NHTSA Complaint #10102618 — 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER WITH CHROME PLATED WHEELS. I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE STORE FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE BUT THE WHEELS WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE AIR LEAKED OUT AROUND THE VALVE STEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND THEY ORDERED NEW WHEELS AND SAID THEY WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE WHEELS CAME IN THEY CALLED ME AND I SETUP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED. I TOOK THE CAR THERE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN IT WAS DONE. THEY CALLED THREE HOURS LATER AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE CHRYSLER RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR POLICY. THEY SAID THE CORROSION WAS DUE TO ENVIORNMENTAL REASONS DUE TO THE AREA I LIVE. SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN THROUGH ONE WINTER AND PART OF ANOTHER. THESE WHEELS WERE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE MODEL I PURCHASED. I FEEL THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZZARD AS YOU CAN NOT TELL THE AIR HAS LEAKED OUT UNLESS YOU LOOK AT THE TIRE. IT HAS BEEN DOWN TO FIVE LBS. OF AIR AND YOU CAN'T TELL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WOULD THINK THE TIRE COULD COME OFF THE WHEEL AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND SERIOUS INJURY.*AK