2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING Wheels Problems

ON FEBRUARY 14 2012 SOMETHING ON MY LEFT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BROKE, I COULD NO LONG STEER AND THE WHEEL LAID OUTWARD TOWARD THE GROUND. THERE IS A LONG ARM LIKE PART, THAT WAS LITERALLY HANGING OFF THE WHEEL. IT IS NOW UNOPERABLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM SO GLAD I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT A AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, A WHEEL WAS OBSERVED TO BE CRACKED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT ALL 4 WHEELS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VEHICLES OF THIS SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED, AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE SINCE THE WHEELS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY, A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE REVVED WAS HEARD. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE OIL CHANGES WERE MAINTAINED EVERY 3,000 MILES. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE WHEELS CORRODED CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR. EACH TIME THE TIRES WERE ROTATED THE WHEEL CAPS CAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF. THE CAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *NM

MY CAR (2001 CHRYLSER SEBRING) CAME EQUIPPED WITH CHROMED WHEELS. APPARENTLY THE CHROME OVER TIME CRACKS ALLOWING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A STRANGE VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT SO I PULLED OVER AND DISCOVER THE LOW TIRE. I REINFLATED THE TIRE AND TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND PATCHED THE TIRE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE PATCH WAS ONLY TEMPORARY AND THAT EVENTUALLY ALL THE WHEELS WOULD FAIL. I WOULD EITHER NEED TO RECHROME THE WHEELS OR REPLACE THEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMALLY WEAR AND THE WHEELS WERE ONLY COVERED FOR 3 YEARS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN 7 YEAR WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT YET DECIDED WHICH OPTION TO DO BUT I FEEL THAT WHEELS THAT CAN FAIL LIKE THIS...

DT CONSUMER STATES THE WHEELS ON HIS VEHICLE HAVE CORRODED AND CAUSED AIR TO LEAK OUT. WHEN THE WHEELS WERE REPLACED BY THE SERVICE DEALER THEY STATED IT WAS FROM THE ROAD SALT DURING THE WINTER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY *TT

DRIVER NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE LOSING AIR PRESSURE FROM THE WHEELS. THE WHEELS CONTAINED ALUMINA CHROME ALLOY PLATED, AND THE SEAL DETERIORATED. THIS CAUSED LOW TIRE PRESSURE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WHEELS WOULD BE CHANGED AT DRIVER'S EXPENSE. *AK

THIS FAILURE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAP IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS ITEM HAS FAILED AND DEPARTED THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. THE DESIGN OF THE WHEEL HUB ON THE CHROME OPTIONAL WHEELS IS EXTREMELY POOR AS THESE HUBS DO NOT STAY IN PLACE. EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW HUB AT $58. THESE CENTER HUBS SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND REPLACED ON ALL VEHICLES. DT