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Isuzu Ascender Tires Tread/belt Safety Report | July 29, 2007
Reported on July 29, 2007
| THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND I-10 IN THE RIGHT LANE, APPROX. 40 MILES WEST OF PHOENIX AZ. THE LOCAL TIME WAS APPROX. 3:30 PM. OUTSIDE TEMP. WAS 102 F ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE'S THERMOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS NORMALLY LOADED, & WAS INSPECTED PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE TRIP - INCLUDING TIRE PRESSURE & TREAD WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WE BOTH SENSED AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SENSATION WAS SIMILAR TO DRIVING OVER HEAVILY GROOVED CONCRETE. MY WIFE ASKED WHAT I THOUGHT OF IT, & I ASKED HER TO CHANGE THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO SEE IF THE SOUND CHANGED. SHE DECELERATED AROUND 5-10 MPH, THEN WAS ACCELERATING AGAIN WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE SUV WAS JOLTED AS IF WE HAD BEEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD FLAPPING/THUMPING SOUND. I FELT THE VEHICLE YAW TO THE LEFT, THEN FISHTAIL RIGHT - LEFT - AND RIGHT AGAIN. THIS YAW OSCILLATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A COUPLED ROLLING MOTION. MY WIFE DID NOT APPLY STEERING WHEEL OR BRAKE INPUTS, & REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE GAS. THE VEHICLE OSCILLATIONS DAMPED & THEN WE COASTED OFF ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE AFT LEFT TIRES TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY. THE SIDEWALL SPLIT IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. THE TIRE TREAD WAS BROKEN INTO TWO SECTIONS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AND WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE, BRAKE, & SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES. THIS REQUIRED SUBSTANTIAL FORCE TO UNWRAP & REMOVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOWER AFT PORTION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL WELL WAS BENT FORWARD TOWARD THE AXLE INTO THE SPACE NORMALLY OCCUPIED BY THE TIRE. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE'S REAR FENDER WAS CRACKED IN THE AREA BEHIND THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS REMOVED & THE WHEEL WELL METAL WAS BENT OUT OF THE WAY ON SITE SO THE SPARE COULD BE INSTALLED. THE APPRAISAL & REPAIR PROCESS IS ONGOING. THE TIRE WAS UNDER OEM WARRANTY, & THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED TO EXPECT A CLAIM. *TR | |
| Make: | Isuzu |
| Model: | Ascender |
| Manufactured by: | ISUZU MANUFACTURING SERVICES OF AMERICA |
| Year: | 2004 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | AVONDALE AZ |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 4NUES16P946 |
| Mileage: | 32000 miles. |
| Speed: | 70 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 8 |
| Vehicle type: | U |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | MOORE ISUZU PEORIA AZ 85382 |
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