Word: 500s
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Firestone's director of development, in September 1973, one year after production started. Despite his memo, others like it and an epidemic of auto accidents apparently caused by the tire's failing, Firestone over the next five years went ahead to make and sell nearly 24 million 500s at about $50 each. All along, the company insisted that the tire had no safety defects...
...company will be obliged to recall as many as 7.5 million of the tires, primarily those produced between March 1975 and May 1976. In addition to the 500s, the recall includes similar tires sold as original equipment on General Motors cars and those marketed under other brand names, notably Montgomery Ward's Grappler 8000 and Super Shell Steel Radial. Firestone will have to replace them with its new and presumably improved 721 radials. It has also agreed to offer 50% discounts on the new tires to anybody who trades in a Firestone 500 model that was produced before March...
...agreement capped a classic corporate public relations fiasco for Firestone - and a number of personal tragedies for others. Complaints on the 500s started rolling in several years ago. In July the NHTSA recommended that Firestone recall all the 500s still on the road. The company, which had continued producing some of the tires until early this year, refused. Recent information released by NHTSA suggested that 41 deaths and 65 injuries were connected with 500-series tire failures. While the evidence seemed conclusive, Firestone argued all along that no specific defects in the tire had ever been proved...
...says that NHTSA will keep a close watch on the notification campaign: "We will not leave it up to Firestone to determine the amount or the content of the advertising." Amid all else, Firestone is worried about reports that some people have begun rummaging through dumps in search of 500s that could conceivably be turned in for new 721s. The company alerted dealers to start asking questions if someone wheels in with a whole truckload of 500s...
...case, Firestone started phasing out the 500s about 18 months ago in favor of the new and presumably improved 721 radials. Last April, the company sold off the last batch of its 500s at discount prices in several Southeastern markets, but millions are still on the road...