NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Sept. 13, 2002)—A New Jersey Superior Court judge has approved a national class action settlement between Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and attorneys in 33 states representing a class of approximately 40 million consumers.
Those consumers, who bought approximately 180 million Cooper steel-belted radial tires manufactured between Jan. 1, 1985, and Jan. 6, 2002, were granted a five-year program guaranteeing a free tire replacement whenever a subject tire suffers a tread separation.
Cooper also agreed to an enhanced, court-monitored inspection program for its tires and a consumer information program coordinated with the National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The company denied all wrongdoing and legal liability in the settlement.