NHTSA Complaint #10408902 — 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA

2007 TOYOTA COROLLA STEEL RIM ISSUES. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS TWICE WITH THE STEEL RIMS ON MY CAR AND AM AFRAID THERE WILL BE MORE AS MY CAR AGES. THE RIMS RUST. I TURNED A CORNER TOO SHARP AND BARELY GRAZED THE CONCRETE, WHICH BENT THE WHEEL RIM AND CAUSED MY TIRE TO BLOW OUT, AND I HAD TO REPLACE THAT TIRE. NOW, I HIT A POTHOLE, AND ENTIRE WHEEL RIM BUCKLED, TORE MY TIRE TO BITS, AND IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT RIM FOR MY CAR. I COULD NOT LOCATE ONE ONLINE, COULD NOT GET A RETURN PHONE CALL FROM SAM SWOPE'S TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO SEE IF THE PART COULD BE ORDERED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET ANOTHER DEALER TO SELL ME ONE AT A WHOPPING $141 INCLUDING TAX. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN I HIT THAT POTHOLE AND WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I'D BE DEAD. NOW THAT I LOOK AT ALL OF THE RIMS ON MY CAR, EVERY RIM IS BENT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE EDGES. THE METAL ON THESE RIMS IS OF THE POOREST QUALITY I HAVE EVER SEEN. I'D EXPECT STEEL TO HOLD UP BETTER THAN THIS, AND THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN STEEL RIMS BUCKLE, DESTROY YOUR TIRE AND YOU CAN LOOSE CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT THIS ISN'T' THE LAST OF MY PROBLEMS WITH THESE RIMS. I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ANOTHER RIM FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR. I AM BEING TOLD BY EVERY JUNKYARD THAT MY CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THEM TO HAVE PARTS FOR IT. THE RIMS ARE ALSO UNAFFORDABLE IF YOU CAN FIND THEM. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO BUY THE RIM AT A COST OF $141, BUT I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TIRE AND PAY FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING. SO, THE COST IS NOW OVER $200 TO FIX MY JUST HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE, AND LOUISVILLE, KY, IS LOADED WITH POTHOLES EVERYWHERE. IF THESE RIMS CONTINUE RUSTING, IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT MY BRAKING ABILITY TOO? *TR