NHTSA Complaint #11388957 — 2015 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500

I WORK FOR AN EXPEDITE TRANSPORT CARRIER. IN MY NOW CLOSE TO 3 YEARS DRIVING TWO SPRINTER 2500'S I HAVE HAD 7 OF THE 10 RIMS FAIL. IN EACH AND EVERY CASE THE SAME PROBLEM DEVELOPED. A HAIRLINE FRACTURE HAS THE RIM LOSING AIR NEAR WHERE THE VALVE STEM HOLE WAS PUNCHED. I MENTIONED 10 RIMS AS EVEN ONE OF THE TWO SPARES FAILED. IMHO THIS IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR THING. AFTER GETTING NEW TIRES LAST WEEK ALONG WITH A REPLACEMENT RIM I EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO THE TIRE TECHNICIAN. TO MY SURPRISE THEY FOUND A LEAK IN A RIM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REMOUNTED. THE OWNER OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY I DRIVE FOR ALSO OWNS 3 MERCEDES 2500 SPRINTERS AND ALL 3 VEHICLES HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOW STARTED COLLECTING THE DEFECTIVE RIMS. I HAVE 3 ALONG WITH PHOTOS OF A 4TH SHOWING THE LIQUID STOP LEAK OOZING FROM A FRACTURE. THESE RIMS ARE NOT RUSTY AND THE TECHNICIANS THEORY IS THAT THE HOLE STAMPING PROCESS FOR THE VALVE STEM HAS LIKELY COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE STEEL NEAR THE HOLE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE RIMS AHOULD BE REPLACED