NHTSA Complaint #10104473 — 1999 GMC JIMMY

FOR THE SECOND TIME OF THIS VEHICLE THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THIS CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THIS TIME ON THE OTHER SIDE. SOMEHOW, WHEN PUTTING THE WHEEL BACK ON THE CAR NOT ALL THE NUTS WERE TIGHTENED PROPERLY BOTH TIMES. ACCORDING TO THE TOW DRIVER FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, DALE CHAN OF DC TOWING 570.992.4311, THE DEALERSHIP, BROWN DAUB IN WIND GAP AND FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT ROBERTI MOTORS WHO REPAIRED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY THE SECOND TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS IS THAT IF NOT ALL NUTS ARE TIGHTENED PROPERLY THE MATERIAL WILL VIBRATE AND LOOSEN THE OTHER NUTS. CHAN SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM OFTEN. AFTER THE FIRST FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY REPAIR ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE WHEEL CAME ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF. ALL THE NUTS WERE GONE, 3 OF THE STUDS WERE BROKEN OFF AND THE WHEEL WAS ONLY HANGING ON THE REMAINING TWO STUDS. THE SECOND TIME, 2-3 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, I CAUGHT IT A BIT EARLIER. ONLY ONE NUT WAS MISSING, ONE STUD WAS BROKEN OFF. THE OTHER NUTS WERE SO LOOSE THAT I COULD MOVE THEM ALL WITH MY FINGERS. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY COUSIN TWICE WHO WAS A LIMO DRIVER IN CHICAGO. IT SEEMS EVERY ONE IN THE INDUSTRY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHY IS IT ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. WHY CAN'T WE GO BACK TO STEEL WHEELS WHERE THIS PROBLEM IS NONEXISTENT. IF WE CAN'T WHY CAN'T IT BE REQUIRED THAT SOME LOCKING MECHANISM BE DESIGNED TO KEEP THE NUTS FROM UNSCREWING AS PART OF THE WHEEL COVER? WHAT IF THE WHEEL HAD COME OFF? THERE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I COULD HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND INVOLVED OTHER VEHICLES IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AXEL COULD HAVE DUG INTO THE ROAD SURFACE AND I COULD HAVE ROLLED OF FLIPPED? PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. HAS THIS ALREADY HAPPENED? IT THIS WHAT IT TAKES BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED? I CONSIDER MYSELF TO HAVE BEEN LUCKY.*AK