NHTSA Complaint #10508039 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WE HAVE HIT POT HOLES IN THE ROAD AT MODERATE SPEED RESULTING IN AN ALUMINUM, WHEEL INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL BENDING AND GOING OUT OF ROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE WHEEL GOES OUT OF BALANCE AND THE CAR LOOSES STABILITY ON THE HIGHWAY. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE EACH BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAT 40 YEARS AND WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS DEGREE OF FRAGILITY IN THE WHEELS OF ANY OF OUR PRIOR VEHICLES. THE WHEEL DESIGN IS OF SOFT ALUMINUM AND THE STRUCTURE IS CANTELEVERED OVER THE BRAKE DISC GIVING IT VERY LITTLE CENTRAL SUPPORT TO RESIST BENDING WHEN CONFRONTED WITH ORDINARY ROAD DEFORMITIES. WE HAVE KEPT THE LAST TWO WHEELS THAT WERE DAMAGED IN THIS MANNER AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE FIRST TWO WERE KEPT BY THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT. *TR