2016 Toyota Highlander Tires & Wheels Problems

**Nature of Safety Defect Within 13,000 miles of normal mixed highway and light off-road use on a Toyota Highland, one tire developed a sidewall bubble and all four tires exhibited extreme and uneven tread wear—far below the advertised 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. The remaining tread depth on all four tires is already under 2/32" in multiple locations, with severe cupping and feathering that makes the vehicle vibrate violently above 50 mph and causes unpredictable handling, especially in wet & snowconditions. These conditions render the tires objectively dangerous and unfit for continued highway or street use. Manufacturer Response Pirelli warranty claim #2194927 was summarily denied as “impact damage” with no physical inspection. Pirelli has refused any prorated adjustment, replacement, or refund, and has kept possession of the failed tire. On November 17, 2025, Pirelli Consumer Affairs closed the case stating: “Pirelli considers this claim to be closed and will not take any further action regarding the claim or the subject tires.” Request to NHTSA I am asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open a formal defect investigation into the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus line for: Premature and excessive tread wear (tires effectively worn out in under 13,000 miles vs. 50,000-mile rating) Widespread reports of sidewall bubbles and sudden structural failures Potential violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards relating to tire strength, endurance, and treadwear labeling (49 CFR Part 571.139 and Part 575) These tires present a clear safety hazard—severe uneven wear and structural defects can lead to loss of vehicle control, hydroplaning, or catastrophic blowouts. Hundreds of owners have posted identical failures online in the past 18–24 months. Please investigate this tire model for possible safety recall or enforcement action. I am happy to provide the tires, in

P245/55R19 103T Nitto Crosstek2 BW. Vehicle pulls to different directions when the tires are cross swapped. I have taken the vehicle to 4 to 5 wheel alignments within 3 months and 3 different shops after the purchase of the tire. Recently I took the vehicle Big O Tires and they _verified the tires have "Radial Pull" / Tire Conicity due to Manufacturing Defect of the a belt separation within the tire's structure. _The shop also verified that the alignment is performed correctly. I believe those tire are unsafe and they could fail suddenly causing crash.

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Evolution H/T, Tire Size: 245/55/R19, DOT Number: UPPIILE. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55-65 MPH, the rear driver's side tire unexpectedly had a blowout. The contact's wife pulled over to the side of the road. The contact arrived on the scene and replaced the rear driver's side tire with the spare tire. The vehicle was taken to a tire retailer, where it was determined that the tire blowout was caused by a road hazard. The tire was not replaced. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire failure mileage was 30,000. The vehicle failure mileage was 61,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Cooper Adventurer P245/60R18 tires. Three of four tires had sidewall separation on both inner and outer sidewalls in same area. A separation could be seen in the outer casing about .25" above the rim line radiating and following the rim line. Tires were also exhibiting constant minor air leakage through the sidewalls. Testing indicated no punctures in the tread areas of the tires. Tires were inspected and found defective and replaced by tire dealer. Dealer took photos of the tires and one was retained for further inspection.

2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH OEM TOYO 245/55R19 OPEN COUNTRY M&S 103T TIRES AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON I95 SOUTH BOARD NEAR BRUNSWICK GA (EXIT 38?) , A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND THEN THE BUMPING MADE IT OBVIOUS A TIRE HAD FAILED SO THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WELL OF THE ROAD NEAR AN EXIT. THE LOCAL STATE HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE TRUCK (CHAMP) STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE TOYOTA RESPONSE SERVICE TRUCK SHOWED UP ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER - THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND WE PROCEEDED ON OUR WAY - MANY THANKS TO THE "ROAD RANGER" AND HIS TRUCK AND EXPERTISE! THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 28,500 MILES ON THEM - ESTIMATE ABOUT 55%OF ORIGINAL TREAD AND ARE MARKED: DOT 78HH CND 1016. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL THAT CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE.

LEFT REAR TIRE ON OUR 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGIN TO LOOSE AIR WHILE PASSING A SEMI TRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ALARM NOTIFIED THE DRIVER OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. UPON A COMPLETE STOP THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED ABOUT 85 % OR SO, (NOT FLAT BUT VERY NEAR SO AND COMPLETED THE AIR LOSS WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER STOPPING).. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND MY WIFE DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER AT THE TIME. TRAVEL SPEED WAS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH AT THE TIME. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL THAT CAME ON THE TOYOTA NEW AND HAD ABOUT 27000 MILES ON THEM. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IT LOOKS OBVIOUS THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF VISUAL CRUMBLED RUBBER ALL INSIDE THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS IN SIDE AND THE MASSIVE BLISTERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, WE HAD ALL THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE AS WE HAD NO TRUST IN THE REST OF THE TIRES AFTER THIS HAPPENED. NEITHER THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER REP., THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE, OR OFFERED ANY CONCESSIONS AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. PHOTOS OF THE TIRE AND OR THE TIRE ITSELF IS AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA IF THERE IS A REQUEST TO REVIEW. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE TOYO TIRE MANUFACTURER, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO US THAT THEY HAD NO CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME TOYO TIRES THAT TOYOTA CHOOSE TO PUT ON THE NEW VEHICLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TIRE BRAND IS TOYO, TIRE LINE IS OPEN COUNTRY, TIRE SIZE 245-55-19 DOT # 73HH (CND2216)

ON NOVEMBER 27 2017 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A MAJOR BLOWOUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE. AAA PLACED THE SPARE ON THE VEHICLE AND WE DROVE IT TO LAKELAND TOYOTA IN LAKELAND FLORIDA. THEY GAVE US A RENTAL VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO PORT CANAVERAL TO GO ON A CRUISE. ON FRIDAY WE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THE TIRE AND CHARGED US $327.09 FOR A NEW TIRE. I REQUESTED. THE OLD TIRE SO I COULD HAVE IT EXAMINED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TURNED IT OVER TO WASTE DISPOSAL. I ADVISED THEM THAT VIOLATED THE SPOILATION DOCTRINE IN THIS STATE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE HAD 6805 MILES. AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 4 ON THE WAY TO PORT CANAVERAL. I HAVE THE RECORDS OF LAKELAND TOYOTA FOR YOUR REVIEW...THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE DUELER HL 422 P245/55R19. I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT WAS WRONG FOR THEM TO NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRES..AND THEY SHOULD REPORT THE MATTER TO YOUR AGENCY

WE BOUGHT TIRES AND FOUND THEM TO DEFECTIVE WITHIN A FEW DAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET REFUNDED OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE FOR ANOTHER TIRES .WE DID UPGRADE TO MICHELIN TIRES BUT NOT GET THE FULL REUND FOM THE DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT GOODYEAR WANTED TO HAVE RETURNED AND INVESTIGATED ,BUT THE MANAGER HAD THEM DESTROYED TO COVER UP THE EVIDENCE AND WE LOST $321.00 AND NOW WE WILL HAVE SAMS ALSO INVESTIGATED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR SELLING DEFECTIVE TIRES FROM GOOD YEAR AND COVERING IT UP.WE DEFINETLY WILL NOT LET THIS ISSUE GO BECAUSE WE FEEL THESE TIRES WERE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SAMS AND GOOD YEAR SHOULD OF ACKNOLEGED