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Another Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Recall
Jul 2, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Bridgestone/Firestone North America Tire has issued a recall of about 127,183 tread/belt tires, U.S. Recall News just announced. The tire brand name is Firestone, the tire line is the FR380, and the tire size is P235/75R15. The tires were produced from September 9, 2007 through July 2, 2008 and have been recalled because they were produced with insufficient tread base gauge.
Continued use of the recalled tires could lead to vibration and groove cracking, said U.S. Recall News, adding that extended use could lead to tread distortion or tread separation, and loss of vehicle control.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO) will notify owners and replace the affected tires free of charge and will also mount and balance the replacement tires, all at no charge or expense to the owner. BATO can be reached toll-free at 1-800-465-1904 or at the firm’s Web site at www.firestonetire.com. Tire owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle safety hotline, toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or its Web sit at http://www.safercar.gov, said U.S. Recall News.
Tire Review reported that the recalled tires were produced at the Bridgestone de Costa Rica South America plant in San Jose, Costa Rica and that BATO reportedly said it was possible a small number of tires from the additional production weeks may have been sold in the Canadian replacement market. The recalled tires carry Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers starting with WBHL 380 3607 through and including WBHL 380 3008, said Tire Review.
In 2000, there was another Firestone and Bridgestone tire recall that initially involved 6.5 million tires. In that recall, the largest and deadliest tire recall in U.S history—the defective Firestone/Bridgestone tires also had tread separation problems and were tied to hundreds of deaths and injuries. The recall was later expanded and involved replacement of 10-to13 million Firestone tires and ultimately led to the total recall of 17 million ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT tires. More than 200 people were reported killed and many hundreds more injured in rollover crashes after the tread on those tires separated.
In 2004, Bridgestone recalled 27,000 tires over concerns that a belt in the tires may detach, possibly causing loss of vehicle control, which could lead to wrecks. The problem was exacerbated if the tires were inflated above or below recommended pressures. About 15 injuries were substantiated that involved vehicles equipped with the tires, said the firm.
The 2004 voluntary replacement campaign came six months after Bridgestone/Firestone recalled about 490,000 Steeltex tires linked to sport-utility vehicle crashes that killed five people.
