it to the sales person as well as the office manager. It was scheduled to be repaired. I drove the vechicle home that night I begin to notice a hard turn made the vehicle make a noise I too the vehicle back to glendale car connection were the mechanic told me the power steering pump was going out and he change it I also asked about the brakes squealing and he said the vehicle needed brake fluid which he put in. I took the vehicle home and begin to drive it I noticed it was getting hard to turn and it would swerve while driving it, I contacted the dealer again. The office manager kathy baggett told me it was not covered under my warranty and the company would not fix it so I had to pay to get it fix, at this time the brakes still squeal and I have used tires on the vehicle that are different sizes. Katy stated at the time of purchase for $100 more she would supply the vehicle with new tires. I feel I was sold an unsafe vehicle and when I brought it to their attention the company did not care.
Tire tread separated on vehicle while driving at 55 MPH. *mr the first tire tread came off the right rear tire. When the new tire was placed on the vehicle, the tread came off that tire and damaged the vehicle. *scc
Structural failure of four of five original equipment firestone steeltex tires. We purchased a new 1999 chevrolet suburban 2500 (VIN [xxx]) in 1998 equipped with steeltex r4s lt245/75r16 tires. Four of five of these tires failed at a similar mileage, with about 50% of tread left. Three of the tires formed bulges under the tread and were exchanged at two different firestone dealers with credit for the tread remaining. Documents are available. The fourth failure occurred within only a few hundred additional tire miles later. The failure was a sudden blowout at highway speed with loss of virtually all tread and resulted in significant property damage to the vehicle. Fortunately I was able to bring the suburban, with travel trailer in tow, to the shoulder of the interstate and no injury was sustained to myself and four passengers. It is absolutely unreasonable to believe that four of fiver tires will suffer structural failure at about the same mileage and with about the same amount of tread remaining, unless the tires were improperly manufactured. To date we have received no consideration from either bridgestone firestone or chevrolet relative to the property damage we incurred due to the failure of the firestone tires.*ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Three of the original tires on the vehicle have had tread separation. The third tread separation caused significant damage to the left quarter panel. The tire was returned to firestone at their request. Shortly after the consumer received a letter from firestone denying any responsibility for the separation because of a prior puncture in the tire. *ak *ts
While driving at various speeds the left front tire blew and caused tread separation. The consumer managed to pull over. The vehicle was taken to dealership mechanic but the problem has not been resolved. Please provide the dot number ( size#lt245/75r16).
Tread completely separated at 65 MPH damaging rear quarter panel.
Tread separation.
Tread separation.
Tire failure - tread separation b f goodrich radial long trail t/a size p245/75r16 (dot ap70hk11109) while traveling @ 65 MPH on I-77 north in west virginia between mile markers 18 and 20. Estimated damage to vehilce $965.00.
Firestone steeltex r4sii tire tread seperation.
Front tires were wearing out.
Consumer stated that while driving and without warning the rear tires have tread seperation and it will be hard for the consumer to control vehicle.
Two tires failed two months apart. *ph *jb **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770850
Tread separation on lt245r b.f. Goodrich long trail ta resulting in damage to vehicle (1999 suburban)
Complete tire separation @ 65 MPH, $3200.00 body damage to suburban, other three tires were the same. Replaced all four tires, even though the other tires looked new. I have destroyed the tire and the other tree tires in my garage. My wife and two young children were very lucky. Anything that I can be of help please contact me...thank you john. *ph **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770810
No summary. Dt
Tire became separated and damaged vehicle. Mr
I was driving westbound on the western ky parkway on 10/13/2002 at about 2200. Roads conditions were dry and temperature approx 55f. I experienced a sudden vibration, followed by the sound of a flat tire. I was able to safely slow ease my vehicle over into the emergency lane (right shoulder). I definitely had a flat. Upon inspection I was horrified. The tire was smoking to the point I barely see it. I could smell burning tire. I did not see any flame and the smoke quit within about 20-30 seconds. The side wall of this tire was blown out, nearly separated and hanging by tire cord. It looks exactly like another I saw at the following link: http://www.firestone-tire-recall.com/pages/accident_reports/9-20_tire-blow.html. My tire failure is exactly the same cut out shape, the same cut out size and and same cut out location as the one pictured, except mine is hanging by tire cord. I'm amazed this happened. More amazed it's been happening. I have been driving 32 years, I never seen a tire failure like this. I feel blessed to have arrived home with 2 fifteen year old boys. Mr
This tire has separated tread yet remains fully aired. It damaged my truck as the tread separated from the tire. In my opinion it looks like a retread. They have offered to prorate the tire 55% but my wife and I both are now parinoid to drive the vehicle with these tires after seeing what firestones seperated tires can do.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vertical cracks running from tread down sidewall.
This tire was making a noise and pulling to the right while driving on july 20, 2002. I went to get a front end alignment due to the pulling, and was told my alignment was okay, but the problem was my right front tire, that the tread was separating inside. As a result I replaced all four firestone tires with goodyear tires. A friend had a slightly smaller firestone steeltex tire actually separate this summer while on a trip. I have kept the tire from my suburban and it is available for inspection.
The vehicle started to vibrate while the consumer was driving at 65 MPH due to right rear tire experiencing a blowout. Two more tires had tread separation and liner cracks. All tires were replaced. (tire size p245/75r16). *yh bf goodrich is not willing to help consumer due to not having the tire for their inspection, consumer states that pictures were taken by a bf goodrich dealer who destroyed the tire.
Passenger front tire experiencing tread separation resulting in a rought ride and steering wheel vibration, the tires were original equipment,also properly inflated and had good tread (firestone steeltex radial r4s n11 bic). Nlm
Mtx, lt265/75r16, dot upw 8 man 097, original equipment on a 1999, chevrolet, suburban with 22400 miles. All tires have cracks on sidewall, also cracks between tread.*ak
Vehicle rides rough and passenger's front tire tread is separating down the center. Tires seem out of balance, causing vehicle to run rough and steering wheel to vibrate. Tire size lt245/75r16, original equipment with 28,000 miles on a 1999, chevrolet, 2500, suburban. Firestone was not contacted. Consumer will have the other 3 tires checked out.*ak
We purchased the vechicle used from the dealer listed. Vehicle has been in for brake problems when wheels are wet they shutter and lock up. The battery cracked and leaked all over the battery tray and brake lines and other frame componets. The rear door dome light switch shorted out. The front end has been aligned several times for the wheels pulling to the left. The A/C air barly comes out of the front dash vents. The rear end is positive traction and when making a turn it makes a popiing noise.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1999 Chevrolet Suburban?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history