NHTSA Complaint #10176490 — 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

3 MONTHS PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 19TH, 2006, I HAD MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BREAK AWAY FROM THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY HAD STOPPED FROM 45 MPH, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR WITH THE LUG NUTS STILL TIGHT. THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL HAD BUSTED OUT. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS SLIDING ON THE CONTROL ARM AND THE FENDER, DOOR AND FRONT BUMPER COVER HAD BEEN DAMAGED. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTOR, BRAKE PADS AND LOWER BALL JOINT JUST TO GET THE CAR MOBILE TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS DRIVEN THE SAME SINCE THIS HAD HAPPENED, SO I AM SURE THAT A LOT MORE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED IN THE FRONT DRIVETRAIN, BUT CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED FAIRWAY CHEVROLET IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHEEL MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A POT HOLE OR SOMETHING. BEING THE WHEEL WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT HAD BROKE OFF THE CAR, I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE THAT IS CORRECT INFORMATION UNTIL NOVEMBER 19TH, 2006. I WAS DRIVING AND FELT THE SAME VIBRATION FROM 3 MONTHS EARLIER. I CAREFULLY CAME TO A STOP AND INSPECTED THE CAR. NOW, MY PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WAS ONLY SECONDS FROM BUSTING OFF THE CAR. THIS TIME THE WHEEL IS PERFECT CONDITION, MEANING NO SIGNS OF POT HOLE DAMAGE. AMERICAN TIRE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA REPLACED THE WHEEL AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A WHEEL BUST APART LIKE THIS, AND AM VERY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH OR WORSE DEATH. THE SAME DEALER BRUSHED ME AWAY AGAIN, AND NOW I HAVE A DAMAGED CAR BOTH BODY AND DRIVEABILITY. PLEASE HELP. *NM