Goodyear RV Tire Lawsuit

Lawsuits have been filed after at least 95 people were injured or killed by Goodyear G159 tire blowouts, which were commonly used on RVs and A-class motor homes from 1996 to 2003.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Goodyear RV tire blowout induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or died in an RV accident when a Goodyear G159 tire failed, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Federal Grand Jury Opens Criminal Investigation

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice and a federal grand jury in Los Angeles began gathering evidence in a criminal investigation of Goodyear’s recall for G159 RV tires. According to the NHTSA, Goodyear should have recalled the tires within 5 working days of learning of a defect (which it apparently knew about as early as 2002) but failed to recall the tires until 2022.

Goodyear Recalls 173,000 G159 RV Tires

In June 2022, after dozens of serious injuries and deaths, Goodyear finally agreed to recall about 173,000 G159 tires, more than 19 years after the last one was made.

95 Deaths & Serious Injuries Linked to Recalled Goodyear Tires

At least 95 people were injured or killed in RV accidents when the Goodyear G159 tires failed due to tread separation, often at highway speeds. The tire failure caused drivers to suddenly lose control of their RV and crash, according to the NHTSA

Jury Awards $5.6 Million in Goodyear RV Tire Lawsuit

In June 2010, a jury awarded $5.6 million to a family who was severely injured when a Goodyear G159 tire failed. The defective G159 tire was installed as original equipment on a 2000 American Tradition motor home. On August 11, 2004, the tire tread separated at highway speeds, causing the driver to hit a line of trees.

Lawsuits Call Goodyear G159 the “Tire From Hell”

Lawsuits Allege G159 Tires Are Prone to Blowouts At High Speeds

Lawsuits allege that the recalled Goodyear G159 tires were designed for delivery trucks — not for RVs or A-class motor homes, which are heavy vehicles that travel for long periods of time at highway speeds.

Goodyear’s own tests showed that the tires could get unusually hot at highway speeds (65 to 75 mph), which increases the risk of a blowout.

What Happens in a Tire Blowout?

In a tire blowout, or if the tire tread separates, the RV can suddenly swerve and cause the driver to lose control and crash, causing serious injuries or death to the RV’s passengers and innocent drivers.

There have been reports of drivers crashing their RVs, slamming into guardrails, veering into oncoming traffic, and hitting other vehicles when a G159 tire suddenly failed at highway speeds.

Goodyear Recalls G159 Tires

Goodyear recalled 22.5-inch G159 tires (size 275/70R22.5) that were manufactured from 1996 to 2003. They have DOT date codes 046 through 0403.

These recalled tires were commonly used on RVs, but sometimes other vehicles. Some RV owners may have these recalled tires on their vehicle, or set aside as a spare.

What Should I Do?

Safety officials urge anyone who owns, rents, or uses an RV or truck with 22.5-inch rims to ensure these tires are not on their vehicle. They were installed as original equipment on thousands of American Tradition and Fleetwood motor homes, and more.

Because the tires are so old, few are still on the road. Even so, Goodyear said it will replace these RV tires for free. Goodyear is also offering $500 in exchange for recalled tires that are not on an RV.

Goodyear Fights Recall for 20 Years

The U.S. National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Goodyear’s G159 tires in December 2017, in response to lawsuits involving people who were seriously injured or killed in RV accidents when the tire tread separated.

The investigation began after a judge ordered Goodyear to release crash data that was sealed under court orders and settlement agreements. Lawyers allege that Goodyear fought a recall and hid the problem by settling cases and getting judges to seal records.

$2.7 Million Goodyear RV Tire Verdict Reversed by U.S. Supreme Court

Goodyear was ordered to pay $2.7 million to a family who filed a G159 lawsuit after a crash in 2003 (Goodyear v. Haeger).

According to the lawsuit, the right front Goodyear G159 tire blew out on their 38-foot-long RV, causing the vehicle to crash onto its side.

The driver, LeRoy Haeger, age 70, underwent 17 surgeries until he died of cancer in 2008. His passengers, including his wife, son and daughter-in-law, were also injured in the crash.

Goodyear and the Haeger family agreed to a settlement before the case went to trial in 2010 — but just a few months later, lawyers for the Haeger family lawyer learned about another lawsuit involving a G159 tire blowout, Goodyear admitted that tests showed that G159 tires got unusually hot at highway speeds.

A federal judge in Arizona ordered Goodyear to pay $2.74 million in attorney fees and court costs — but after Goodyear appealed, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened and reversed the decision.

Do I have a Goodyear RV Tire Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Goodyear RV tire blowout induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or died in an RV accident when a Goodyear G159 tire failed, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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