OFFICIAL: Bent/Cracked Wheels – Reporting to NHTSA (Merged w/previous thread)
12-20-2018, 08:00 PM
#201
Pro
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Location: Orange County, Southern California
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Unrealistic Expectations
I believe that Bent or Cracked Wheels are both an Engineering Defect and Safety Issue.
GM has not acknowledged that there is a problem and denies warranty repair coverage leaving owners many times to have to cover the cost of repairs or purchase new wheels themselves.
Wheels may cost thousands of dollars to and numerous owners have already had to purchase multiple wheels for their new or near new vehicles that should have been covered by GM's warranty.
GM is blaming Corvette owners.
If you have had an issue with a Bent or Cracked OEM Wheel on your Grand Sport or Z06, you can file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Your complaint will be added to a public NHTSA database after personal identifying information is removed.
If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people about the same product, this could indicate that a safety-related defect may exist that would warrant the opening of an investigation.
Please consider filing your complaint. Not only will it benefit you but will benefit other Corvette owners and could potentially save someone from having a serious accident.
The process is simple and will not take much of your time.
Here is how you can as proceed.
Your complaint is now registered with the NHTSA.
If you would like to view other similar bent/cracked wheel NHTSA complaints that have been filed, follow these instructions:(your inputs shown in Red)
1) Access the NHTSA search website:https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues?prodType=E
2) Click and Highlight the “Keywords (Complaints Only)" box.
3) In the "Select Type:" Box Click on the "Vehicles" button.
4) Type in data entry field type in the words “wheel, crack, bent”. (making sure you include the commas)
5) In the "Narrative contains:" field, click on the "Any Keyword" button
In the Optional: SectionIn "Model Year range"
6) Click drop down arrow and select: Start: 2014
7) Click drop down arrow and select: End: 2019
8) Click drop down arrow and select: Make: Chevrolet
9) Click drop down arrow and select: Model: Corvette
10) Click the "GO" button.
You will then see the narratives other Corvette owners have posted, 5 at a time.Personal information is not listed.
Currently there are 25 Complaints as of the date of this link.
Would appreciate anyone who has had a cracked or bent wheel on their Corvette, please file a formal complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instruction are listed at top of this document.
GM has not acknowledged that there is a problem and denies warranty repair coverage leaving owners many times to have to cover the cost of repairs or purchase new wheels themselves.
Wheels may cost thousands of dollars to and numerous owners have already had to purchase multiple wheels for their new or near new vehicles that should have been covered by GM's warranty.
GM is blaming Corvette owners.
If you have had an issue with a Bent or Cracked OEM Wheel on your Grand Sport or Z06, you can file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Your complaint will be added to a public NHTSA database after personal identifying information is removed.
If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people about the same product, this could indicate that a safety-related defect may exist that would warrant the opening of an investigation.
Please consider filing your complaint. Not only will it benefit you but will benefit other Corvette owners and could potentially save someone from having a serious accident.
The process is simple and will not take much of your time.
Here is how you can as proceed.
- Access the NHTSA site thru: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
- Click on the red START THE FORM button.
- In the first box type in your VIN.
- In the second box enter your vehicle make, model, and model year separated by spaces (e.g., make model year)“Chevrolet Corvette 20XX” (separated by spaces, replace XX with the 2 digits of your model year).
- Click on the NEXT Button.
- Click on the Wheels Box.
- In the third box down, type in your specific issue with your wheels.
- You can also upload any pictures that you have to show the problem.
- Type in the date of occurrence.
- Click on the Next button, and then the Next button again.
- You will then be asked for contact information and your email address. (all this personal information will be protected)
- Press verify your entries and submit to NHTSA.
Your complaint is now registered with the NHTSA.
If you would like to view other similar bent/cracked wheel NHTSA complaints that have been filed, follow these instructions:(your inputs shown in Red)
1) Access the NHTSA search website:https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues?prodType=E
2) Click and Highlight the “Keywords (Complaints Only)" box.
3) In the "Select Type:" Box Click on the "Vehicles" button.
4) Type in data entry field type in the words “wheel, crack, bent”. (making sure you include the commas)
5) In the "Narrative contains:" field, click on the "Any Keyword" button
In the Optional: SectionIn "Model Year range"
6) Click drop down arrow and select: Start: 2014
7) Click drop down arrow and select: End: 2019
8) Click drop down arrow and select: Make: Chevrolet
9) Click drop down arrow and select: Model: Corvette
10) Click the "GO" button.
You will then see the narratives other Corvette owners have posted, 5 at a time.Personal information is not listed.
Currently there are 25 Complaints as of the date of this link.
Would appreciate anyone who has had a cracked or bent wheel on their Corvette, please file a formal complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instruction are listed at top of this document.
Last edited by blkvet6; 12-20-2018 at 08:03 PM.
12-20-2018, 08:26 PM
#202
Le Mans Master
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The last I would want is a cracked wheel coming apart when driving on the highway at 75mph. There is a problem with GS & ZO6 wheels cracking and GM knows it. I don't like government interference but if that's what it takes for GM to fix the problem I say file a complaint.
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12-20-2018, 08:42 PM
#203
Burning Brakes
OP: I frankly feel that you and some others have unrealistic expectations for a sports car designed for this level of performance. I personally do not want a sports car with an SUV/ 4-wheel drive suspension, including the wheels. For performance enjoyment, I want low rolling mass (light wheels), along with a host of other features not found on vehicles designed for pot holes & 4-wheeling off-road use. These C7's require a certain level of care when driving them, especially if being used on inhospitable road surfaces. If one wants a vehicle that will take pot holes and the like as a family sedan or SUV will, perhaps a high-performance sportscar is not the right vehicle for such a driver, or that driver's road environment. I fear that all this mongering to run to the NHTSA will accomplish nothing but ruining it for the rest of us who want a true performance sports car. One should research a vehicle before buying it, and then not buy it if it doesn't satisfy one's road-abuse requirements. Stop running to the Feds, and let the marketplace decide what the Corvettes performance and road parameters should be. My 2 cents.
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12-20-2018, 08:43 PM
#204
OP: I frankly feel that you and some others have unrealistic expectations for a sports car designed for this level of performance. I personally do not want a sports car with an SUV/ 4-wheel drive suspension, including the wheels. For performance enjoyment, I want low rolling mass (light wheels), along with a host of other features not found on vehicles designed for pot holes & 4-wheeling off-road use. These C7's require a certain level of care when driving them, especially if being used on inhospitable road surfaces. If one wants a vehicle that will take pot holes and the like as a family sedan or SUV will, perhaps a high-performance sportscar is not the right vehicle for such a driver, or that driver's road environment. I fear that all this mongering to run to the NHTSA will accomplish nothing but ruining it for the rest of us who want a true performance sports car. One should research a vehicle before buying it, and then not buy it if it doesn't satisfy one's road-abuse requirements. Stop running to the Feds, and let the marketplace decide what the Corvettes performance and road parameters should be. My 2 cents.
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12-20-2018, 09:07 PM
#205
Race Director
Yes, will be interesting to see what becomes of this, however I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the government to step in against GM.
It would also be interesting to see some testing to determine exactly what these wheels will and will not hold up against.
That should be easy enough to do.
I don't believe I recall anyone here ever reporting they bent or cracked a wheel during track use?
It would also be interesting to see some testing to determine exactly what these wheels will and will not hold up against.
That should be easy enough to do.
I don't believe I recall anyone here ever reporting they bent or cracked a wheel during track use?
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 12-20-2018 at 09:26 PM.
12-21-2018, 08:17 AM
#206
Drifting
OP: I frankly feel that you and some others have unrealistic expectations for a sports car designed for this level of performance. I personally do not want a sports car with an SUV/ 4-wheel drive suspension, including the wheels. For performance enjoyment, I want low rolling mass (light wheels), along with a host of other features not found on vehicles designed for pot holes & 4-wheeling off-road use. These C7's require a certain level of care when driving them, especially if being used on inhospitable road surfaces. If one wants a vehicle that will take pot holes and the like as a family sedan or SUV will, perhaps a high-performance sportscar is not the right vehicle for such a driver, or that driver's road environment. I fear that all this mongering to run to the NHTSA will accomplish nothing but ruining it for the rest of us who want a true performance sports car. One should research a vehicle before buying it, and then not buy it if it doesn't satisfy one's road-abuse requirements. Stop running to the Feds, and let the marketplace decide what the Corvettes performance and road parameters should be. My 2 cents.
12-21-2018, 08:36 AM
#207
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-plague-2.html
12-21-2018, 09:03 AM
#210
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2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I second the opinion that don't hold your breath for the feds to intervene here...What about the C6 Corvette fuel tanks leaking gasoline which is more of a safety hazard than a bent wheel. The feds have known about this issue for years and crickets so far
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12-21-2018, 09:52 AM
#211
12-21-2018, 09:54 AM
#212
12-21-2018, 10:32 AM
#213
Burning Brakes
12-21-2018, 10:52 AM
#214
Burning Brakes
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bjones7131 (12-22-2018)
12-21-2018, 12:48 PM
#215
This is a SERIOUS problem and will not be resolved until death occurs. I love his car but I can not help thinking about the wheel issue. GM please get your act together and resolve this before someone gets hurt.
12-21-2018, 02:19 PM
#216
I do not recall reading of complaints of aftermarket forged wheels for these cars failing. Not once. So they can be designed and manufactured properly, without changing other aspects of the car/suspension.
12-21-2018, 02:23 PM
#217
Melting Slicks
I think this is good thread , this problem started since the early years of GS and Z06 right?
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MMD (12-21-2018)
12-21-2018, 06:18 PM
#218
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Thanks for the info OP. I just bought a new GS yesterday, so I'll keep this post in mind.
12-21-2018, 07:03 PM
#219
Melting Slicks
I had a slow leak in the right rear Z06. Discount Tire fixed the leak and informed me the wheel was bent. The car was bought new and has only 2000 miles on the odo. I do not recall hitting a pothole or running over anything. I filed a complaint just now.
12-21-2018, 10:40 PM
#220
Here, read the story of forum member Jenfioreally. Her story is not that uncommon from other members on this forum in regards to their C7 wheel issues. Many of these owners are not driving over pot holes on Interstates. Read her story, you might just change your opinion about the wheel issue many are having.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-plague-2.html
If we don’t push for it, GM will slide it under the rug. I’m a determined person when it comes to making someone responsible for the right thing...stay tuned, I’m gonna spill my story.
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