NHTSA Complaint #10131790 — 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ALUMINUM ALLOY CHROME WHEELS. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AT SEARS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 WITH ALL NEW VALVE STEMS AND SPEED BALANCES. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MONTHS LATER, 2 & 3 TIRES WERE LOSING AIR (SLOWLY) CONSTANTLY. SEARS SHOWED ME THAT THE ALLOY RIM WAS DETERIORATING AROUND THE VALVE STEMS AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE, THE DEALER (ROUTE 44 TOYOTA IN RAYNHAM, MASS.) WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I EVEN WENT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGERS OFFICE WITH NO LUCK. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT ALL I WANTED WAS THE STANDARD WHEEL FOR REPLACEMENT WITH WHEEL COVERS. MY POINT IS, IF TIRES LOSE THE AIR INFLATION, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE "TIRE FAILURE" CONTRIBUTING TO MORE ACCIDENTS ON OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS. I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH "ALLOY WHEELS" WITH THIS PROBLEM. CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT ROAD DEATHS ON OUR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THESE FLAWED "ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS"?*JB