2003 Chrysler Sebring Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE PUT AIR IN THE TIRE AND IT DEFLATED A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TIRE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE WHEEL HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE CONSUMER SATED THE VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE WHEELS. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2007 AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED ONCE A YEAR DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE WHEELS FIXED AT THE DEALER, AND THE FIX ONLY LASTED THREE DAYS. THE WHEELS LEAKED AT THE BEAD OF THE TIRE, DUE TO THEM NOT BEING SEATED PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SPENT $2,000 ON TIRES, ONLY TO FIND OUT, THE PROBLEM WASN'T THE TIRES, IT WAS THE DEFECTIVE WHEELS. UPDATED 02/28/13

I HAVE A 2003 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE THAT HAS CHROME/ALUMINUM WHEELS. I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING SUBSTANTIAL PRESSURE IN MY TIRES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THINKING THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, AND THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE CHRYSLER SERVICE CENTER IN WYCKOFF NJ WHERE I PURCHASED IT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WHEELS AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR (NON-CHRYSLER) MECHANIC, HE POINTED OUT THAT MY RIMS WERE CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE AND THAT THIS AFFECTED THE BEAD ON THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO LOSE PRESSURE. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD CALLED CHRYSLER AND BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEBRING RIMS. I SENT AN INTERNET COMPLAINT TO CHRYSLER'S WEBSITE BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED THAT ALL HE COULD DO, INSTEAD OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT, WAS GRIND DOWN THE OLD RIMS AND TAR OVER THEM AS A STOP GAP SOLUTION. I EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF PRESSURE ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO TIRE DEALERS TWICE TO REGRIND THE RIMS. EACH TIME THEY POINT TO THE CORROSION AND THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH CHRYSLER NOT DEALING THE PROBLEM. HAVING TIRES LOSE PRESSURE BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF THE WHEEL IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. I HOPE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THANK YOU. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHROME WHEELS BECAME CORRODED DUE TO THE WEATHER AND DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WEATHER RELATED AND COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY CONTINUOUSLY ADDING AIR TO THE TIRES. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT AIR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE TIRES ON A DAILY BASIS.