NHTSA Complaint #10523787 — 2012 FORD F-150

RIGHT REAR RIM CRACKED. ALUMINUM WHEELS WITH CHROME COVERS 2012 LARIAT PACKAGE. THE DEALER AND FORD DETERMINED THAT THIS RIM WAS DAMAGED BY IMPACT BUT THE RIM HAS NEVER BEEN IMPACTED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I SUSPECT THAT IT WAS DROPPED AT THE FACTORY WHEN THEY WERE MOUNTING THE TIRES. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I DAMAGED THE WHEEL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND THE RIM IS BEHIND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. ALSO THE SURFACE AREA WAS ABOUT 3" LONG WHERE THE IMPACT HAPPENED. THE CRACK WAS FROM THE OUTER BEAD AREA ABOUT 1 1/2" LONG GOING TO THE INNER PORTION OF THE WHEEL. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME IDENTICAL WHEELS ON HIS 2012 FORD F-150 TRUCK (TWIN TO MINE) HE HAS SINCE REPLACED HIS WHEELS AS HE CLAIMED AFTER MUCH BALANCING AND ROTATING THESE WHEELS WERE IN HIS WORD "WOBBLY AND VIBRATING". HE AND I HAVE SINCE BOTH REPLACED OUR TRUCKS WHEELS AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER, OUR TRUCKS ARE SMOOTH AND HANDLE CORRECTLY NOW. I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO BE KILLED BY THESE WHEELS. I FEEL THEY ARE INFERIOR AND UNSAFE. MY TIRE MAN SAID THE CRACKED WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE". I WOULD ALSO LIKE FORD TO REPLACE MY WHEELS OR REIMBURSE ME FOR THE VALUE OF THE WHEELS. THEY OFFERED TO SELL ME A REPLACEMENT WHEEL FOR THEIR COST WITH FREE MOUNTING AND BALANCING, THEY SAID IT WAS $600.00 FOR 1 WHEEL. THE FORD DEALER IS SHOWLOW FORD IN SHOW LOW AZ. *TR