2002 Toyota 4runner Wheels Problems

WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE2 265/70R16; MANUFACTURED APRIL 2015; APPROX. 19,500 MILES ON THE TIRE) ABRUPTLY UNDERWENT COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. (SEE PHOTO). ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED PER TOYOTA'S SPECIFICATIONS. FORTUNATELY, THE STABILITY CONTROL KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING. EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, FIRESTONE DECLINED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANOTHER TIRE. I CERTAINLY WONDER ABOUT THE OTHER THREE TIRES AND WHETHER THEY'RE SIMILARLY DEFECTIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD FOLDED UNDER THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND GRAZE A LOW RETAINING WALL, DRAGGING THE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS GIVEN A HARD TIME BY DEALER/MANUFACTURER IN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. AN INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT A TOYOTA MANUFACTURING DEFECT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER EXPECTS TO BE PAID FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RETURN/REMOVAL AND RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES, THE COST OF RENTAL CAR, THE TOWING CHARGES, THE SON'S LOSS OF WORK AND HIS EXTREME DISTRESS OVER THE PROBLEM. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE, SMOOTH, DRY, SUNNY ROAD, FRONT WHEEL ASSEBLY FOLDED UNDER THE CAR , CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A RETAINING WALL, AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH SLID TO A STOP.*AK