Component

WHEELS:RIM

1,676 NHTSA complaints about wheels:rim issues across 46 makes and 371 models.

The wheels:rim is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,676 filings from 46 manufacturers and 371 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 50 crashes, 5 fires, 39 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE with 198 filings, followed by CHEVROLET CORVETTE and CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

1,676
Complaints
371
Models Affected
50
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 198
2 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 56
3 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 54
4 CHRYSLER SEBRING 50
5 FORD CVPI 49
6 FORD WINDSTAR 46
7 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER 39
8 FORD FOCUS 29
9 FORD F-150 29
10 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 26
11 FORD EXPLORER 25
12 CHRYSLER 300M 25
13 FORD F-350 22
14 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 21
15 CHEVROLET LUMINA 20
16 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 17
17 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 16
18 TOYOTA CAMRY 15
19 FORD TAURUS 15
20 DODGE RAM 2500 15
21 PONTIAC GRAND AM 14
22 KIA RIO 14
23 CHEVROLET MALIBU 14
24 BUICK REGAL 14
25 HONDA ACCORD 13
26 FORD AEROSTAR 13
27 CHRYSLER LHS 12
28 MITSUBISHI 3000GT 11
29 TOYOTA SIENNA 10
30 JAGUAR X-TYPE 9

Recent Complaints

2021 INFINITI Q50

The contact owns a 2021 Infinity Q50. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently purchased from a dealer. When the vehicle was purchased, the tires were replaced. The vehicle was later taken to

2019 FORD F-250

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. The contact purchased four aftermarket steel rims for the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to have the rims balanced, and the contact was advised by the technician th

2020 KIA SEDONA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sedona. While driving approximately 30 MPH on a main road, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally and became difficult to control. The vehicle was driven to a tire s

2024 TESLA MODEL Y

The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the TPMS displayed that the PSI of the tires was low. Additionally, a notification advising that the veh

2015 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the rear passenger's side tire became flat, and the front passenger's side tire lost a significant amount of air pressu

2024 BMW XM

The contact owns a 2024 BMW XM. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. Roadside Assistance towed the vehicle to a dealer to be dia

2017 GMC YUKON

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Yukon. The contact noticed that the chrome on the rims of the vehicle was oxidized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the rims. The manufacturer

2019 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a slow leak in the passenger’s side rear wheel. The contact stated that air was added two

2012 TOYOTA TACOMA Crash

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while his son was driving 40 MPH, the rear driver-side wheel rim detached. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated

2013 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA

The contact owns a 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel was turned to the right to follow a sharp bend in the road, and the vehicle tu

2024 SUBARU LEGACY

See attached document for complaint.

2022 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 450

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front tire had a blowout. The contact stated that the failure had occurred bec

2019 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front tires became low on air. The contact noticed that the wheels were cracked. There were no

2019 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. The stated that the passenger's side rear tire was continuously loosing air. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the rear passe

2017 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rims were inspected, and the contact became aware that the rims were cracked in five locations. Ad

2019 FORD F-350

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was discovered that the air pressure in all four tires were consistently decreasing; the contact also notic

2019 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG CLS53

The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS53. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear rim was cracked. The passenger’s side front rim was also cracked. The contact stated that the tire pr

2018 SUBARU OUTBACK

The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Outback. The contact stated upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed all 4 wheels showed signs of cracks on the rims and spokes. The low-pressure tire warning light had i

2013 FORD FLEX

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear wheel was corroded and leaking air. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local de

2019 TOYOTA CAMRY

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Camry equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Energy Saver A/S, Tire Size: 215/55/R17, DOT Number: 1653F. The contact stated while his wife was driving 70 MPH with him

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve wheels:rim issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,676 complaints about wheels:rim problems across 371 vehicle models from 46 manufacturers.
How dangerous are wheels:rim defects?
WHEELS:RIM issues have been linked to 50 crashes, 5 fires, 39 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most wheels:rim problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for wheels:rim issues is the MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE with 198 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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