NHTSA Complaint #10680150 — 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE

I HAD A PASSENGER SIDE REAR FLAT TIRE AFTER LEAVING MY JEEP AT AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT.I PUT ON SPARE AND NEXT DAY TRIED TO FIND WHAT PUNCTURED MY TIRE ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE RIM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE AIR WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE RUSTED STEEL. I BOUGHT A NEW MATCHING RIM AND PUT TIRE BACK ON JEEP. THREE MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL, AIR LEAKING THROUGH RUSTED RIM. I REPLACED THAT RIM AND NOTICED RUST ON BOTH FRONT RIMS. KNOWING IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME I REPLACED THEM AS WELL. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, AND I NEVER HAD A RIM RUST THROUGH CAUSING AIR TO ESCAPE. I LOOKED AT THE RIMS AND DISCOVERED THE CAUSE. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE RIMS ARE DESIGNED, WHENEVER IT RAINS, OR THERE IS SLUSH ON THE ROAD OR WHEN THE JEEP IS WASHED THERE IS ALWAYS A SMALL QUANTITY OF WATER THAT GETS TRAPPED AND SETTLES ON THE BOTTOM OF RIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN. NOW IF THAT WATER ALSO CONTAINS DISSOLVED ROAD SALT AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY FOR DAYS IT IS ONLY ACCELERATING THE DETERIORATION. EVEN AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE HOLDS THE WATER IN PLACE AND AGAIN RETURNS TO REST ON THE BOTTOM OF RIM ONCE PARKED. I REALIZE IT IS AN OLDER VEHICLE WITH HIGH MILEAGE, BUT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW NO WHEELS SHOULD RUST OUT LIKE THIS, AND PERHAPS OWNERS OF SIMILAR JEEPS WILL CHECK OUT THEIR WHEELS AND REPLACE RIMS BEFORE THEY WIND UP STUCK SOMEPLACE WITH A FLAT TIRE.