NHTSA Complaint #10811362 — 2001 SUBARU FORESTER

IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED THE TIRE. I HAD JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS. OFTEN, AFTER PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, THEY WOULD BE FLAT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (JUST A FEW MILES). THIS HAPPENED IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE RIMS TAKEN OFF, GROUND/SMOOTHED OFF, THEN RESEALED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES/WHEELS IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW, THE SNOW PACKS ITSELF AROUND THE TIRES COMPLETELY FILLING THE SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE WHEEL WELLS. IF I DON'T MANUALLY REMOVE THE IMPACTED SNOW, IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE WHEELS CANNOT BE TURNED. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE RIMS CORRODING BREAKING THE SEAL AND THE SNOW FILLING THE WHEEL WELLS, ARE SAFETY HAZARDS.