Recall - Firestone Firehawk GTA-02 Tires: Overview
Reference:NTB01-015
Date:
February 28, 2001
FIRESTONE VOLUNTARY TIRE RECALL CAMPAIGN
(FIREHAWK GTA-02 P205/55R16 89H)
This campaign is being conducted by Firestone. Please direct the customer to Firestone as they (Firestone) are in the best position to assist the customer. To ensure customer satisfaction, Nissan will be involved on a case-by-case basis if Firestone is unable to satisfy the customer's needs.
INTRODUCTION
On February 20, 2001, Firestone announced a voluntary safety recall campaign on their Firestone Firehawk GTA02 size P205/55R16 tires. This is the only tire model and size affected by this campaign. Some Nissan Altima SE model vehicles have these tires installed and therefore are included in the Firestone campaign. Firestone is notifying the owners of these vehicles and directing them to a local Firestone retail store to have their tires inspected, and if necessary, replaced at no cost to the customer.
Nissan supports Firestone's efforts to inspect, and if necessary, replace the affected tires on Nissan Altima SE model vehicles. Nissan encourages owners of vehicles affected by this campaign to follow the directions provided by Firestone and to contact a Firestone retail store to have their tires inspected, and if necessary, replaced at no cost to the customer.
To ensure customer satisfaction, Nissan is providing information related to the Firestone recall campaign to all Nissan dealers and encourages Nissan dealers to assist our customers throughout the campaign.
GENERAL INFORMATION
^ The vehicle affected by the Firestone campaign is the 2000-01 Nissan Altima (L30) - "SE" Models ONLY
^ The following VIN ranges may have vehicles affected by the Firestone campaign:
^ 2000 MY (L30): 1N4DL01**YC100002 - 249453
^ 2001 MY (L30): 1N4DL01**1C100001 - 168646
^ The number of vehicles potentially affected by the Firestone campaign is approximately 21,300.
^ Service Comm is being used to identify vehicles falling within the VIN ranges above that may be affected by the Firestone campaign. The DOT number on the tire is used to further identity if the tires are affected by the campaign.
^ Because Service Comm cannot be updated as vehicles are inspected and repaired by Firestone, all VINs will be deleted from Service Comm on or about May 1, 2001. Dealers will be advised of this action via Nissan-Net.
^ If a VIN does not appear in Service Comm, the vehicle is not affected by this campaign and no further action is required.
^ Because Nissan has no way of knowing which affected vehicles have been inspected and repaired by Firestone, those vehicles' VINs will not be removed from Service Comm.
DEALER RESPONSIBILITY
It is the dealer's responsibility to check Service Comm for each vehicle falling within the range of this Firestone voluntary safety recall campaign # B0097. This includes vehicles purchased from private parties or presented by transient (tourist) owners and vehicles in dealer inventory. Federal law requires that new vehicles in dealer inventory which are the subject of a safety recall must be corrected prior to sale. Any Nissan Altima "SE" model vehicle in dealer inventory, that is affected by this campaign, must be placed on sales hold until the tires are inspected, and if necessary, replaced. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While federal law applies only to new vehicles, Nissan strongly encourages dealers to have any used vehicles in their inventory corrected before they are retailed.
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
NOTE:
Service Comm must be used to confirm campaign eligibility. See Service Comm comments on.
For this campaign, the dealers can assist the customer by identifying the Firestone dealers located near their dealership. The location of Firestone dealers is available through the Firestone internet site www.firestone.com (once in the Firestone site, select: "Locations" and then "Car & Light Truck Tires"). Or you can call the Firestone Hotline at 1-800-465-1904.
The following are some scenarios you may encounter as you provide assistance to Nissan customers who may or may not be affected by the Firestone recall campaign:
^ If Service Comm indicates the vehicle is included in the campaign, inform the customer that Firestone is in the best position to inspect, and if necessary, replace their tires and to follow the instructions provided by Firestone.
^ If Service Comm indicates the vehicle is NOT included in the campaign, the tires are not affected by the Firestone campaign and no further action is required. Refer to the "Affected DOT Numbers" table to assure the customer that their tires are not affected by this campaign.
^ You can provide a copy of the "Customer Information Sheet" to the customer as required.
^ If any Nissan customer has further questions, refer the customer to Firestone Customer Service at 1-800-465-1904.
^ If a Nissan customer has been to a Firestone dealer and/or has contacted Firestone Customer Service at 1-800-465-1904, and still has concerns about the tires on their vehicle, refer the customer to Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-800-253-7253.
^ If a Nissan customer had their tires replaced and they are encountering a problem that did not exist prior to the tire replacement, direct the customer back to the facility that replaced the tires.
Identification of Affected Tires
The affected tires can be identified by looking at the "DOT" serial number on the inside sidewall of the tire (see Figure 1). The affected DOT numbers are listed in two groups. The first group has three numbers after "W2T2 VF3". The second group has four numbers after "W2T2 VF3". Refer to the "Affected DOT Numbers" table.
Affected DOT Numbers
FIRESTONE SERVICE PROCEDURE
Your local Firestone dealer is prepared to complete this campaign for all retailed and dealer stock units. The Firestone dealer will inspect, and when required, replace the affected tires.
The Firestone Firehawk tire is the primary replacement tire; however, Bridgestone Potenza or Turanza tires are acceptable substitutes, and may be installed. See the table.