Consumer complaints about Firestone Blowouts

Consumer Complaints & Reviews

John of Ember, UT on Oct. 12, 2011

Satisfaction Rating: 1/5

I purchased new Firehawk tires to receive Home Depot gift card at the Firestone in Morrison Rd, Gahanna OH. The tires produced super road noise from the start, which is totally annoying. After a year or so of withstanding this, I had them check it out and provide suggestions. I was told that these tires are not recommended for my vehicle type (Toyota Sienna Van). Well, why the ** did they suggest these originally?! I wound up getting a new, more "recommended" type for my van.

A year later, one of the tires had a blowout (sidewall split). Of course, it is not covered in warranty. I recently used a coupon for summer check and squeaky belt. I was told the belt needed adjustment, the battery had low charge and the brakes pads are at 20% useful life. They said they would tighten belt but since battery is only several months old and brakes were redone 2 years early (another car shop), I told them to not do anything. The brakes are not exhibiting any signs of wear. They called back and said they couldn't tighten the belt and would have to replace it. So I told them to go ahead with the belt. But the belt still squeaks sometimes when started. I also had the battery checked at AutoZone where I purchased it, and it was fully charged.

Ronald of Marysville, CA on July 26, 2005

I had a blowout on the freeway. I was traveling about 60 mph and the tread
on my Firestone tires separated. The damage to my truck is extensive. It
blew out the fender, wrapped around the bumper and actually bent it. The
truck bed was hit so hard it actually has a hump on the bottom.

This truck and original Firestone tires have only 30,000 miles on them!

Leslie of Fort Lauderdale, FL on Nov. 16, 2004

I drove from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Indianapolis, IN. Before I left, I had my car's fluids and tires checked. The tires were fine (or I would have purchased new ones before such a long trip) and the air in them was perfect. One of my tires was a Firestone tire (I had changed the others to Goodyear, since Firestone has such a bad reputation) but my Goodyear dealer said the tires were fine. In the middle of Intertate 65 in Tennessee, the Firestone tire shredded. Luckily, I was not injured nor did I hit another car. As the tire shredded, it took off much of the paint on the right rear side, as well as denting the inner fender.
I was towed to the Firestone dealer in Columbia, TN and the Manager concurred that the tire was defective. He described the damage on the invoice for the new tire and assured me Firestone would reimburse me for the tire, the body work, the additional towing charge, and the shipping of the tire back to Firestone. Today I received a letter from a paralegal in Firestone's legal department refusing such reimbursement. Her letter said the tire was "over deflected." The tire had the perfect air pressure when I left and I was not carrying any additional load.

I am owed $647.96 in expenses I incurred because of their defective tire. I am not trying to recover anything for the fear of being alone in the middle of nowhere, an attractive woman stranded because of their neglegence. I only want my legitimate expenses.