What 80 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Hyundai Accent

P185/75R14 defected

NHTSA ODI 11579051

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HYUNDAI ACCENT EQUIPPED WITH GT RADIAL TIRES, TIRE LINE CHAMPIRO UHP 1 (N/A), AND TIRE SIZE 195/50/R16 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SWERVED AS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BACK AND NECK PAIN AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE DID NOT HAVE WIRE AND WAS PURE RUBBER, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL AND SUFFER A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. NP

NHTSA ODI 11001469

MY DAUGHTER RECENTLY PURCHASED (JAN 29 2015) A 2014 HYUNDAI/ ACCENT/ GLS, VEHICLE # [XXX] FROM HADDAD OF THE BERKSHIRE HADDAD HYUNDAI, 689 EAST STREET IN PITTSFIELD , MA 01201 THIS VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH 4 KUHMO TIRES (LOW PROFILE # [XXX] . WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES THE DRIVER LEFT FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A GIANT BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL (THE TIRE AND RIM HAVE NO INDICATION OF SCRAP ON THE SIDE ), WE ALSO NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE IS DEVELOPING A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. I JUST HAD THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS TIRE REPLACED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALER HADDAD OF THE BERKSHIRE HADDAD HYUNDAI, 689 EAST STREET IN PITTSFIELD , MA 01201 . UPON REVIEW WITH SERVICE ASSOCIATE THEY DETERMINED THE TIRES ARE NOT FAULTY AND ARE NOT COVERED AS WARRANTY. I FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THREE PROBLEMS WITH TIRES ON A CAR LESS THAN OLD LEAVES ME WONDERING ABOUT THE KUMHO TIRES AND THE TIRES COMPATIBILITY AND ABILITY TO PERFORM ON THIS HYUNDAI ACCENT. DEALERS COMMENTS" I REVIEWED YOUR EMAIL WITH [XXX] , OUR SERVICE DIRECTOR AND WE ALSO SPOKE TO [XXX] AT HYUNDAI. THIS BULGING CONDITION ON THE TIRES IS CONSIDERED A ROAD HAZARD WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. IT IS CAUSED BY POT HOLES AND WHEN THEY ARE HIT, IT BREAKS THE SIDE WALL STEAL BELT. THIS CAUSES THE BULGE WHICH EVENTUALLY WILL POP. THE TIRES ARE ALSO A LOWER PROFILE TIRE. " IT APPEARS TO ME THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TWO TIRES THAT BULGED OUT, KEEP IN MIND THE RIMS AND TIRES IN QUESTION HAVE NO SCRAPS OR DENTS.. IN MY OPINION THE KUMHO TIRES / DESCRIPTION [XXX] LOW PROFILE POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO ANY VEHICLE THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THEM DUE TO THE ABILITY TO DAMAGE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. IF AN UNSUSPECTING OPERATOR HITS A CURB OR HOLE THESE TIRES CAN BLOWOUT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10717087