1996 Toyota T100

I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES 08-02-05 FROM HOGAN AND SONS IN VIRGINIA, 9580 MAIN ST FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (703) 323-1044. PRODUCT GOODYEAR, TIRES DUNLOP, PRODUCT CODE 263-012-493-0. THE FIRST TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT WITH NO SIGNS OF CAUSE IN JAN 06, THE TIRE WAS REPLACED UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO THE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND ALSO HAD IT REPLACED THAT THE TIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. IN APRIL 06 ANOTHER OF THE DUNLOP TIRES FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. I RETURNED THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR AND AGAIN EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THE ORIGINAL SET OF TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT DEFECTIVE AND PAID FOR A NEW TIRE, OF THE SAME BRAND AND PRODUCT CODE DUNLOP. I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AT HOGAN AND SONS 4/21/06 TO REPLACE THE SPARE ALSO A DUNLOP WITH SAME PRODUCT CODE. ON 07-19-06 ANOTHER OF THE DUNLOP TIRES, THE NEWER REPLACED TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT WITH NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE FROM AN EXTERNAL CAUSE. I TELEPHONED HOGAN AND SONS WHO ALSO STATED THEY WERE AFFILIATED WITH GOODYEAR, THAT NOW A THIRD TIRE HAD GONE COMPLETELY FLAT AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS SOME DEFECT IN THESE TIRES. AT THIS TIME I AM FILING A COMPLAINT THAT THE ENTIRE SET OF TIRES BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND OF EQUAL PRICE TIRES. THE TIRES GOING SUDDENLY FLAT HAVE PLACED BOTH ME AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND ME IN DANGER ON THE ROAD. *NM

(1) WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A POP. I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WALKING BEHIND ME AND THUMPED MY TRUCK TO LET ME KNOW THEY WERE THERE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED UNUSUALLY FREELY, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS MOVING. I WAS MOVING ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE OF THE ROAD, AND HEADING FOR A HILL, SO I USED MY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE I GOT OUTSIDE AND WATCHED THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHILE I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE FREE OF ANY CONNECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL! (2) THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WAS A BROKEN STEERING RELAY ROD. IT BROKE AT A POINT CLOSE TO THE POWER STEERING BOX, IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OTHER STEERING RELAY RODS ON VEHICLES SIMILAR TO MINE HAVE BROKEN. THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE PART, AS PROVEN BY THE DIFFERENCE IN ROCKWELL HARNESS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROD TO THE OTHER,(ROCKWELL HARDNESS OF 31 ON ONE SIDE, AND 13 ON THE OTHER SIDE), AT THE BREAK. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE; A. THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE STEERED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. B. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED WHEN I FOUND I COULDN'T STEER MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS HEADED FOR A HILL. C. I AM WORRIED THAT OTHER DRIVERS OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS PART MAY UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE, CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH. E. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE WITH TOYOTA, BECAUSE THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOOK MY REPORT SAID THAT THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART, YET THREE SIMILAR INSTANCES HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA. (3) THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE (PN 45451-34010). THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PART, AS WELL. THIS WAS ON A1996 TOYOTA T100.*AK

SUDDEN BREAK IN CLUTCH SUPPORT BRACKET. CAUSED VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY MOVE WITHOUT ABILITY TO CONTROL. THE BREAKAGE OF THIS BRACKET WAS CAUSED BY A DESIGN DEFECT, AND NOT BY USE OR LACK OF MAINTAINANCE. DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THIS BRACKET NEVER SHOULD HAVE BROKEN. HAVE DETAILED PHOTOS AND THE ORIGINAL BROKEN PART. THE NEW PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, BUT DEALER SAYS MANUFACTURER HAS TOLD THEM NOTHING ABOUT ANY ONGOING PROBLEMS. *AK