NHTSA Complaint #10212091 — 2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE STOCK CHROME GTP RIMS FOR 2004 (AT LEAST), WHICH CAUSES THE CHROME LAYER TO PEEL OFF. THE CHROME LAYER IS VERY THIN. THIS CAUSES CONCERN, BECAUSE IT INTRODUCES CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE CHROME LAYER, WHICH CAUSES THE TIRE TO NOT SEAL SNUG AT THE BEAD, AND LEAK AIR. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY (AT LEAST EVERY MONTH) FILL THE TIRE WITH AIR TO AVOID IT GOING FLAT. NOT ONLY IS THIS REPETITIVE AND USUALLY UNNECESSARY WITH OTHER CARS, IT IS UNSAFE. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION (3/7/07), I GOT A FLAT TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET, AND REQUIRED ASSISTANCE TO INSTALL THE SPARE. THIS INCIDENT ALSO RENDERED THAT TIRE UNUSABLE SINCE IT WAS SHREDDED BY DRIVING ON IT WITHOUT SUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE - WHICH REQUIRED ME TO BUY TWO NEW TIRES FOR A TOTAL OF $383.98. NOT ONLY IS THE RISK OF A FLAT TIRE TROUBLING, IT ALSO REDUCES THE LIFE OF THE TIRE, REDUCES FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND REDUCES BAD WEATHER PERFORMANCE. AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW TIRES, AND WOULD LIKE FOUR NEW RIMS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM VIA A GOOGLE SEARCH, WHICH RETURNED A POST ON THE SOLSTICE FORUMS BY ANOTHER GTP OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT OWNER APPARENTLY RECEIVED REPLACEMENT RIMS WITH A "SANDBLASTED FINISH" INSTEAD OF A "MACHINED FINISH". THAT POST CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://WWW.SOLSTICEFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWPOST.PHP?S=D97FA7295DA71BE68C2F5243F33FD85A&P=355564&POSTCOUNT=7. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER LISTED, AND THEY ATTRIBUTE THIS PROBLEM TO BE "NORMAL WEAR" AND "A RESULT OF SALT AND ROAD TREATMENTS EATING AWAY AT THE FINISH", AND I AM SUPPOSED TO "THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL AFTER WASHING THE CAR". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ALSO HAVE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, WITH THE SAME RESULT. THIS DEFINITELY DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN BUYING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT, AND I WILL BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR UPDATED 07/10/2012 *JS