1997 Dodge RAM 1500

INOPERABLE SAFETY LATCH WAS INOPERABLE, AND HAS BEEN. HOOD FLEW OPEN TO 90 DEGREES, AND CAUSED LOSS OF ROAD VISION. I HAD JUST CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND CLOSED HOOD AT HOME. I DROVE TO A LOCAL MARKET, AND WAS RETURNING ON A SURFACE STREET NEAR MY HOME, WHEN THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I PERFORM MY PERIODIC MAINTENANCE, AND I RELEASE THE HOOD, I CAN OPEN HOOD WITHOUT RELEASING THE SECONDARY LATCH. NOW I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS, BUT LUCKILY I WASN'T INJURED. BUT, MY INSURANCE COMPANY MUST PICK UP THE TAB AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL POLICY HOLDERS. *AK

OUR FIRST BLOW OUT CAME ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF OUR NEW DODGE RAM VAN. AFTER RETURNING TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE ONE TIRE. SINCE THAT DATE UP UNTIL JULY 1999, I HAD 11 FAILED TIRES. EITHER BLOW OUTS OR FLATS. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER MARK THOMAS MOTORS, CHRYSLER, MARK III CONVERSION, GOODYEAR (THIS PROCESS TOOK ABOUT 4 MONTHS), THEY AGREED MAYBE MY TIRES HAD A PROBLEM. THEY AGREED TO PAY 200.00 TOWARDS A 500.00 BILL TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I HAD NO CHOICE SINCE I REALLY WANTED TO DRIVE MY NEW VAN. THEY SAID THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN TO LIGHT TO BE PUT ON THE HEAVY DUTY VAN. I HAVE SINCE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REPLACEMENTS, ALSO GOODYEAR WRANGLERS. THESE WERE TO BE FOR HEAVY DUTY WEAR. THEY ARE FAR FROM WEARING WELL. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NONE AS SERIOUS AS THE TIRE PROBLEM. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS I WAS TOLD BY ALL AGENCIES THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THIS ORIGINAL TIRE PROBLEM. IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD ALONG WITH A FINAL THREAT TO CALL MY ATTORNEY BEFORE I GOT ANY ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE FIRESTONE PROBLEM..I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM OUT TO THE PUBLIC..MY CHILDREN, THEIR FRIENDS, MY HUSBAND AND MY LIFE ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. TO BAD GOODYEAR DOES NOT FEEL THE SAME. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY DEALER AGAIN AS OF TODAY 112100. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND OBVIOUS CONCERNS IN THIS MATTER. KAREN BACA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ON MAY22 A TIRE SEPARATED. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED, AN OTHER FAILED ON OCTOBER 3. TIRE WAS ADJUSTED AT GOODYEAR DEALER. OCTOBER 22, THE TIRE SEPARATED ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE TRED SEPARATED AND FLEW INTO THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN, A YOUNG MOTHER, AND 2 SENIOR CITIZENS, PLUS A VERY VALUABLE JUNIOR RODEO HORSE. A FRIEND CAME BY AND HELPED US GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2000 THAT THESE TIRES WERE MALFUNCTIONING, AND DID NOT DISCLOSE TO US THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THEY WERE TOLD THAT WE HAUL. HORSES AND CHILDREN, AND CHOSE TO KEEP IT A SECRET. THESE CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED A TERRIBLE TRAUMA BEING OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITH THIS TIRE FAILING AND CAUSING A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN IT HIT THE FENDER, CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT. THIS IS A VERY SCARY THING. GOODYEAR ADVERTISES THAT THEIR TIRES ARE SAFE FOR FAMILIES. NOT TRUE. (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16 )