2001 Chrysler Sebring

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

CHROME WHEEL RIMS PROVIDED ON THIS VEHICLE ARE BADLY CORRODED WHICH CAUSES THE TIRES TO LOOSE AIR PRESSURE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO SEVERAL TIRE SHOPS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY, CHROME IS NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TO USE AIR EVERY OTHER DAY TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AIR PRESSURE ON THESE TIRES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 18 MONTHS. *JB

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 ARE A DANGER. THIS TIME I WAS NOT DRIVING THAT FAST AND THE LEAK WAS NOT THAT BAD BUT IT COULD BE WORSE IN THE FUTURE. ALSO RESEARCHING THE ISSUE OVER THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ACROSS MANY MAKES AND MODELS. *NM

OWNER WAS CHANGING TIRE AND CUT HAND ON RIM. OWNER FOUND CHROME PLATING PEELING AWAY FROM THE BACK OF ALL FOUR RIMS UPON FURTHER INSPECTION. PIECES ARE METAL CHARDS >2 INCHES WHICH ARE PEELING AWAY AROUND WELD OF SPOKE (BACKSIDE OF RIM). COULD CUT OR INJURE A PERSON OR CAUSE TIRES TO PUNCTURE IF METAL FRAGMENTS WERE TO BREAK OFF DURING TRAVEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER (LAFLAM CHRYSLER, RUNNEMEDE NJ) WHERE DEALER STATED THAT RIMS WERE "COSMETIC" AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTEES. CHRYSLER SERVICE LINE WAS CONTACTED SAME DAY (FILE#129-7146). DEALERSHIP DENIED INQUIRY ABOUT RIMS AND THEN CLAIMED THAT THEY FELT IT WAS COSMETIC ALSO. OWNER FEELS THERE IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK AND IS VERY CONCERNED AT CHANGEING TIRES AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER HAS STATED THAT THERE IS "NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT". THE OWNER HAS A CUT ON HIS FINGER TO PROVE THIS IS NOT COSMETIC.*AK