I GOT A FLAT TIRE AND PUT THE SPARE DONUT TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR. I KEPT GETTING PULLED TOWARD THE RIGHT, IT WAS ESPECIALLY WORSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I DID NOT DARE DRIVE MORE THAT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND WAS SURPRISED, HE HAD NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. AS A TEST HE PLACED THE TIRE ON THE BACK WHEEL AND IT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. HE PUT IN A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER ISSUES AND HEARD NOTHING BACK. I CALLED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO COMPLAIN. THE GENTLEMAN READ FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT SPARE TIRES WILL NOT PERFORM LIKE OTHER TIRES. THEY ORDERED ANOTHER DONUT, THINKING MINE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE, IT TOO PERFORMED BADLY. ANOTHER CAR THE SAME MODEL AS MINE WAS TESTED AND THE TIRE PERFORMED BADLY AS WELL. I EXPLAINED THE DANGER THESE TIRES POSE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH AN INFERIOR SPARE. AS COMPENSATION THEY GAVE ME A FULL SPARE MOUNTED ON A WHEEL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT DOES NOT FIT IN THE SPACE ALLOTTED FOR THE SPARE AND TAKES UP MOST OF MY CARGO SPACE. MY MAIN ISSUE IS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE THINKING THEY HAVE THE SECURITY OF A SPARE, EXCEPT THE ONE PROVIDED CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 10861802