2006 Dodge Grand Caravan Tires & Wheels Problems

2006 DODGE CARAVANS HAVE A DUMMY SPARE TIRE LOCATED NEAR THE GAS TANK SUBJECT TO ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THEY BECOME DRY ROTTED AND CAN EXPLODE.THERE IS NO PROTECTION COVER THAT PREVIOUS DODGE CARS HAD. I HAD ONE BLOW AS I WAS ABOUT TO USE IT ON THE VAN. I SINCERELY NO ONE HAS ONE BLOW WHILE MOUNTED NEAR THE GAS TANK. *TR

1- PRIOR TO FAILURE WAS JUST DRIVING @ 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 89. CLEAR/CLEAN ROADS. CLEAR SUNNY DAY. THIS TIRE WAS FOUND TO HAVE LOST SOME AIR 2 WEEKS AFTER INSTALL BUT HAD MAINTAINED REGULAR PRESSURE SINCE THEN. PRIOR TO TRAVEL ON DATE OF FAILURE, ALL TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND PSI WAS CHECKED. 2- FAILURE WAS A REAR TIRE BLOW OUT. THIS TIRE WAS ONE OF A FULL SET RECENTLY INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AND 445 MILES EARLIER. BLOWOUT WAS NOT THE RESULT OF RUNNING OVER ANY ROAD HAZARD, BUMP OR OBJECT. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF TIRES THIS INCIDENT DISTURBS ME AND THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE IS SUSPECT. SINCE THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED, EVIDENCE OF SIDEWALL FAILURE WAS ABSENT, BUT THE TREADS WERE NOT PUNCTURED OR CUT AND WERE FREE OF ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS. THE BLOWOUT INFLICTED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL LINING BY CAUSING A CRACK AND A HOLE MEASURING APPROX 1' X 2". 3- THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE OF THE SAME MODEL. COOPER TIRES REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, POINTING OUT THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE DESTROYED THEREFORE SO WAS ANY EVIDENCE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT COOPER HAS HAD SOME HISTORY OF VERY SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE PAST AND THAT MAY EXPLAIN THE UNWILLINGNESS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS PREMATURE FAILURE OR TO OFFER ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENT OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. BESIDES THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TIRE AND THE LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE MANUFACTURER, I WORRY THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. I AM THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS NO INJURY IN THIS INCIDENT. I AM HOPING THAT THIS COMPLAINT AND MY ADDITIONAL EFFORTS WILL RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER AND PROMPT CONSUMERS TO CAREFULLY MONITOR ANY COOPER CS4 TIRES. I URGE ANY CONSUMER WHO MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNUSUAL OR PREMATURE FAILURE OF ANY COOPER CS4 TIRE TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO ASSIST IN DISCOVERING ANY TRENDS AND PERHAPS AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE TIRE INVOLVED IN THIS FAILURE WAS DISPOSED OF. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STUDS ON THE WHEELS WERE FRACTURING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STUDS WERE FRACTURED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO SOFT AND WEAKENED OVER TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STUDS AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TRAVELING ON A WELL-MAINTAINED INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN AT A SPEED BETWEEN 50-55 MY REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. DAMAGE IS LIMITED TO THE OUTER WALL OF THE TIRE. TIRE HAD ONLY 27,800 MILES ON IT AND WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR