NHTSA Complaint #10345757 — 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

I PURCHASED A 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR IN SEPT. OF 2009,28800 NOW WITH 33850 MILES. DURING THIS WINTER I REPORTED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF MY PROBLEM WITH THE CHROME PEELING FROM ALL 4 WHEELS..I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COVERED...AS THE TIME HAS GONE ON THE WHEELS HAVE DETERIORATED AND THE TIES DO NOT HOLD AIR..I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD TO PAY 180.00 TO FIX 2 WHEELS THAT WOULD GO FLAT AS I WAS DRIVING..THIS WAS DONE BY APPLYING SOME TYPE OF RUBBER CEMENT TO THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS..NOW I FIND THE CORROSION IS SO BAD A 6" PIECE OF CHROME HAS PEELED OFF AND THE PLACE WHERE THE VALVE STEMS INSERT INTO THE WHEELS HAVE CORRODED BOTH INSIDE THE TIRE AND THE OUT SIDE..I WAS TOLD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT "THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM " HOW DOES THE ENVIRONMENT CAUSE THIS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. I FIND THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF II AM DRIVING AND THE TIRES LOSES AIR PRESSURE I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE WRITER WHO TOLD ME "WE BOTH WORKED AT A LINCOLN DEALERSHIP BEFORE AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY OF THOSE CAME BACK LIKE THAT,THEY WOULD REPLACE THEM BUT THEY STOPPED DOING IT" I LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE WHEELS HAVE TO BE DETAILED..HOW DO YOU DETAIL WHEELS IN 17 DEGREE WEATHER IN JANUARY. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT I DO NOT TRUST DRIVING DUE TO THIS AND HAVE NOT BEEN HELPED IN THE LEAST BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AND IF THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE SALT ON THE ROADS WHY WAS I SOLD THIS CAR IN THIS AREA OF THE COUNTRY..GOD FORBID I ENTER A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND I LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE..AS WE HAVE JUST HAD 6 SP OFFICERS HIT ON THE ROADWAYS AND MASS. NOW HAS THE MOVE OVER LAW ENACTED...I CANNOT CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT AND THIS PRODUCT IS INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE..THE 2010 TOWNCAR USES STEEL WHEELS WITH PLASTIC CHROME INSERTS INSTEAD OF THE ALUMINUM ALLY CHROME PLATED WHEELS. *TR