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Pontiac Grand Prix Wheels Safety Report | Apr 09, 2008



Reported on Apr 09, 2008


THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE STOCK CHROME GTP RIMS FOR 2004, WHICH CAUSES THE CHROME LAYER TO PEEL OFF. BECAUSE THE CHROME LAYER IS VERY THIN IT ALLOWS CORROSION TO FORM UNDERNEATH THE CHROME LAYER, WHICH CAUSES PITTING AND THE TIRE NOT TO SEAL AND LEAK AIR. THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YRS AGO BY THE PONTIAC DEALER I PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN THE CAR WITH. I NOTICED THAT I WAS CONSTANTLY (1-2 X/WEEK) FILLING THE TWO DRIVER SIDE TIRES WITH AIR. I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS A SAFE SITUATION FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TIRES FOR LEAKS THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED TO BUY 3 NEW WHEELS AT $700 A PIECE. TWO OF THE WHEELS HAD PITTING WHICH WAS PREVENTING THE TIRES FROM SEALING AND A THIRD WHEEL WAS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. I SAID THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, NOBODY HAS TO BUY NEW WHEELS UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT AND IF THE FIRST SET WERE MANUFACTURED POORLY, WHAT GUARANTEE DO I HAVE THAT THE NEXT SET ISN'T FROM THE SAME LOT? NEXT I CONTACTED THE PONTIAC COMPLAINT LINE. THEY ASKED HOW I WANTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WANTED THE WHEELS TO BE REPLACED NO CHARGE, AT THE VERY LEAST, I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $125 PER WHEEL. I POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT WHEN I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON BY THIS SAME PONTIAC DEALER 16 MONTHS PRIOR, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE WHEELS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. THE COMPLAINT LINE CAME BACK WITH THE REDUCED PRICE OF $300 PER WHEEL AS THEIR OFFER. I COULDN'T DO IT; THERE WAS STILL NO GUARANTEE I WOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I WENT AND BOUGHT 4 NEW CUSTOM WHEELS FOR UNDER $125 A PIECE FROM A LOCAL TIRE DEALER. *TR
Make: Pontiac
Model: Grand Prix
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year: 2004
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: O FALLON MO
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 2G2WR524541
Mileage: 66174 miles.
Speed:
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel:
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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