2001 Lincoln LS Tires & Wheels Problems

WE HAVE A 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORT V-8 WITH THE SPORT 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS. THE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE. FOR SOME REASON LINCOLN DESIGNED THE RIMS WITH CHROME ON THE INSIDE WHICH OVER TIME, BUBBLES AND CORRODES. IT CONSTANTLY CAUSES THE TIRES TO GO FLAT AND CUTS THEM UP. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THESE SPECIFIC CHROME 17 INCH WHEELS. OF COURSE DURING THE 2003 DESIGN, THE WHEELS WERE CHANGED. WHY NO RECALL ON SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM??? IT IS CAUSING ALOT OF GRIEF OVER SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WHEELS AND TIRES. *NM

MY MICHELIN PILOT SPORT MS TIRE 235/45Z/R17 DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AND LEAKED AIR. THE TIRE WAS USED UNDER A NORMAL COMUTING ROUTINE AND NEVER PLACED UNDER ANY UNUSUAL STRESS OR ROAD CONDITIONS. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL OF 255/35ZR20 97Y EXTRA LOAD. I BELIEVE THE 235/45Z/R17 SPORT MS IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AS IT HAS THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS. THE OLD TIRE WAS LEFT AT THE TIRE DEALER AND WAS DISPOSED. A LETTER FROM THE DEALER CONFIRMING THIS CONDITION IS POSSIBLE. *NM

ROAD WHEEL LUG NUT DESIGN USED ON CERTAIN MY2001 LINCOLN LS SEDANS IS DIMENSIONALLY UNSTABLE, GROWING IN SIZE OVER TIME AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE AND/OR SECURE WITH THE CORRECT WHEEL BRACE OR SOCKET TOOL. FOLLOWING A PUNCTURE AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF 4 TIRES ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, ALL 20 NUTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THEY COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY FORCE. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT TSB EXISTS FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NO FORMAL RECALL. NOTE: 1 SAMPLE OF DEFECTIVE NUT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *JB

OVER THE PAST 13 MONTHS, WE HAD HAD A TOTAL OF SIX VERY LOW OR FLAT TIRES, INCLUDING ONE BLOWOUT ON AN INTERSTATE. NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND IN THE TIRES (PUNCTURES). WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BLOWOUT, ALL TIRES WERE ABLE TO BE REINFLATED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO SOURCES (A FORD DEALERSHIP AND A TIRE DEALERSHIP) THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALLOY WHEELS THAT CAUSES THE TIRE SEAL TO BREAK. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES TO-DATE, BUT THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THIS IS HAPPENING IS A CONCERN. THE LAST FLAT TIRE OCCURRED YESTERDAY (01/13/2004).*AK

THE CAPS ON THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT WHEELS IS STRIPED CAUSING IT TO BEDIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TIRE. TS

ONE LUG WAS SHEARED OFF AND THE OTHER LUG NUTS WERE LOOSENED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COMEOFF OF THE CAR AT HIGH SPEED. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE LUG SHEARED FIRST AND THEN THE REMAINING LUG NUTS LOOSENED OR IF THE LUG NUTS WERE FIRST LOOSE AND THEN THE LUG SHEARED.*AK

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