NHTSA Complaint #10532904 — 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE

WHEELS ON CAR ARE DEFECTIVE, FLAKE AND TIRES WILL NOT HOLD AIR . BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER, 2012 WITH -53,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 2005 PT CRUISER'S. I OWN A 2011 CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND 2005 PT CRUISER AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WHEELS. SAID WHEELS ARE $884/PER WHEEL+60 LABOR/PER WHEEL+TAX. WENT TO CEO OF CHRYSLER. CORPORATE OFFICE CALLED, ACTED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO HELP, THEN BACKED OUT. COST TO REPLACE MY WHEELS/TIRES TODAY (CHEAPEST I CAN GET IS $1,600.00). TWO OF MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET: CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER AND STATED THAT THE CHROME WHEELS WERE FLAKING. AS A RESULT, THE AIR PRESSURE WAS SEEPING OUT AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE TIRES BUT WITH THE RIM ITSELF. MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. MARYVILLE,TN; I HAVE A 2005 PT CRUISER TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH FACTORY 17" CHROME WHEELS AND CHROME IS FLAKING OFF OF INSIDE OF WHEEL RIMS PREVENTS TIRE FROM GRIPPING PROPER SEAL. TIRES REPEATEDLY GO FLAT WHILE PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH NEW ONES, HAD TIRES CLEANED/RE-MOUNTED/RESEALED MULTIPLE TIMES. THREE DIFFERENT TIRE PROFESSIONALS TELL ME IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING LAST WEEK AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PT CRUISER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. HAVE MADE DEALERSHIP AND DOUG BETTS, CHRYSLER VP OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM PERSONALLY SINCE FEB. 2010. - KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC, USA. *TR