NHTSA Complaint #10162842 — 1991 BUICK REGAL

ON APPROXIMATELY JULY 5, 2006 I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF MY 1991 BUICK REGAL [XXX]. AS I AM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND TIRE IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE FRONT END COMPONENTS FOR A PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE STEEL WHEEL HAD A LARGE CRACK THAT WRAPPED ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE AREA AROUND THE LUG HOLES. THIS CRACK APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE. I THEN REMOVED THE OTHER WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE AND FOUND SMALLER CRACKS AROUND TWO OF THE REMAINING THREE WHEELS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND MY DEALERSHIP. THIS VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY MY WIFE AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR WRECKED. SINCE THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE USING THESE WHEELS, I FEEL THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK WITH ALL VEHICLES USING THESE WHEELS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THESE CRACKS FOR RECORD KEEPING PURPOSES, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND THEM IN WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A REAL PROBLEM AND PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)