Two Petitions Filed Today With Federal Agency to Open Investigations and Force Recall of Firestone Steeltex Tires

WASHINGTON, D.C.--May 1, 20041, 2004--In a continuing effort to force a recall of allegedly defective Firestone Steeltex tires, the law firm handling a national class action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. today filed two petitions with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) requesting that it reopen its investigation of all Steeltex tires and another to initiate a new investigation of those which come equipped on ambulances.

In filing the petitions, Attorney Joseph L. Lisoni stressed that these investigations must begin immediately and urged that NHTSA mandate a recall of all Firestone Steeltex R4S, R4SII and A/T tires before the summer commences. He estimated that the summer heat combined with increased driving by vacationers could result in the allegedly defective tires contributing to 2,000 accidents that could cause 15 to 20 deaths and possibly 150 to 200 injuries.

Lisoni's Pasadena, CA-based law firm, Lisoni & Lisoni, filed a national class action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Bridgestone Corporation, Inc. of Japan on August 12, 2002 citing design defects in the Steeltex tires series which it alleged were leading to massive tread separations causing accidents, deaths and injuries.

On November 15, 2002, the law firm filed a petition with NHTSA requesting it reopen a two-year investigation the agency had made of the Steeltex tires which it closed on April 9, 2002. NHTSA subsequently denied the petition citing lack of sufficient evidence and indicating that the agency only had a record of 872 complaints from the public.

In the past 18 months since filing the initial petition, Lisoni reported that his firm has conducted an independent investigation of the Steeltex tires -- aided by a massive public awareness campaign and a website -- and has collected reports of hundreds of additional Steeltex tire failures and provided them to NHTSA. Now, he emphasized, there are sufficient reports of Steeltex failures on NHTSA's own website to justify a reopening of its investigation.

Noting that on February 26 of this year Bridgestone/Firestone announced the recall of 490,000 Steeltex tires, Lisoni remarked: "These tires are obviously flawed; the public knows it and now the manufacturer has had to reluctantly take even this minimal action because Steeltex tires were linked to accidents causing five deaths and 20 injuries in Canada. Its way past time NHTSA accepts its constitutional duty and `steps up to the plate' to protect the public."

In reference to the petition to NHTSA to open a new investigation of Steeltex tires which are standard equipment on ambulances nationwide that are of Ford frames, Lisoni said this came as the result of input received during the firm's ongoing investigation. Reports of Steeltex tire failures on ambulances began coming in from all areas of the country, he said, adding that the firm has documentation that ambulance companies in at least 36 states are voluntarily removing their Steeltex tires. "And we're talking about vehicles that are in the business of trying to save people's lives," he remarked.

Lisoni reported that his investigation has discovered that 80 percent of the defective tires reported on ambulances were manufactured in Bridgestone/Firestone's Decatur, IL plant which is now closed. At the very least, given the large numbers of failures traced to tires manufactured at that plant, all tires ever produced there should be recalled, he stressed. All tires that have Department of Transportation numbers starting with the letters "VD" were manufactured there, he pointed out.

"Steeltex tires are standard equipment on 71 model vehicles," Lisoni pointed out, adding: "They pose a life threatening danger to anyone who rides on them or to vehicles near them when they go out of control, roll over and strike other vehicles." Lisoni said a website has been set up not only to provide updated information on the lawsuit but to provide a means for the public to report Steeltex tire failures to NHTSA. The website address is www.firestonesteeltexclassaction.com.