NHTSA Complaint #10341592 — 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA

THIS INVOLVES A CONTINUED REAR TIRE ISSUE WITH MY 2007 CHEVY IMPALA LTZ THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED DESPITE ENCOUNTERS WITH DEALERS & NATIONAL TIRE ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS 12/06: PURCHASED CAR NEW, CAME WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RADIALS. 3/08: ONE TIRE BLEW IN CHARLOTTE, NC. AT JUST TIRES, THEY POINTED OUT THAT BOTH REAR TIRES INCLUDING THE ONE THAT BLEW HAD SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF WEAR, REPLACED BOTH WITH LS2 RADIALS. THE PROBLEM WAS CHALKED IT UP TO ALIGNMENT ISSUES THAT COULD'VE STARTED FROM THE FACTORY. 11/08: AFTER MORE INCIDENTS OF LOW REAR TIRE PRESSURE, TOOK CAR INTO LOCAL JUST TIRES. TIRED OF CONTINUED ISSUES, I DECIDE TO GET TOP OF THE LINE TIRES FROM THEM (GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED) FOR JUST UNDER $900. 9/09: TIRE KEPT LOSING PRESSURE, TOOK CAR INTO LOCAL JUST TIRES. TOLD TIRES WERE NOT ONLY ONCE AGAIN OUT OF ALIGNMENT, BUT REAR TIRES AGAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT (IN A MANNER NOT COVERED BY ROAD HAZARD PLAN) FOR $507 WITH TREADS SEVERELY WORN DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN CHALKED UP TO ALIGNMENT ISSUES, THOUGH THEY ALIGNED THE TIRES IN 11/08. 6/10: RANDOMLY CHECK TREADS ON MY TOP-LINE TIRES. COMPLETELY FINE IN FRONT, BUT WORN DOWN CONSIDERABLY ON BOTH REAR TIRES. I DRIVE ONLY CITY STREETS & HAD DRIVEN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES SINCE BUYING 4 NEW TIRES. RESEARCH UNCOVERS A PLETHORA OF REAR-END ALIGNMENT ISSUES ON 2007 CHEVY IMPALAS, INCLUDING A SPECIFIC IDENTIFIED ISSUE: HTTP://FLEETLEADER.PHH.COM/RECALLS/2008/RECALLSJULY2008.PDF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM #08032 - UNEVEN POLICE CAR REAR TIRE WEAR OBVIOUSLY, THIS EXTENDED TO COMMERCIAL IMPALAS & EXPLAINS WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING. WHEN CALLING PALLONE CHEVROLET, THE SERVICE REP FLATLY DISMISSES THE TALK OF THE POLICE RECALL, SAYING THAT THE SPINDLE ROD PARTS INVOLVED ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. (LATER CHECKING INDICATES THE PARTS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME ON BOTH THE POLICE AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.) I'M TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN HELP IS TO CHECK ALIGNMENT, AS IF NOTHING ELSE COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR