Infiniti Goodyear Tire warranty scam, NO COVERAGE Gardena California

Bought new FX35, fully loaded. Wrong wheels came in with vehicle, so dealer traded wheels with stock vehicle. I bought Tech package with tire pressure sensors, but the traded wheels were not so equipped, but dealer did not inform me of that.

Dealer mounted all tires on new rims and delivered vehicle. I drove the vehicle and at about 15K, the Tire Pressure Low light illuminated. I immediately checked the tire pressure and found that all four tires were between 20 and 22 psi, so I inflated them to 35 psi. I noted that the indicator light did not go out, so I brought the vehcile to my local dealership (moved since buying vehicle).

Dealer tells me that tires are shot. My 15K miles are all purely highway (turnpike, actually). Alignment was not offered by dealer since I was past the 12K warranty. Remember, I just paid $48K for this vehicle. Dealer told me to take it to Goodyear because tire problems were the tire manufacturer's concern, not theirs.

Grudgingly, I took the car to Goodyear. Goodyear said yes, the tires are shot. All 4 tires. Front and rear. No sign of misalignment wear on tires. Goodyear claims that I should have rotated tires. Infiniti says I am supposed to rotate tires EVERY OIL CHANGE. This is ridiculous. I would rather buy 2 tires at a time than 4.

Goodyear offers some small discount on a set of 4 of the same tires. Did I mention that this AWD vehicle got stuck in 2" of snow ON MY DRIVEWAY? I drove my RWD Mustang with Summer Tires on that same driveway with no problems the same day. Fitment of an AWD SUV with these tires is absurd.

Goodyear further states that no mileage warranty is offered on these tires because they are "High Performance". They are garbage. They are OK in warm, dry weather ONLY. Useless in rain and DANGEROUS on snow and ice. Plus, the Goodyear folks say the wear was due to underinflation. Well, the tires would not have been run underinflated if either the dealership had installed the tires and inflated them properly OR if the Tire Pressure Warning system had been functioning (I paid a lot of $$$ for that option).

I spoke with the Service Manager (an honest fellow) at the dealership and he told me that 16K is GOOD and I did better than most folks who are coming in with bald tires at 10-12K! In fact, he does his best to talk people out of putting the GY tires back on their vehicle because of poor mileage and marginal to dangerous handling in the rain/ice/snow.

I had to spring for $987 for 4 tires, Hankook Ventus model. I called Infiniti Customer Service (what a joke) and they were arrogant and useless. They felt I should have rotated the tires. Well, Infiniti, all 4 tires were worn the same amount and all 4 were shot. What would rotation have accomplished? That is stupid. Infiniti was searching for a loophole.

As the Customer Service drone (Don) was useless, I asked to speak to a supervisor. At 9:00pm two days later, "Deborah" called me. She was Don's supervisor. She was even more arrogant than Don. As I explained my situation, she became more defensive. She offerred me a $300.00 maintenance certificate good for FUTURE maintenance work to be used within 6 months. I bought this vehicle in August of 2004, and here it is February 2005 and I had already put a $1000 set of tires on it! But I did not need any other maintenance. Anyway, I told her I was not happy and we agreed to disagree.

I went online to Infiniti and tried to appeal to the Corporate folks at Infiniti. I detailed my issue onto the website complaint forum and submitted it. I noted that Customer Service was offering some sort of bandaid without addressing the actual problem. Two days later, Deborah called me up. She was mad and was even more arrogant when she told me "I guess you is some kind of wass guy, huh?" Pardon the accent. Then, she proceded to rescind my $300 maintenance offer.

I have no maintenance required, so the money part of the whole thing does not bother me, but the arrogance and attempted punitive measure that this SMALL person (just small in character) attempted to inflict on me, the CUSTOMER was particularly bothersome. This was not my first Infiniti, but it will most certainly be my last.

The Infiniti is a package idea. It is an ultrapremium specialty that wants to give the illusion that the customer will recieve special handling and that the reputation of the company and its products is paramount. That has been true in the past, but is apparently no longer the case. I think the public needs to know that.

Bob
Freedom, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.

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