THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS BLIZZAK WS-50 WINTER TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE AND PURCHASED NEW FROM "THE TIRE RACK" THESE TIRES HAVE NOT EXHIBITED A "FAILURE" IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT DEFALTED, BLOWN OUT, SHREDDED ETC.THE CONCERN WITH THESE TIRES IS THEIR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THEY EXHIBIT EXTREME TREAD SQUIRM…
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THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS BLIZZAK WS-50 WINTER TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE AND PURCHASED NEW FROM "THE TIRE RACK" THESE TIRES HAVE NOT EXHIBITED A "FAILURE" IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT DEFALTED, BLOWN OUT, SHREDDED ETC.THE CONCERN WITH THESE TIRES IS THEIR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THEY EXHIBIT EXTREME TREAD SQUIRM AND SIDEWALL FLEX. DURING CORNERING OR LANE CHANGES, THEY GIVE THE SENSATION THAT THEY WILL "TUCK UNDER" THE WHEEL RIM, LEADING TO A TIP OVER.THEY ARE AN EXTREMELY "SOFT" TIRE, WITH NO REASSURING FEELING OF SUPPORT IN THE SIDEWALL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED FOR SAKE OF COMPARISON THAT THE TWO PRIOR SETS OF WINTER TIRES ON THIS SAME VEHICLE WERE BRIDGESTONE WS-15 WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS. I HAVE CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE BOTH BY PHONE AND CERTIFIED LETTER TO EFFECT A REPLACEMENT OF THESE TIRES, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION BOTH MY COPY OF THIS LETTER AND MY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION LOG IN THIS MATTER. THE VENDOR OFTHESE TIRES WAS "THE TIRE RACK". THIS ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A WEB SITE BULLETIN BOARD FOR ITS CUSTOMERS TO POST COMMENTS REGARDING VARIOUS TIRES. I HAVE DOWNLOADED, PRINTED AND RETAINED SEVERAL CUSTOMER COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEGATIVE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE TIRES ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WILL ALSO MAKE MY VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR TEST DRIVE BY THE LOCAL NHSTA OFFICE IF NECESSARY.PLEASE ADVISE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 19565QR15)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE AIR BAG INFLATABLE RESTRAINT ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AND CAUSE CORROSION ON PORTIONS OF THE ECM PRINTER CIRCUIT BOARDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CORROSION CAN POSSIBLY CREATE OPEN CONNECTIONS IN CIRCUITS WHICH CONTROL THE RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT, POSSIBLY CAUSING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE EXTERIOR OF THE ECM. IF THERE IS NO INDICATION OF MOISTURE, A COVER WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE ECM. IF THERE IS INDICATION OF MOISTURE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ECM AND INSTALL A COVER OVER THE NEW ECM.
MOISTURE CAN FOLLOW THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND ENTER THE PRESSURE SWITCH CONNECTOR CAUSING CORROSION AND MALFUNCTION OF THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CORROSION CAUSES A DETERIORATION OF THE ELECTRICALSWITCH CONNECTION AND CAN RESULT IN FALSE ILLUMINATION OF ABS AND/OR THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR THE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF NO HYDRAULIC PUMPOPERATION. LOSS OF POWER ASSIST INCREASES THE DRIVER'S BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT REQUIRED FOR STOPPING WHICH CAN RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE ABS PRESSURE SWITCH TERMINALS FOR CORROSION AND INSTALL A SHRINK HOSE TO THE WIRING HARNESS TO AVOID MOISTURE ENTERING THE CONNECTION. PRESSURE SWITCHES WITH CORRODED CONNECTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
DURING LOW ENERGY FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISIONS, THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CAN CONTACT THE METAL TUBING PORTION OF THE COOLER HOSE ASSEMBLY; AND/OR THE HOSE ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK AND LEAK OIL ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR THE TURBOCHARGER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OIL LEAKING ON THESE HOT ENGINE SURFACES CAN IGNITE AND CAUSE A VEHICULAR FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER WHICH WILL PROTECT THE COOLER AND HOSES FROM OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS IN LOW ENERGY FRONT IMPACTS.
THE FUEL FILLER AND TANK VENTILATION HOSES MAY DEVELOP CRACKS UNDER THE SECURING HOSE CLAMPS, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE IF AN IGNITION SOURCEIS PRESENT.
Remedy: THE FUEL FILLER AND FUEL VENTILATION HOSES WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW HOSES. THE FIVE SECURING HOSE CLAMPS WILL BE REPLACED BY A NEW TYPE WITH A SHIELD THAT PREVENTS DAMAGE TO THE HOSE WHEN TIGHTENED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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