THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN…
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THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE AND BLOWOUT OF THE FIRESTONE P 215/70R15 TIRE, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ALL NEW TIRES (8-97), ONE WAS REPLACED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT DUE TO WIRE THREADS STICKING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE FAMILY OF THE DRIVER OF THE ASTRO VAN IS SEEKING AN INVESTIGATE REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE TIRE BEING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER, WHO IS NOW IN JAIL. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #556913
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Tires
RIGHT REAR TIRE, BEARING AND AXEL SHOW EXTREME WEAR OVER A SHORT PERIOD IF TIME. HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THE TIRE AND FOUR OTHER TIRE FAILURES IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE AXEL AND WHEEL BEARING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN PLACED IN TOO CLOSE PROXIMIT…
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RIGHT REAR TIRE, BEARING AND AXEL SHOW EXTREME WEAR OVER A SHORT PERIOD IF TIME. HAVE HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THE TIRE AND FOUR OTHER TIRE FAILURES IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. HAD TO REPLACE THE AXEL AND WHEEL BEARING DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE MUFFLER HAS BEEN PLACED IN TOO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RIGHT TIRE AND AXEL HOUSING. HEAT FROM THE MUFFLER CAUSE THE TIRE TO SMELL LIKE OVERHEATED RUBBER AFTER A HIGH SPEED RUN. ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT A DUAL REAR AXEL AND WHEN THE TIRE BLOWS LOSS OF CONTROL MAY WELL KILL PASSENGERS AND COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE CURED THIS PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE BY WRAPPING THE MUFFLER WITH HEADER TAPE AND ENCLOSING IT ALL IN STOVE PIPE HELD IN PLACE WITH LARGE HOSE CLAMPS. THIS WORKS QUITE WELL. THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND THE OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER.
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
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