Lauer v General Motors Corporation and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
1994-2004 Corvette Owners Target GM and Goodyear for Premature Tire Failure
A national class action has been filed in Illinois against the General Motors Corporation and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The action is brought on behalf of all U.S. residents who purchased Chevrolet Corvette automobiles manufactured between 1994 and 2004. The Corvette owners claim that the Goodyear tires that came as standard equipment on their automobiles were defective because they allegedly failed at approximately 12,000 miles and were not covered under warranty. The Corvette Owners claim that GM and Goodyear's conduct amounts to consumer fraud and fraud by omission and are seeking the replacement cost of the tires as well as damages for inconvenience and injunctive and declaratory relief.
According to the Corvette owners, the Goodyear tires that came as standard equipment on all 1994-2004 Chevrolet Corvette automobiles are defective. The Corvette Owners claim that they are defective because they allegedly fail within 12,000 miles. The Corvette owners assert that due to advances in technology, most U.S. car and tire buyers have come to expect tires that last beyond 12,000 miles. They clam that the Goodyear tires their Corvettes came equipped with do not meet this reasonable expectation. Further, the Corvette Owners claim that GM and Goodyear were well aware of the premature wear issues associated with the Corvette tires, yet failed to warn consumers prior to purchasing their Corvettes or during their ownership period. This, according to the Corvette owners, constitutes consumer fraud as well as fraud by omission. The owners allege that this conduct was intentional as GM and Goodyear did not intend to warranty the tires, instead requiring the owners to purchase new tires upon the failure of the originals.
