NHTSA Complaint #10420908 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2001, IN AROUND 2005 I NOTICED SOME MARKS ON WHEELS, BUT DISREGARDED THEM AS JUST DEBRIS, BY 2008 MY WARRANT RAN OUT AND MY TIRES STARTED LOSING AIR DAILY, THINKING IT WAS THE TIRES I HAD THEM ALL REPLACED. BY THE SUMMER I HAD 4 BRAND NEW TIRES AND WHEELS THAT WOULD BE FILLED IN THE MORNING WITH AIR AND FLAT BY THE END OF THE DAY, THE MARKS I NOTICED BECAME GIANT FLAKES AS THE WHEELS CLEAR COAT WAS JUST COMING OFF. BY THE END OF 2008 ALL 4 OF MY TIRES WERE LOSING AIR ON A REGULAR BASIS. AS A RESULT I HAD A COMPANY FOR $700 REPAIR THE WHEELS (STRIPPED, NEW PAINT AND CLEAR COAT), THIS WAS SPLIT INTO FRONT TIRES ONE MONTH AND BACK TIRES IN EARLY 2009. HERE I AM NOW IN 2011 AND THE WHEELS ARE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. AIR HAS NOT STARTED LEAKING YET BUT THE MARKS HAVE APPEARED. ANOTHER YEAR AND I WILL BE BACK IN REPAIR MODE FOR FACTORY WHEELS THAT HAVE A DEFECT BUT HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. LOST OF AIR CAN OCCUR INSTANTLY FOR THESE THINGS. *TR