NHTSA Complaint #10237789 — 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER GT WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY AT 33,000 MILES AND IS STILL ONGOING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TIRE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAKAGE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FLAKING OFF OF THE CHROME ALLOY ON THE WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ONE WHEEL THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WAS JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOW AT 43,000 MILES WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE DOING THE SAME THING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEY FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE OTHER WHEELS AFTER TALKING WITH THE CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS A TIRE WILL HEAT UP WHEN IT SLOWLY LOSES AIR AND COULD FAIL AT HIGH SPEED AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. I HAVE LEARNED THIS BY EXPERIENCE AS A TRUCK DRIVER WHEN I HAD A SLOW LEAK IN A WHEEL ON THE STEERING AXLE AND IT EXPLODED ON MY TRUCK AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND THE TINY LEAK IN THE CHROME WHEEL. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE NUMBER OR NAME OF WHO HE TALKED TO AS HE SAID IT WAS COMPANY POLICY NOT TO GIVE THESE OUT. HE ALSO DID NOT KNOW WHO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE WHEEL WAS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM THE PARTS DEPT. THIS OF COURSE UPSET ME AND I RAISED MY VOICE TO HIM AND HE SAID THAT IF I KEPT YELLING AT HIM HE WOULD REFUSE TO HELP ME AT ALL. THIS WAS DONE ALL BY PHONE ON 8-11 08