1999 Dodge Avenger

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST 5 WHEEL LUGS. EVERYTIME I HAVE MY TIRES TAKEN OFF FOR REPLACEMENT OR ROTATION OR TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS, ETC. A LUG WILL BREAK DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE LUGS WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE REPLACEMENTS AND IT ISN'T CHEAP. I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PART OR HOW IT WAS INSTALLED. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE AVENGER ES WITH 17" SILVER 5-SPOKE ALUMINUM RIMS. I LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT 3 OF THE 4 RIMS ARE BENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, THE CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING OFF ALL THE RIMS IN 2000.*AK CAR BEGAN VIBRATING AND DRIVING STRANGELY FEBRUARY OF 2005. I HAD THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM, PASSENGER HUB ASSEMBLY AND PASSENGER DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. CAR DRIVES BETTER NOW, BUT VIBRATION CONTINUES. BROUGHT CAR TO A WHEEL SHOP THIS WEEK TO REPAIR A 5TH BENT RIM I GOT FOR USE AS A FULL SIZE SPARE. WHEEL SHOP BALANCED THE 4 WHEELS ON THE CAR AND NOTIFIED ME THAT 3 OF THE 4 ORIGINAL WHEELS ARE "OUT OF TRUE" WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE VIBRATION. THEY ATTRIBUTE THIS TO EXTREMELY SOFT ALUMINUM USED IN THE RIMS' CONSTRUCTION. UPON CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 17" WHEELS MADE BY ENKEI? AND FOUND ON THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, DODGE AVENGER AND CHRYSLER SEBRING BETWEEN 1997 AND 2001. SOME WEBSITES REFERRING TO THIS ISSUE WERE: HTTP://WWW.SSHWLAW.COM/PRESS.PHP?CID=0172 AND HTTP://WWW.MITSUBISHISUCKS.COM/CARS/CLASS/RIMS/ECLIPSE/ . *AK

BOTH FRONT AND REAR RIGHT RIMS WERE BENT UNDER SEPARATE, UNRELATED AND NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE OWNER COULD NOT "PROVE" IT WAS NORMAL CONDITIONS. PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD APPARENTLY WITH THESE RIMS. DOOR ASSEMBLY SEALANT FOR WEATHER STRIPPING BEGAN DRIPPING OVER THE SUMMER AFTER I PURCHASED CAR. STILL DRIPS. DEALER STALLED ON REPAIRS UNTIL I WAS OUT OF MY WARRANTY AND THEN REFUSED TO REPAIR.*AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSES AIR FREQUENTLY, DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER A SERVICE MANAGER AT A TIRE STORE STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE TIRE RIMS NEEDED TO BE APPLIED WITH BEAD SEALS AND NEW VALVE STEMS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DODGE TO GO TO ANOTHER FACILITY THAT DOES NOT TAKE APPOINTMENTS AND IS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM CONSUMER, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING TIRE LEAKAGE AND RECENTLY ONE OF THE WHEEL COVERS WAS LOST WHILE DRIVING. *SLC