NHTSA Complaint #10040164 — 2001 KIA RIO

THE VEHICLES DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE RIM DEVELOPED 14 INCH CRACKS ALL AROUND AND PIECES OF THE RIM WERE FALLING OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRE MAY FALL OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM SON NOTIFIED OWNER AT @ 45K MILES THAT THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND HE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM, PERHAPS WITH THE BRAKES. OWNER WENT FOR A RIDE WITH THE SON TO CONFIRM NOISE BUT OWNER COULD NOT HEAR IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE SON COMPLAINED TO HIS FATHER AGAIN ABOUT THE NOISE, STATING IT WAS NOW MUCH WORSE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND HE COULD HEAR A LOUD GRINDING/CRACKING/POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. HE REMOVED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO INSPECT AND HE SAW LARGE CRACKS AT THE WHEEL HAT AREA ABOUT 2-3" ABOVE THE LUG HOLES ON THE WHEEL DISC. THERE WERE SEVERAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL CRACKS APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES IN LENGTH ALMOST COMPLETELY CIRCLING THE WHEEL. WHEN HE REMOVED THE WHEEL LARGE PIECES OF THE WHEEL IN THE AREA OF THE CRACKS CRUMBLED AND FELL OUT ONTO THE GROUND. ALSO NOTICED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HAD SEVERAL 5" CRACKS IN SAME AREA. BOTH WHEELS WERE THE STANDARD EQUIPPED 13X5J STEEL WHEELS. NEITHER WHEEL HAD ANY SCRAPES, SCRATCHES, OR BENDS INDICATIVE OF ABUSE. REPORTED ISSUE TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BOTH REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE VEHICLE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT WHEEL SHOP WHERE HE PURCHASED 2 REPLACEMENT STEEL WHEELS.