August 17, 2000
Dr. Susan Bailey, Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Dr. Bailey:
I am writing to request that your agency determine, in a timely and expeditious manner,
whether Firestone needs to broaden the scope of its recently announced recall to include
tires other than its 15-inch ATX and Wilderness AT tires and whether Firestone has
complied with requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act for reporting safety-related
defects.
According to recent reports, problems with the recalled Firestone tires started eight
years ago and may be largely related to one particular production facility. These reports
indicate that claims against Firestone’s 15-inch ATX tires rose steadily from 1992
through 1996 when these tires were replaced with Firestone’s 15-inch Wilderness AT
tires. Reports also allege that, from 1996 to 1999, the Wilderness AT tires produced at
the Firestone plant in Decatur, Illinois, failed at a more than 10 times greater rate than
the same tires made at all of Firestone’s other facilities combined.
It is my understanding that Firestone’s Decatur, Illinois, plant produced other
models of Firestone tires in addition to the 15-inch Wilderness AT tire, which was
recently recalled. For example, I have been informed that the 16-inch Wilderness AT, which
has not been recalled, was also made at the Decatur, Illinois, plant. Consumers deserve to
know quickly whether possible defects extend to any tire produced at the Decatur plant
that is not subject to the recall. Consumers also need to know whether any tire, that is
made at any other Firestone plant and that is not subject to the recall, may be defective
as well.
I, therefore, request that you provide me with written responses to the following
questions and requests for information by close of business, Tuesday, September 5, 2000:
1. Has the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined with
precision (a) the dates during which the defective tires were produced at which plants;
(b) the model and serial numbers of the defective tires; (c) whether production of the
defective tires has ceased; and (d) whether consumers have received full information on
the defective tires? If the answer is "no" to any of these questions, please
elaborate and explain steps NHTSA intend to take.
2. Has NHTSA received complete responses to information it has requested
from Firestone and others?
3. Has NHTSA requested claims and other data on the 16-inch Wilderness AT and
other models of Firestone tires that were not included in the recent recall?
4. Has NHTSA completed its analysis of the data and other information it has
requested from Firestone and others, and if not, when does NHTSA expect to complete this
analysis?
5. Has Firestone ceased all tire production at its Decatur, Illinois plant, and
if not, what model tires are being produced there?
6. As of the date of this letter, identify the production facilities where
Firestone is producing its 15-inch Wilderness AT tire, as well as its 16-inch Wilderness
AT tire.
7. Does NHTSA believe that the 16-inch Wilderness AT tires Firestone has been or
may still be producing at its Decatur, Illinois plant are free of defects and do not pose
safety threats to consumers?
8. Does NHTSA believe that the tires which Firestone is currently producing to
replace its recalled tires are free of defect and do not pose safety threats to consumers?
9. On the basis of information and data received, has NHTSA determined that
Firestone was correct in limiting its recall to the 15-inch ATX and Wilderness AT tires?
If not, when does NHTSA anticipate being able to make a determination regarding the
adequacy of Firestone’s recall?
10. At what point in time did Firestone have enough information (a) to decide in
good faith that a safety-related defect existed with the tires covered by the recall it
announced on August 9, 2000, or (b) to decide in good faith that the recalled tires may
not comply with applicable motor vehicle safety standards? When did Firestone give NHTSA
notice of the recall announcement it made on August 9, 2000? Has Firestone complied with
requirements that are contained in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act [49 USC 30118(c)] for
reporting safety-related defects to NHTSA?
If you have any questions about this matter, please have your staff contact Bruce Gwinn
of the Commerce Committee minority staff at (202) 226-3400. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Sincerely,
JOHN D. DINGELL
RANKING MEMBER
cc: Honorable Tom Bliley, Chairman
Committee on Commerce
Mr. Masatoshi Ono, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Bridgestone/Firestone Incorporated
