NHTSA Complaint #10091218 — 1999 GMC JIMMY

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN RT 33 IN PA NEAR NEAR THE SNYDERSVILLE EXIT WHEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLABLY. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I WALKED AROUND THE CAR & SAW THAT THE HUB CAP WAS MISSING. THE WHEEL WAS BARELY BEING HELD ON THE CAR BY TWO POSTS WITH NONE OF THE NUTS ON THEM. THREE POSTS HAD BROKEN OFF. I LEARNED FROM THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. I MENTIONED THE INCIDENT TO MY COUSIN AND HE TOLD ME IT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM TWICE. EVIDENTALLY, WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS IS IF ALL NUTS ARE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY THE ALUMINUM VIBRATES LOSENING THE OTHER NUTS. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE CAR FOR FREE. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS DOES HAPPEN AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS 100% OF THE TIME DUE TO HUMAN ERROR. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH STEEL WHEELS. THE WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF DOING MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE AXEL COULD HAVE DUG IN AND I COULD HAVE FLIPPED. I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THAT VEHICLE. MORE VEHICLES COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. THE MATERIAL NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO ELIMINATE THESE VIBRATIONS OR SOME SYSTEM OF LOCKING THE NUTS BE DEVISEDSO THEY CAN'T UNSCREW UNLESS IT IS INTENDED. THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN AND FROM WHAT LEARNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TOW DRIVER. THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE THIS COMING WITH THE WAY WHEELS ARE DESIGNED THE NUTS ARE COVERED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE TO TAKE OUT HUMAN ERROR OR TO MAKE MORE LEEWAY FOR SUCH ERROR. CHANGING THE MATERIALS USED OR THE DESIGN COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS. I CALLED 911 AND DALE CHAN OF DC TOWING, TELEPHONE NUMBER 570.992.4311 WAS SENT. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT. I THINK IT WAS JULY OR AUGUST. THE DATE I PUT IN WAS JUST TO GET THROUGH THE REQUIRED FIELDS. *AK