2011 Chevrolet Malibu Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU EQUIPPED WITH MASTERCRAFT LSR GRAND TOURING TIRES, SIZE: 225/50R17 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUED TO FLUCTUATE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS LOSING AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,056. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

THIS PAST FALL MY LOW TIRE AIR LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR INTO FREE TIRE SERVICE WHICH IS A REPUTABLE TIRE COMPANY. IT IS WHERE I PURCHASED MY TIRES ALONG WITH A TIRE PROTECTION PLAN. THEY SAID THAT MY RIMS(WHICH CAME STOCK ON THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP) ARE CORRODING MY TIRES AND THEY COULD TEMPORARILY FIX THEM WITH A SEALANT. THEY SAID THE SEALANT COULD LAST FOR YEARS OR ONLY A MONTH; THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW. A FEW MONTHS HAVING THE SEALANT PUT ON (THIS PAST SATURDAY), I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TO KNOXVILLE (A 2 HOUR DRIVE FROM HOME) AND MY LOW TIRE AIR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER OFF THE INTERSTATE AND MY TIRE WAS ALMOST FLAT. NOT ONLY DID THIS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO BE LATE FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS TIME I THOUGHT I WOULD REACH OUT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING ABOUT MY RIMS. MY FATHER OWNS A 2009 MALIBU AND HIS TIRES ARE NOT CORRODING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CHANGES THERE RIMS IN 2 YEARS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE OF THE WHEELS. IF THIS TYPE OF WHEEL IS CORRODING, DAMAGING TIRES THEN I COULD OF HAD A BLOWOUT CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ANYTIME. NEW TIRES WILL NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EITHER. THE TIRES I HAVE ON MY CAR ARE STILL VERY GOOD TIRES. SO EVERY TIME I PUT NEW TIRES ON MY CAR, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THIS ISSUE IS TO GET NEW WHEELS ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER.

THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN FAILED WITH LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, WHICH COST JUST OVER $400. IF THE BEARING WOULD HAVE FULLY FAILED PRIOR TO MY SEEKING REPAIRS, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEPARATED TIRE AND BEARING FROM THE REST OF THE VEHICLE OR A LOCKED UP WHEEL, WHICH COULD HAVE STEERED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT INJURY, DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE DEALERSHIP AND PARENT COMPANY OFFERED NO COMPENSATION OR INVESTIGATION, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THEY'VE REPAIRED MANY MALIBUS WITH WITH SAME ISSUE. I ASKED TO SEE THE FAILED PART, AND SAW EVIDENCE OF EXTREME HEAT BUILD-UP AND SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE TO TURNING OF THE BEARING.

CRACKS NOTED IN TIRE SIDEWALLS. TREAD APPEARS TO BE SEPARATING. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE FR710 WITH A DATE CODE OF 4210. MILEAGE ON TIRES IS APPROX 17000 MI. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. *TR

FIRESTONE FR710 TIRES. CRACKS WERE NOTED IN THE SIDEWALLS. THE TREAD APPEARS TO BE SEPARATING AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE 2 TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TIRES ARE DATE CODED 4210 AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 17000 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. *TR

2011 CHEVROLET MALABU DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH SPARE TIRE; ONLY AN AIR PUMP. THIS IS ABSURD, UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. IF FLAT TIRE OCCURS IT WILL NOT HOLD AIR, RENDERING AIR PUMP USELESS, AND LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED. DEALER DID NOT TELL ABOUT NO SPARE TIRE WHEN MAKING NEW LEASE 6-30-11. UNDERSTAND ALL 2011 CHEVROLETS DO NOT HAVE SPARE TIRE. IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO REQUIRE ALL CARS BE EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. *TT