MY 2011 JEEP PATRIOT CAME WITH FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES, AND AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS AND FOURTEEN THOUSAND MILES THE TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS ALL ALONG THE SEAM WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE TIRE CASING. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE TREAD IS STARTING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE TIRE. *TR
2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE 5 NEAR BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA, AND UNDER CRUISE CONTROL, MY 2012 JEEP PATRIOT STALLED AND LOST POWER TO THE TIRES. AT THAT MOMENT, THE CHECK ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS (RED LIGHTNING BOLT) LIGHTS ALL BEGAN TO FLASH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY. BEING ONLY A FEW MILES FROM MY EVENTUAL DESTINATION, I ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AT VERY LOW RPMS (SUB 2500). AT RPMS OVER 2500, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND I WOULD EXPERIENCE NO ACCELERATION. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL PARTIALLY DISABLED, I WAS ABLE TO REACH MY DESTINATION. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, UNLOADED MY LUGGAGE, AND THEN RETURNED TO INSPECT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SEEING THAT ALL BELT, HOSE, AND CABLE CONNECTIONS WERE SECURE, AND ALL FLUIDS AT THEIR PROPER LEVELS, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE SUCCESSFULLY FOR ABOUT A MILE, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF THE RECENT SYMPTOMS. BEING THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL SO NEW, AND WELL MAINTAINED, THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS PARTICULARLY ALARMING. *TR
