NHTSA Complaint #10435112 — 2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

REAR FACTORY SPEEDLINE CHROME 5 SPOKE WHEEL CRACKED AT THE JOINT OF SPOKE AND OUTER RIM CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF AIR. CAR WAS SITTING IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT AND WHEN RETURNING FROM STORE NOTICED FLAT TIRE. ATTENDANT FROM OIL & LUBE CENTER CAME OUT AND INSPECTED TIRE AND RIM AND DETERMINED CRACK IN RIM WHEN HE SPRAYED SOAPY SOLUTION ON TIRE THINKING THERE WAS A NAIL OR FOREIGN OBJECT CAUSING THE LEAK. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL OTHER VETTE OWNERS IN THE AREA AND THEY SAY THEY ALL EITHER EXPERIENCED THIS OR KNOW OF SOMEONE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CORVETTE FACTORY RIMS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MANY REASONS AS C5 VETTES HAVE NO PROVISION FOR SPARE TIRES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEED SUCH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD PROVE INJURIOUS OR FATAL. *TR