NHTSA Complaint #722228 — 1998 FORD CONTOUR

ON JANUARY 15, 2000 I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED ON MY 98 FORD CONTOUR AT A TIRE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ON MY CAR WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THEY ADVISED THAT I TALK TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THIS CAR. ON JANUARY 19,2000 I TOOK MY CAR INTO SUNSET FORD TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE. AT THAT TIME I INFORMED THEM OF THE CRACKED WHEEL. THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEELS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE AN INVOICE FROM THE DEALER TO VERIFY THEIR POSITION. I LEFT THIS SAME CAR AT A REPAIR SHOP ON 5-1-00. THEY CALLED ME THE FOLLOWING DAY TO INFORM ME THAT 3 OF THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR ARE CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I CONTACTED FORD AT THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ON 5-3-00. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL NOTICES OUT ON THIS CAR FOR DEFECTIVE WHEELS, AND THEREFORE I AM OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THESE WHEELS AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THIS CAR WHICH GOES THROUGH 75,000 MILES AND YET THE DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE REFUSE TO REPLACE THESE WHEELS. I WILL HAVE TO DO SO HOPING TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD MY INSURANCE COMPANY LOOK AT THESE WHEELS, AND THE ADJUSTER CONCLUDED THAT THE CONDITION OF THESE WHEELS MAKE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS, ROB MOLL. *AK