1998 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR PACEMARK (N/A) TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED EACH TIRE AND NOTICED THAT BLISTERS WERE PRESENT ON ALL OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE MAY BE DRIVING OVER TOO MANY BUMPS ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLISTERS WERE PRESENT ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALLS OF ALL TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 9,869. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRE EIGHT MONTHS LATER. UPDATED 06/11/12

WAS EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT. THEY SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THE VIBRATION WAS THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND AND THAT THE "LEFT OUTER WHEEL BUSHIN" THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RACK WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN. THEY ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD BE $1300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK SINCE TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL THE INDIVIDUAL BUSHING, NOR DOES IT HAVE A PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE BUSHING IF AN AFTER MARKET ONE IS AVAILABLE. THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME BUT TOYOTA QUALITY CARE DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THE BUSHING WEAR WAS DEEMED "NORAML WEAR AND TEAR". BECAUSE I WOULD AHVE TO PAY FOR THE COST THE DEALER SAID THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITH THE RACK THE WAY IT IS "FOR AWHILE??!"*AK

FIRST BLOWOUT, AUGUST 1998, TIRE BLEW OUT WHEN TRAVELING DOWN ROAD. TIRE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE AND RECEIVED NEW TIRE AT A COST OF $20. SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED ONJANUARY 27, 2002, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AS IF IT WERE A RECAPPED TIRE!! WILL KEEP TIRE. DO NOT WISH TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE. (DOT NUMBER: W2HHAWA157 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)

I BOUGHT A TACOMA PICK UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I RECENTLY FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS EXTREMELY DAMAGED DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS. I TOOK IT IN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAD A VERY LIGHT TRUCK AND BECAUSE I AM USUALLY THE ONLY PASSENGER THE TIRE WORN UNEVENLY. HAVING ONE PERSON ON ONE SIDE OF THE TRUCK ALL THE TIME DID THIS DAMAGE. I HAD TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT (ADJUSTED FOR ONE PASSENGER), AND A NEW TIRE. WHY WASN'T I TOLD OF THIS? WHY ISN'T THE TRUCK BUILT TO HANDLE THIS? I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON DRIVING BY MYSELF ALL THE TIME. IS THERE ANYWAY I CAN GET REIMBURSE FOR THIS. MY DEALER SAID I WASN'T COVERED FOR THIS. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A NATIONAL RECALL OR NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS? I COULD HAVE BLOWN A TIRE AND CRASHED. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS TO THIS.*AK