Goodyear

"Safety agency begins probing Goodyear tires"

"Failures reported in light-truck type"

"WASHINGTON – A federal safety agency opened a preliminary investigation on Tuesday involving Goodyear light-truck tires that could experience 'sudden catastrophic' failure on the road.

The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involves about 27 million Load Range E tires manufactured from 1991 to 1999, about half of which are still on the road, according to Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The tires were sold under different brands and sizes for large sport-utility vehicles, vans, trailers and even some small buses.

Included in the data that Goodyear submitted to NHTSA are details on 30 crashes, 15 deaths and 125 injuries blamed on the tires. That far exceeds the seven complaints NHTSA has independently received from consumers, which include one crash and four injuries.

Rosemary Shahan, president of the Sacramento-based Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said she was encouraged by NHTSA's decision to begin an investigation. 'This is a good first step,' she said."

–Los Angeles Times, November 22, 2000

 

"Goodyear taking heat"

"Pressure mounts on tire maker to release documents related to accidents"

"The pressure is growing on Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. to turn over documents on tires linked to at least 30 accidents, resulting in 120 injuries and 15 deaths.

Four groups are asking a New Jersey judge to unseal court records connected to one of the accidents and to force the Akron company to turn over internal documents on whether the tires were defective.

In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Times, Daily Journal law newspaper, and plaintiffs in one of the cases have petitioned the court to make the records available.Trial Lawyers for Public Justice filed a motion on behalf of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, a national nonprofit auto safety organization."

– Akron Beacon Journal, November 7, 2000