Corvette Wheels Defective, Says Lawsuit
A recent lawsuit against General Motors claims that the wheels in their C7 Corvette Grand Sport are faulty and prone to cracking. The cracking can cause the wheel to puncture the tire leading to tire failure while the car is in motion.
The Z06 wheels, which are made out of an aluminum alloy, are the subject of the complaint. Plaintiffs say that the wheels can bend, warp, and crack. A cracked wheel can pose a major safety risk to a driver traveling at highway speeds. If the wheel were to puncture the tire, the ensuing blowout would likely cause the driver to lose control of the car.
If you think blown tires are dangerous for large tractor-trailers, you’re right. But they are several times more dangerous for true sports cars which are designed to be lightweight.
As of yet, there has been no recall. A complaint has been filed with the NHTSA, however.
Analyzing the Complaints
One owner took his 2018 Corvette to an auto shop. Before the shop serviced the vehicle, they took photos showing that the wheels were bent already. The man when back to his Chevy dealership and complained about the problem, but the dealership representative told him it was likely due to his driving style and did not offer to replace the wheels free of charge. They quoted him a price of $7500 to fix both wheels. Eventually, the dealership did pay him $1200 for out-of-pocket expenses. But the man filed suit anyway claiming that the wheel problem was a breach of the three-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
The class-action lawsuit alleges that GM knew about the wheel problem prior to selling the vehicles. It further alleges that had customers known about the wheel problem, they would likely have no purchased the car.
Another owner lodged a similar complaint against GM claiming that after about 1,000 miles, all four wheels were bent and needed to be replaced. GM told the customer that the problem was not covered under the terms of his warranty.
You Should Avoid Driving This Car
While the facts surrounding the case have yet to be sorted out, and GM is taking the position that it’s their customers’ fault that the wheels are bent, it is extremely dangerous to drive on wheels that have the potential to crack under pressure. Drivers will begin noticing differences in how the car handles if the wheel warps or bends. However, if the wheel cracks, it could put the driver’s life in danger as well as other drivers on the road.
Luckily, no one has been injured because of allegedly faulty wheels.
Talk to a Tire Liability Attorney Today
If a defective auto part caused you serious injury while you were driving, the Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert can help hold the manufacturer accountable and recover damages on your behalf. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
gmauthority.com/blog/2019/05/new-lawsuit-alleges-gm-fit-c7-corvette-grand-sport-z06-with-faulty-wheels/comment-page-4/
https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/does-the-sale-of-defective-tires-constitute-a-trade-secret/
