NHTSA Complaint #10205427 — 2005 BUICK LACROSSE

I WAS MERGING ONTO THE NJ TPK AT 14A HEADING WEST, ON THE ROAD FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE, ABOUT 4 FEET BEFORE MERGE, HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELT FLAT. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE SUNOCO DOT CAME AND SAID TIRE WAS GOOD, BUT RIM BLEW OUT. WHEN CHANGING ORIGINAL TIRE TO THE DONUT, MY ORIGINAL BUICK RIM, FACTORY EQUIPPED, CAME OFF IN TWO PIECES. I HAVE GONE TO DEALERSHIP DIFEO IN JERSEY CITY, NJ , AND WAS TOLD NOT A GENERAL MOTOR DEFECT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UNION PONTIAC DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE SAME. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS DIRECTLY, AND WAS TOLD THE RIM IS NOT A DEFECT OF THEIRS. DID NOT KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OR PART NUMBER. ON OCTOBER 9, 2007 CONTACTED UNION PONTIAC PARTS DEPT. AND WAS GIVEN PART #88964115, BUT NO RECORD OF MANUFACTURER. MADE OF CHROME WHITE ALUMINUM. MY COMPLAINT IS IF I WAS GOING AT A SPEED OF 55-65 MPH, RIM WOULD HAVE POPPED OFF MY TIRE, FRONT END FALL TO THE GROUND, DAMAGING MY AXLE,ETC. CAUSING ME TO SWERVE, POSSIBLY PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH.THANK GOD I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND ONLY WENT A SHORT DISTANCE.I NEED YOUR HELP TO SEE IF GENERAL MOTORS WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INCIDENT. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MANUFACTURED MY 2005 BUICK LA CROSSE CXS AND HAD THESE RIMS PLACED ON MY CAR.I HAD TO DRIVE WITH AN ALMOST FITTED RIM FROM A TIRE COMPANY, AND PURCHASE 4 NEW RIMS MADE OF STEEL CHROME ALLOY. WILL LAST LONGER THAN MY CAR. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I WAS NOT GOING TO ORDER THE SAME RIM AND TAKE ANOTHER CHANCE IN THE FUTURE FOR THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME. TOTAL COST OF LOSS: $1128. BUICK SHOULD THINK OF SAFETY, USING STEEL CHROME RIMS, WILL OUTLAST THE LIFE OF MY CAR.WHY IS IT THAT THERE MUST BE A DEATH, OR A MAJOR COLLISION FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DO A RESEARCH AND ONLY RECALLS BASED ON HOW MANY COMPLAINTS?THESE RIMS ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD REPLACED ON ALL THE 2005 BUICKS HAVING SUCH RIMS TO STEEL, CHROME ALLOY. RIM MANUFACTURER KNOWN TO ALL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND BACK. *JB