Goodyear Calls Back Shoddy RV Tires

Now is a good time to check your tires.

Goodyear is recalling 170,000 tires blamed for causing vicious car accidents, according to regulators. The move follows a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe of the tires, which had been made for motorhomes and recreational vehicles and are no longer being produced.

The tires “experienced tread separations and other failures when exposed to conditions present in that market segment, including overloading and underinflation,” NHTSA said in a defect report. “Tread separations can lead to loss of vehicle control," resulting in an increased risk of a crash.

Goodyear stopped making the tires back in 2003, and NHTSA said it did not know how many of them were still in use. The agency urged “anyone who owns, rents, or uses an R.V. or truck with 22.5-inch rims to ensure these tires are not in use on their vehicle.” It also urged drivers with the faulty tires to get a free replacement, available through some Goodyear dealers.

NHTSA found that 95 people were killed or injured in accidents caused by the faulty tires between 1998 and 2015, according to claims the agency reviewed.

Goodyear, meanwhile, said it was voluntarily recalling the tires upon NHTSA’s request. The company claimed there is “no safety defect” in the tire.

Car Defects: Know Your Rights

Defective tires are not the only thing that vehicle owners need to worry about.

Major auto manufacturers recall millions of vehicles around the globe every year. They often cite serious problems that increase the risk of an accident or injury. The companies regularly do not acknowledge those problems until long after their cars are sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Fortunately, car owners and lessors in California have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the formal name for the lemon law, requires car manufacturers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. 

The lemon law also forces manufacturers to buy back cars that the companies are unable or simply refuse to fix. That includes covering the car’s purchase price and reimbursing the owner for financing costs, rental cars and other related expenses.

In some cases, a manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle. It is up to the owner, however, to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.

Anyone haggling with a car manufacturer over repairs should seek the advice of a seasoned California lemon law attorney, who can help you understand your rights and explore your options. The law requires the carmaker to pick up the tab for certain legal fees incurred by owners while enforcing their rights.

Speak with a San Diego Lemon Law Attorney

If you are stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the San Diego lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a San Diego lemon law attorney.