Safety complaint - corroding rims on chrysler town & country limited, (standard equipment) cause leaks and flat tires. The rims leak because of a faulty manufacturing process that causes the chrome to flake off around the tire bead.
1999 Chrysler Town and Country wheels complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 28 of 28, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have had to replace 3 of my my 4 chrome alloy wheels as they are coming apart at a seam near the bead of the tire. My first thought was that the rims sustained a blow, but it shows no sign of impact. This strikes me as a severe defect with possible serious injury implications. The dealer's service department was rude and dismissed any possibility of a potential defect.
Consumer called complaining about having problems with rims and the wheels. Stated that they are original equipment and the chrome on the wheels rims is pealing off and damaging the tire from the inside because of the corrosion of the rims. Manufacture was contacted and stated that they never had a problems like that and that they would not replace it.
Consumer had problems with a tearing on a tire. Dealer was contacted, and stated that the rims were bad.
All of a sudden 3 of 4 tires were not holding air. Slowly deflating requiring at least weekly inflation. Took vehicle to tire shop where it was discovered that the aluminum/chrome wheels which came on the vehicle were deteriorating, making an air-tight seal impossible. Will this condition ultimately affect the integrity of the wheel? Contacted daimler/chrysler and they responded "...,your request for consideration in this matter must be declined," as the vehicle is out of the manufacturer's warranty period.
Tires losing air due to chrome plated aluminum rims being badly corroded.
Wheel rims are are leaking due to oxidation on the plating. All tires leaking air weekly. Note the number of complaints about this problem indicates it is common to this vehicle.
Consumer states tires are constantly losing air pressure. Vehicle checked by dlr who determined that vehicle's rims are disintegrating. Mr
Right front tire went flat. Inspection by local repair shop found that the wheel rim had sustained severe corrosion damage. Corrosion had eaten through the chrome plating on the aluminum ,and caused pinhole leaks, leading to the loss of air pressure. Inspection of the other three wheels indicated moderate corrosion on one of the other rims. Consumer was aware of other complaints relating to corrosion and would like to see an investigation pending. *tt...
Right front and rear wheel rims are corroding, resulting in air holes causing tire to go flat. Contacted dealer.*ak consumer states that the chrome plating is flaking off.
Rims were corroding from inside out. Mechanic was told that this condition was unsual.
Dealership has to replace all four wheel rims because of corrosion. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
The vehicle is experiencing severe deterioration of the aluminum wheel plating at the tire bead causing continuous air leaks which cause the tires to slowly deflate, the consumer was informed by a plating company that the wheels had not been properly prepared prior to the plating process, the dealer stated there appeared to be some type of electrolysis occuring between the tire and wheels. Nlm
When local tire service center examined tires for an air leak all of wheels were corroded on the interior, allowing air to escape through the rim. Nts. *ak the four chrome wheels were corroded and were replaced by the consumer. The consumer believes the wheels were defective and the manufacturer should reimburse him the cost of the wheels.
The inside of three rims show signs of oxidation which caused air loss in the tires due to lack of a smooth surface with which the tire could mate, the shop stated that chrome plated wheels should not be used in winter as the road salts destroy the plate, consumer believes chrome plated wheels should never be offered as an option for vehicles delivered to regions with snowy winters and thinks they should be recalled. Nlm
Both rear tires began going flat on a weekly basis. Both began occuring at about the same time in august, 2000. No puncture could be found in tires. Reported problem to dealer (antwerpen dodge, columbia, md). Dealer serviced vehicle and reported they could find no problems. Tires continued going flat. Antwerpen again serviced vehicle, dismounted one rear tire from wheel and found severe wheel corrosion. Told us it was our fault because we had put fix-a-flat in the tire...we had not! We have put nothing but air into these tires. Chrylser was contacted (1‑800‑992‑1997) and after speaking with antwerpen's service mgr declined to warrant defect. Chrysler wants us to pay $625.00 per wheel to replace these defective wheels a that are only one year old! Wheels have now been examined by a wheel specialty shop (ye ole wheel shop, 6363 washington blvd, elkridge, md). This shop repairs damaged wheels and does work for several insurance companies. Specialty shop found no evidence of fix-a-flat or any other foreign material in tire/wheel. Informed me that this type of corrosion was common with chrome plated wheels that also had been chrome plated on the inside surfaces. Indicated that moisture had gotten into the tire/wheel assembly (probably through an air hose at a service station). The moisture then created a reaction between the chrome and the wheel material causing the wheel to "eat itself". Wheel examined has holes in the inside of the wheel where the reaction has eaten completely through the material. Shop informed me that quality manufaturers do not chrome plate the inside of the wheel to avoid this known problem. They also informed me that it was likely that all four of the wheels on this vehicle were bad. They will eventually become weak from corrosion and could break apart. Chrysler continues to refuse to recognize the problem as a warrantable defect. This is a safety issue as the wheels could fail at speed on the highway causing a crash.
Rims are developing holes inside of the rims and the air leaks out. Consumer took vehicle to dealership, and mechanic told him that vehicle passed warranty mark.*ak left front and right front rims developed pin holes in middle of rim.
Chrome wheels have a pin hole which causes a leak. Tires cannot be properly inflated.*ak tires can not hold air for more than a day due to pin hole leak in chrome wheel.
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