NHTSA Complaint #10925678 — 2007 TOYOTA RAV4

THE WHEELS WERE DESIGNED WITH A LIP THAT DOES NOT DRAIN, CAUSING THEM TO RUST OVER TIME AS WATER AND ROAD WASTE SITS IN THE LIP. I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE RUST, WHICH IS NOT VISIBLE, WHEN I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW SET OF TIRES. SURPRISINGLY, MY NEW TIRES IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOSING AIR. AFTER CHECKING THE TIRES AND REPLACING THE VALVE STEMS, MY MECHANIC USED THE SOAPY WATER TEST TO DETERMINE THAT THE WHEELS THEMSELVES ARE SO RUSTED THAT THEY ARE LETTING AIR ESCAPE. THE LIP OF ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE RUST IS FLAKING OFF. GIVEN THE DETERIORATION OF THE WHEELS, I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. MY INITIAL CONTACT WITH TOYOTA RESULTED IN NO ACTION BY THEM. I AM WRITING TO THE VP OF MARKETING TO MAKE HIM AWARE OF MY CONCERNS.