2010 Ford Focus Tires Problems

Three of your four new 215/45/R17 Douglas tires developed bubbles on the sidewalls within a week of purchase, and one blew out shortly after. When you tried to replace them under warranty, using a spare tire voided the coverage. A third tire later developed a bubble, and your fourth tire is slowly leaking. The tire retailer also had trouble locating your warranty registration. A repair would involve replacing the affected tires and investigating whether a vehicle alignment or suspension issue caused the premature failure.

A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE INNER SIDEWALLS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE SPLITTING (AS IF ALONG THE SEAMS) ON THE GOODYEAR WEATHERHANDLER 215/45R17. THE TIRES WERE FIXED BEFORE ANY BLOWOUT OCCURRED, BUT GOODYEAR REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THREE SEPARATE MECHANICS FROM DIFFERENT GARAGES HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, AND CONFIRMED THAT IT DID NOT OCCUR FROM DAILY WEAR AND TEAR.

I PURCHASED GOODYEAR ASSURANCE 215/45R17 TIRES 03/19/2013 DOT M763 JULR 3412 FOR MY 2010 FORD FOCUS VIN# [XXX] AT 32,436 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AT 69,914 MILES ON 9/29/15, THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. INSPECTION OF THE TIRE REVELED SIDE WALL SEPARATION FROM THE CARCASS WHICH APPEARS DUE TO DRY ROT. INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES ALSO HAD SIGNS DRY ROT. I HAVE RETAINED 2 OF THE 4 TIRES FOR ANALYSIS AND INSPECTION SHOULD YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WANT FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. I WILL KEEP THEM ON HAND FOR 2 MONTHS FROM DATE OF THIS LETTER. I FILED THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE TIRE. SIDE WALL SEPARATION SHOULD NOT OCCUR WITH 37,478 MILES OR WITHIN 36 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. I HAVE 2 OF THE 4 TIRES FOR ANALYSIS IF REQUIRED THAT I WILL KEEP ON HAND FOR ANALYSIS. I WILL DISPOSE OF THEM AFTER 60 DAYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I WAS A SLIGHT CURVE TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND THE CAR DRIFTS WHILE TURN. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS LOSING CONTROL. I KEEP REPLACING THE TIRES BUT EVERY FEW MONTHS I HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAVE HAD THREE SET OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE IN THREE YEARS. EACH SET OF TIRES HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT ON THE VEHICLE AND ALL WORE DOWN AROUND 33,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WORE DOWN FASTER THEN THE REAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT IT MUST BE THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH ALL THREE SETS OF TIRES WERE DIFFERENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO TIRES SIZE P215/45/R17, DOT (COWBYP5M). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS NOT CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A THREE INCH BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. UPDATED 03/11/13

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW WITH 182 MILES ON IT. I HAD ALL OF THE SERVICE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT (ALL-STAR FORD IN PALESTINE, TX), BEGINNING WITH THE OIL CHANGES. AT THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED. AFTER THAT, I HAD THEM ROTATED AT EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE (WITHOUT EXCEPTION) AND AT 18,940 MILES, I AM TOLD THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES ARE "CUPPED" ON THE INSIDE TREAD. ALL THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO DO IS SELL ME MORE TIRES AND SUGGEST THAT I HAVE THEM ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. FOR A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO PUT IT BACK INTO THE SHOWROOM! RIGHT THROUGH THE GLASS WINDOWS! BUT, I REFRAINED. NONETHELESS, THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FOCUS WITH KUMHO SOLUS TIRES, SIZE 205 50/16, DOT NUMBER: C0117. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED TWICE AND EACH TIME, THERE WAS ONLY 1,000 MILES ACCRUED ON THE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREMATURE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,400.