NHTSA Complaint #10204543 — 2000 CHRYSLER 300M

I HAVE A 2000 CHRYSLER 300 M THAT HAS CHROME/ALUMINUM WHEELS. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING SUBSTANTIAL PRESSURE IN MY TIRES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THINKING THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT MY RIMS WERE CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE AND THAT THIS AFFECTED THE BEAD ON THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO LOSE PRESSURE. HE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A "BIG PROBLEM" FOR CHRYSLER CARS AND THAT THE RIMS WERE "JUNK". I EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF PRESSURE ABOUT EVERY 5 WEEKS OR SO AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER THREE TIMES. EACH TIME THEY POINT TO THE CORROSION AND THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH CHRYSLER NOT DEALING THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE TECHNICIANS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION HE SAID THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING THE PT CRUISER. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT CHRYSLER WAS NOT ALLOWING THEM TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT OTHER THAN GRIND DOWN THE CORROSION AND REMOUNT THE TIRE, AT THE OWNERS' EXPENSE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HAVING TIRES LOSE PRESSURE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF THE WHEEL IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THANK YOU. *TR