Defective wheel

[DarricSS]

Have 1400 miles on the car currently and since day one I have been having to add air to the right front tire about every 5 days. Been working allot so haven't had time to take the car in to have the tire checked. Took it into Discount Tire today to have the tire replaced. They took it off and submerged it in a soapy solution and found that the wheel is defective and has a porous crack on the inside of the wheel. Been loosing about a pound of air a day through this hole. So the tire is good (that's what I thought it was) Discount can't fix this problem so I took it to the dealer.

The service manager told me that there is a bulletin out for possible porous cast aluminum wheels and info on how to "fix" them. I asked them to order a new wheel since the car is brand freekin' new, but they said it's an easy fix...blah blah blah. Who wants to drive around knowing you have a defective wheel and it's been "repaired"...

Anyways, here are some REALLY CRAPPY cell phone picks. The white spot on the inside of the wheel is where the air is bubbling out...sorry the pics are so bad.







Got a rental Chevy Trailblazer till tomorrow...feel like i am driving the space shuttle now...

[redjewel]

I would demand a new wheel. No way that the wheel should be repaired that is a defect in the wheel.

[shevyman]

there just going to put a sealent around it. i believe you have the right to demand a new wheel. take the jimmy rig for now to still enjoy the car but still get the new one. they can always take the wheel back melt it again to make another one so there is no waste.

[DarricSS]

I didn't have time to argue with the guy about the wheel since i needed to get to work. Will talk to whoever i need to tomorrow to get them to order a new wheel.

Considering the car has no spare tire i sure as crap don't want to have a defective wheel in the back of mind all the time too...

There is a bulletin out on this problem so if anyone else keeps adding air to their tires, check the wheel for holes.

[DarricSS]

Here is the service bulletin.

The service manager told me that GM will not replace the defective wheel under warranty, just fix it with silicone.

[SSOOCH]

Hmm....well let's just hope the silicon fix holds up.

[COR Forged]

I think if a lot of you guys team up they will have no other option but to change it. I had the same problem with my Z since it was burning too much oil, and I gave them hell about it. A bunch of the guys on the forums complained about it aswell and they had no choice but to actually work on the cars and fix the problem. Their excuse for it being normal was through, and they replaced all the damaged/defective parts. If enough of you guys team up they have no other choice but to do it, especially since it might drop their sales. That's just my 2 cents.

[live2well]

That looks like a bulletin from GM sales. GM is saying fix a defective wheel that is a possible safety hazard with a some silicone?


Much better picture. Definitely a service bulletin. Hmmmm....sound like a lawsuit waiting to happen

[DarricSS]

I have gotten some PM's from people with this same problem, does not seem to be an isolated incident.

All the Service manager gave me was a phone # to call to try and get a new wheel from GM.

Customer Assistance:
1-800-222-1020

[EVS Motors Inc.]

Wheels are made in China go figure.

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by live2well

That looks like a bulletin from GM sales. GM is saying fix a defective wheel that is a possible safety hazard with a some silicone?

I would get the insurance company involved as well. I don't think the insurer would be OK with this. They only see things in terms of money, and my guess is they would rather GM replace the whole wheel for a cost of a couple hundred dollars rather than put silicone on the cracked wheel and offload the risk of a serious accident that could cost the insurer $30,000 or much more.