NHTSA Complaint #10549555 — 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA

THE INCIDENT DATE ABOVE IS APPROXIMATE BUT THE FIRST EVENT WITH A TIRE CENTER WAS A SATURDAY IN MARCH 2011. (ALTHOUGH THE TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE HAD BEEN ON-GOING DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THE WARRANTY.) THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE TIRE AND SERVICES, STAFFORD, VA. THE TIRE HAD BEEN LOSING PRESSURE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, ON FEB. 1, 2012, MY FRIEND TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER TIRE SERVICE CENTER ALONG GARRISONVILLE ROAD, STAFFORD, VA, WHERE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN PROVIDED COPIES OF GM BULLETIN # 05-03-10-003F: LOW TIRE PRESSURE, LEAKING CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS (REPAIR WITH ADHESIVE SEALANT) - (APR 27, 2010) AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS. ON FEB 2, 2012, RADLEY CHEVROLET, FREDERICKSBURG, VA, (RADLEY) FOUND THAT "THE LEFT REAR RIM IS LEAKING AIR" AND "FOUND INNER RIM LEAKING AIR ON BEAD." THE TECHNICIAN FOLLOWED #05-03-10-003F AND VERIFIED THE REPAIR. ON SEPT 12, 2012, RADLEY'S TECH "FOUND AFTER LETTING RIM SIT IN TANK FOR PERIOD OF TIME - VERY SMALL LEAK COMING FROM INSIDE OF CAST ALUMINUM WHEEL . . . " ON OCT. 11, 2012, RADLEY CLEANED THE CORROSION FROM THE WHEELS AND ADDED ADHESIVE SEALANT. THE TIRE CONTINUED TO LEAK. ON OCT. 22, 2013, OURISMAN CHEVROLET, ALEXANDRIA, VA, FOUND "ONGOING LOSS OF AIR FROM TIRES - POSSIBLE BEAD CORROSION; CAUSE OF AIR LOSS FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL SMALL LEAK THREW [SIC] RIM IN WHERE RIM HAS OXIDIZED [SIC] ...OTHER WHEELS SHOWING SAME OXIDIZED [SIC] MARKS." GM AGREED TO PAY 60% OF THE COST OF ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT $330.28. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED TO GM THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS BE REPLACED FOR $1088.73. GM AUTHORIZED REPLACING ONE WHEEL. GM'S #05-03-10-003F APPLIES TO ALL PRIOR YEARS OF ALL PASSENGER CARS & LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. GM MUST RESOLVE THIS LONG-STANDING DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE ALL OF MY WHEELS AT ITS SOLE EXPENSE. *TR