A New Mexico jury has ordered Michelin North America to pay $220 million in a wrongful-death lawsuit arising from a tire blowout involving a Ford Excursion.
The plaintiffs, including the vehicle owner Eleazar Marin, claimed the Michelin LTX M/S2 tire suffered from critical design and manufacturing defects when it left the factory.
The incident occurred in Gaines County, Texas, in 2021, when the Excursion’s front-left tire allegedly blew out, causing the SUV to cross into oncoming traffic.
The vehicle collided with another heavy-duty vehicle towing a trailer, resulting in a tragic crash that claimed the lives of three of Marin’s family members: his wife, Rosalva Marin, daughter Laura Marin Zamarippa, and granddaughter Alexis Zamarippa.
The lawsuit alleged that the LTX M/S2 tire suffered tread separation due to multiple design and manufacturing flaws. Specific issues included improper adhesion between steel belts, insufficient belt-edge protection, and a substandard belt system.
Further complaints noted a lack of antioxidants, improper belt-width-to-tread ratios, and other anomalies such as offset belts, improper splices, and irregular wire spacing.
The tire in question was reportedly manufactured in Alabama around June 2014. While the exact purchase date was not disclosed in court filings, the tire was approximately seven years old and had accumulated roughly 70,000 miles at the time of the crash.
Industry guidelines recommend replacing tires every six to 10 years or after 50,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on wear and overall condition.
During the trial, Michelin argued that evidence suggested the tire may have already sustained damage prior to the accident. Despite this defense, the jury assigned 100% of the blame to Michelin, resulting in the $220 million verdict. The company is expected to appeal the decision.
The LTX M/S2 product line remains available today, marketed for use on light trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles, including models such as the Rivian R1T.
Michelin, a company with a long history dating back to the 19th century, also maintains an active presence in global motorsports, participating in programs such as the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the United States.
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