NHTSA Complaint #10083773 — 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE

RIM FAILED ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE RIM FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED A SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM THE TIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION THE DRIVER NOTICED A ONE INCH WIDE BY 3 INCH LONG CRACK ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. THE RIM WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO REQUEST A WARRANTY REPAIR. AFTER THE RIM WAS INSPECTED THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER PROBABLY HIT SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. AT THAT POINT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WASN'T GOING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED. THEY DETERMINED THE RIM WAS INDEED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. BASED ON THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATION THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT MAZDA HONOR THE WARRANTY. *NM