1998 Chevrolet Blazer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF, THE LUG NUT WAS MISSING, AND THE ROTOR WAS DESTROYED. THE QUARTER PANEL AND THE BUMPER WERE BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RE-ATTACH THE TIRE TO THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE STUDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ UPDATED 3/10/2015 *JS

1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES BLEW OUT AND WHEN HE WENT TO GET THEM REPLACED THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. HE SAID THE BRAKES ENGAGED ON HIS WAY HOME. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE TIRE REPLACEMENT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES BY ANOTHER DEALER. THE FIRST DEALER STATED EVERY THING CHECKED OUT AND THAT MAYBE THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER MAY HAVE PARTIALLY FAILED. THE REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER GLUED IT BACK TOGETHER.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A POPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I STOPPED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A WHELP IN THE TIRE, THE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE. AS I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLES I KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND NOT OVER TIME. I AM REPLACING THE TIRE BECAUSE I WILL NOT CHANCE AN ACCIDENT AND AM THANKFUL THAT IT DID NOT BLOW AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 8 MONTH OLD IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

THESE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES ON THEM. THE MINIMUM TREAD DEPTH IS APPROXIMATELY 4/32 OF AN INCH. ALL FOUR OF THESE TIRES HAVE A STARKLY VISABLE CRACK LINE JUST BELOW THE TREAD CASE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRES. IT IS AT THE DEPTH OF WHERE THE STEEL BELTING WOULD BE FOUND. I REMOVED THESE TIRES AND PURCHASED ANOTHER SET OF FIRESTONE AT TIRES WITH THE SAME DOT NUMBER AND SINCE HAVE FOUND CRACKING OCCURRING ON TWO OF THE FOUR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TREAD ON THESE TIRES IS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER. I HAVE SENT IN MY ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE, A PHOTO ATTACHMENT OF THE ORIGINIAL TIRES. FIRESTONE STORE REPS. ARE CONTENDING OZONE CRACKING WHICH IS PREPOSTEROUS. THIS SHOWS A SAFETY ISSUE ON 75% OF THE TIRES NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE DECATUR IL. PLANT. I EMPHASIZE THE CRACKING IS UNIFORM AND COMPLETELY SURROUNDING THE PERIMETER OF EACH TIRE. THIS SUGGESTS TO ME AS A RESEARCH ENGINEER, FAILURE WOULD BE HIGHLY LIKELY. (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/R7515)