NHTSA Complaint #10110115 — 2005 ACURA TL

DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID CAR TRYIN G TO MERGE INTO SAME LANE. FRONT AND REAR LEFT TIRES HIT THE MEDIAN CURB ( APRROX 6" MAX HIEGHT). THE RIMS ARE THE STANDARD FIVE SPOKE MAGS THAT COME ON 2005 ACURA TL. IMMEDIATLEY AFTER HITTING THE CURB - AT A VERY OBLIQUE ANGLE - THE RIM BROKE. THE SPOKES OF THE FRONT RIM BROKE LOOSE FORM THE PART OF THE RIM THAT FORMS THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. ALL 5 SPOKES BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE. THE SPPKES AND CENTER OF THE RIM STAYED BOLTED TO THE LUGS. THE TIRE AND THE REST OF THE RIM CAME LOSSE FROM THE CAR AND PASSED AHEAD OF THE CAR. WHEN THE FRONT TIRE BROKE FREE FROM THE CAR SEVERAL THINGS HAPPENED. THE CAR SETTLED DOWN ON THE SPOKES OF THE MAG RIM, THIS IMPACT SET OFF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AND CRACKED THE BRAKE CALIPER ON THE FRONT LEFT. BRAKING WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AT THIS POINT. THE CAR EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF ROAD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP ( ON A FLATBED TRUCK). THE WOMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY WANTED THE CAR TAKEN TO THEIR COLLSION CENTER SO THAT DIGITAL PICTURES COULD BE TAKEN AND FORWARDED TO ACURA. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ACURA REPLIED THAT A RIM FAILURE LIKE THAT WAS NORMAL FOR HITTING THE CURB AND THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE.*AK