NHTSA Complaint #10776666 — 2014 JEEP PATRIOT

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH METAL CHROMED LUG NUT COVERS WHICH ARE PRESSED ONTO THE LUG NUTS. TWICE NOW AFTER A TIRE ROTATION AND HAVING ALL 4 WHEELS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THESE LUG NUT CAPS HAVE COME FLYING OFF. ONCE WHEN SPEEDS WERE 45MPH+ THE OTHER AT 70MPH. DUE TO HAVING MY ARM OUT THE WINDOW I WAS STRUCK BY ONE OF THESE CAPS AND WAS CUT AND BRUISED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AFFECTED LUG NUTS BUT THEY ARE REPLACING THEM WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE LUG NUTS USED AT THE FACTORY. 2 TIMES NOW AFTER TIRE ROTATION THIS HAS OCCURRED WHERE SEVERAL OF THESE CAPS HAVE COME FLYING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER KEEPS REPLACING THEM AND I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO INFORM THEM OF THE ISSUE AND DESIRE TO HAVE THE LUG NUTS REPLACED WITH SOLID NUTS. CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER HAVE SO FAR REFUSED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE LUG NUTS WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE SAME FAULTY ONES. AS THESE ARE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS THE CONCERN IS THAT BYSTANDERS COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED IF STRUCK BY ONE OF THESE CAPS, AND OR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES, OR PROPERTY.