2000 Chrysler 300M

OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE GO FLAT DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE CHROME PLATED ALUMINUM RIMS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL RIMS OF THIS TYPE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CHROME PLATING WHEN PUT ON AN ALUMINUM RIM CAUSES A REACTION THAT CAUSES THE RIMS TO CORRODE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHEN THE CORROSION ERUPTS ALONG THE BEAD AREA OF THE TIRE IT BREAKS THE SEAL AND CAUSES THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE NEW VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS TYPE NO LONGER USE CHROME BUT HAVE A PLASTIC CHROME PIECE WHICH IS GLUED ON TO THE ALUMINUM RIM. IF THIS HAD NOT BEEN A DEFECT WHY WOULD THEY HAVE CHANGED THE DESIGN. *NM

COMPLAINT IS WITH THE ALLOY WHEELS ON THE 2000 CHRYSLER 300M SEDAN. THE DESIGN OF THE ALLOY WHEELS APPARENTLY IS OPEN AND IS VERY PRONE TO WINTER ROADWAY SALT WHICH OVER TIME CREATES PITTED AREAS ON THE WHEELS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS 4 TIMES WITH PRESSURES DROPPING TO 10-25 LBS. THE TEMPORARY FIX SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER IS TO HAVE THE PITS GROUND DOWN ON THE WHEELS (WHICH I HAVE HAD DONE TO EACH WHEEL BOTH AT THE DEALER AND AT THE TIRE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES). THE COST TO REPLACE THE WHEELS AT THE DEALER IS $665 EACH!! I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. THE TIRES ARE 225/55 R 17 97H CH95 AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE LOW ON AIR BY JUST LOOKING AT THEM. I WORRY ABOUT THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE DROPPING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING ON OTHER 330M'S. WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE? *AK

PROBLEMS WITH THE RIMS LEAKING AIR AND THE TIRES COLLAPSING WHILE DRIVING. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE RIMS WERE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM. THE ALUMINUM AND CHROME RIMS WORE OUT FROM THE WINTER SALT ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIMS AND CAUSED THEM TO LEAK AND EVENTUALITY THE TIRE BROKE AWAY FROM THE RIM AND COLLAPSED. *JB

WHEEL CENTER CAP FALLS OFF. RUSTED THROUGH SPINDLE DUST COVER. WHEEL CENTER CAP IS HELD IN PLACE BY STEEL SPRING TABS. THE RIM IS ALUMINUM. THE CENTER CAPS START GETTING LOOSE AND WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING FOLLOWED BY THEM BRAKING AND FALLING OFF. THIS LAST TIME WHEN I GOT THE TIRES REPLACED THE TIRE INSTALLER INFORMED ME THAT SEVERE CORROSION WAS TAKING PLACE AND THAT THE SPINDLE DUST COVER HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING MOISTURE AND DIRT TO ATTACK MY WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS VEHICLE HAS JUST TURNED THREE YEARS OLD AND I EXPECT THE WHEEL CENTER CAPS AND SPINDLE DUST COVERS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN A YEAR EACH. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE WHEEL CENTER COVER(S) ARE TO BE REPLACED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO THE WEATHER IN VA. I ALSO NOTED SEVERAL 300M VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS WITH THE CENTER CAPS FLOPPING AROUND OR MISSING. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT OF COMBINING STEEL WITH ALUMINUM WITHOUT A PROTECTIVE COATING OR INSULATOR TO STOP THE CORROSION. *LA

THE TIRE/RIM COMBINATION SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC SPORADIC LEAKAGE, PARTICULARLY WHEN POSITIONED ON THE FRONT . ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE UNDERINFLATED. ON 4 OR 5 OCCASIONS, THE TIRES HAVE GONE COMPLETELY FLAT, SO FAR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD AFTER A 20 MILE RUN. GOODYEAR EXAMINED THE MOST RECENT FAILED TIRE AND RIM AND REPORTED THAT THE RIM WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED WHERE THE TIRE SEALS TO IT. FURTHERMORE, ONCE CLEANED WITH A GRINDER, GOODYEAR REPORTED RESIDUAL PITTING THAT COULD AFFECT THE SEAL. CHRYSLER DIPPED THE TIRE AFTER GOODYEAR CLEANED THE RIM AND REINFLATED THE TIRE AND FOUND NO LEAK. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REMOVE THE TIRES AND INSPECT THE RIMS FOR EXCESSIVE OR ABNORMAL CORROSION THAT MIGHT SUGGEST A DEFECT CAUSING CHRONIC LEAKAGE. CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE IS HAZARDOUS, YET I CAN'T FIND OUT WHETHER THE ISSUE IS WITH THE RIMS, THE TIRES, OR BOTH. CHRYSLER'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT I START OVER AT ANOTHER DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO INSTRUCT THE DEALER TO REMOVE THE TIRES AND EXAMINE THE RIMS. (THEIR RECOMMENDATION WHEN I INITIALLY CALLED OVER A YEAR AGO WAS TO COMPLAIN TO GOODYEAR.) AT THIS TIME, I HAVE PURCHASED A COMPRESSOR AND AM MONITORING THE INFLATION CAREFULLY. IF HYPER MAINTENANCE PREVENTS A REOCCURRENCE, I WILL STILL NEED TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY REPLACE THE RIMS DUE TO PITTING WHEN THE TIRES ARE REPLACED FOR WEAR. GOODYEAR HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT SERVICE; CHRYSLER SEEMS TO BE STONEWALLING.*AK