Goodyear

Company History

Founded in 1898, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is the world’s third largest tire manufacturer behind Michelin (first) and Bridgestone (second). The company, which manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial vehicles, trucks, sport utility vehicles, airplanes and industrial machinery, was named for Charles Goodyear, who invented vulcanized rubber.

Goodyear has operating facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America, and Asia. The company has been accused in recent years of organizing “silent recalls” and not openly announcing that a specific tire is being recalled. Instead, Goodyear would allegedly allow customers to contact them about replacing faulty tires.

Class Action Lawsuits

• In December of 2000, a class action lawsuit was filed against Goodyear for its Load Range E light truck tires being defective and having been linked to more than 15 deaths and 120 injuries due to tread separation. Goodyear had received more than 3,000 complaints about the Load Range E tires between 1995 and 2000, and settled quietly with many of the customers by replacing the tires and covering any damage to their automobiles.

• In 2005, a class action lawsuit was filed against Toyota and Goodyear alleging that Toyota Sienna minivans were being outfitted with bad Dunlop run flat tires. Drivers claimed that the tires were lasting 10,000 miles or less.

Recalled Tires

• In 2001, Goodyear recalled 200,000 Load Range E tires, as well as Wrangler LT tires and various Kelly Springfield tires, because they were at risk for tread separation. The possibility of premature tread separation meant that drivers could potentially lose control of their automobiles. An investigation led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that these tires were possibly involved with as many as 86 accidents, including 18 fatalities, over a 14-month period.

• In 2008, Goodyear announced a recall of 5,300 Dunlop Sport 3D tires because they failed to meet the strength requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

• In early 2009, Goodyear recalled 18 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires because they were improperly labeled as per the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.