NHTSA Complaint #10163848 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE

I HAPPILY BOUGHT A NEW SEBRING CONVERTIBLE IN JULY 2002. I BOUGHT THE "COMPLETE" 7/70 EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE WOMAN AND DO NOT WANT TO WORRY ABOUT REPAIRS. DURING 2003 AND 2004, I EXPERIENCED FREQUENT "SOFT" TIRES. DURING A RAIN STORM, I HYDROPLANED ON HIGHWAY 41 AND LOST CONTROL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANYONE OR THE CAR. ONLY MY NERVES. I WOULD TEST AND FILL THE TIRES FREQUENTLY. I WAS FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE DURING RAIN/SNOW BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL CONTROL DUE TO THE TIRES NOT GRIPPING THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW TIRES AND THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN DEC. 2005 AT SEARS, HAD THE ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. I CONTINUED TO HAVE SOFT TIRES. SEARS REPLACED THE TIRE VALVES, AND HAD TO SMOOTH THE RIMS TWICE. I NOW HAVE TO CHECK AND FILL THE TIRES WITH AIR 2 - 3 TIMES A WEEK. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD "THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT OF THE SEBRING CONVERTIBLE RIMS)AND WAS TOLD TO CALL CHRYSLER. AFTER BEING ON HOLD 30 MINUTES, I GOT THROUGH TO CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER RECOGNIZES THIS DEFICIENCY IN THE RIMS, THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT REPORT THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RIMS AND NOT THE TIRES? I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES!!! PLEASE CHECK THE ACCIDENT RECORD OF CHRYSLER SEBRINGS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *JB