NHTSA Complaint #10163582 — 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING

MY CAR (2001 CHRYLSER SEBRING) CAME EQUIPPED WITH CHROMED WHEELS. APPARENTLY THE CHROME OVER TIME CRACKS ALLOWING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A STRANGE VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT SO I PULLED OVER AND DISCOVER THE LOW TIRE. I REINFLATED THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND PATCHED THE TIRE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE PATCH WAS ONLY TEMPORARY AND THAT EVENTUALLY ALL THE WHEELS WOULD FAIL. I WOULD EITHER NEED TO RECHROME THE WHEELS OR REPLACE THEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMALLY WEAR AND THE WHEELS WERE ONLY COVERED FOR 3 YEARS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN 7 YEAR WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT YET DECIDED WHICH OPTION TO DO BUT I FEEL THAT WHEELS THAT CAN FAIL LIKE THIS ARE A DANGER. THIS TIME I WAS NOT DRIVING THAT FAST AND THE LEAK WAS NOT THAT BAD BUT IT COULD BE WORSE IN THE FUTURE. ALSO RESEARCHING THE ISSUE OVER THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ACROSS MANY MAKES AND MODELS. *NM