Toyotta Corolla Allow Wheels Corroding

[Goodjob]

I bought a Toyota Corolla from new in Sept 2004. After about a Year I noticed that areas of the wheel were starting to show signs of corrosion and the finish was starting to bubble. After 2 years the wheels were replaced. 2 Years on and all the wheels are worse than the first time round. I phoned up my Dealer and was told that the replacement wheels only came with 1 year warrantee and they weren't prepared to do anything. All 4 wheels are affected with the worst of it around the central hubs - see photo.

I find this unacceptable because the quality clearly isn't satisfactory and there appears to be an ongoing faulty in the production process. Do I have any grounds for complaint and how should I proceed?

Thanks

[Rez89]

I bought a Toyota Corolla from new in Sept 2004. After about a Year I noticed that areas of the wheel were starting to show signs of corroding and the finish was starting to bubble. After 2 years the wheels were replaced. 2 Years on and all the wheels are worse than the first time round. I phoned up my Dealer and was told that the replacement wheels only came with 1 year warrantee and they weren’t prepared to do anything.

I find this unacceptable because the quality clearly isn’t satisfactory and there appears to be an ongoing faulty in the production process. Do I have any grounds for complaint and how should I proceed?

forget the standard wheels just get your self a nice set of 17s or 18s alloys! :P

[10 ft man]

I bought a Toyota Corolla from new in Sept 2004. After about a Year I noticed that areas of the wheel were starting to show signs of corrosion and the finish was starting to bubble. After 2 years the wheels were replaced. 2 Years on and all the wheels are worse than the first time round. I phoned up my Dealer and was told that the replacement wheels only came with 1 year warrantee and they weren't prepared to do anything. All 4 wheels are affected with the worst of it around the central hubs - see photo.

I find this unacceptable because the quality clearly isn't satisfactory and there appears to be an ongoing faulty in the production process. Do I have any grounds for complaint and how should I proceed?

Thanks

i would kick up a fuss, mine are the same age and are mint! Something aint right there.

[moonstone mart]

Quite common, you wont get anything from the dealership - they are right about them only having a year warranty (if vehicle is out of manufacturers 3 yr warranty)

If you do want to take it up with anyone it should be Toyota GB as the dealer wont change anything that expensive for free as they will foot the bill if it isnt Toyota approved.

Mart.

[ricc]

hmmm sounds like your not going to get much joy out of the dealerships.

You could get them refurbed, the usual prices are between 30 and 50 per rim. I know its an expense you would rather not have, but myself, i couldnt have wheels on my car that i know looked bad. i like things to be in decent original nick! :)

Rez, i dont think everyone wants to slap 17's or 18's on their car! some of us have grown out of this stage of our life, and are curently waiting to grow back into it for the midlife crisis :P lol

[freezer]

Seems to be common enough on toyota wheels. I would kick up a fuss

[Rez89]

hmmm sounds like your not going to get much joy out of the dealerships.

You could get them refurbed, the usual prices are between 30 and 50 per rim. I know its an expense you would rather not have, but myself, i couldnt have wheels on my car that i know looked bad. i like things to be in decent original nick! :)

Rez, i dont think everyone wants to slap 17's or 18's on their car! some of us have grown out of this stage of our life, and are curently waiting to grow back into it for the midlife crisis :P lol

haha LOL, the only reason i put some alloys on my car was that all of my tyres were baldy so i thought i'd replace them with new wheels and tyres instead!

since you say you are waiting to go into you midlife crisis, does this mean that your are going to get a 2 seater convertible pimp it out, have a bit of a stomach and are going to drive with the top down listnin to elvis presley! hahaha LOL

thats a midlife crisis in MY OPNION

[ballist1x]

Quite common, you wont get anything from the dealership - they are right about them only having a year warranty (if vehicle is out of manufacturers 3 yr warranty)

hm im not sure trading standards would agree...

manufacturer warranty means nothing, the court decides what is an acceptable expected lifespan of a product. It could EASILY be argued that this is an inherrant fault in the product design/manufacture

Alloy wheels should last what 5-10 years IMO, im sure a court would agree.

the dealers dont want to pay out on anything and will say their warranty does not cover it, unfortunately they could be neglecting their legal responsibilities if they do say that...for something that expensive it would definately be worth getting the legal geezers on it...

[Onk]

Definitely kick up a fuss. This is a common problem with Toyota alloy wheels.

I had 4 new alloys on my MR2 under warranty and my father-in-law had 4 new alloy wheels for his corrolla under warranty last year. Although both these were the standard manufacturers warranty I think on 05 plates.

Surely the 12 year corrosion warranty should cover the wheels? Even if they have replaced them already once this is not acceptable.

Raise merry hell I say!

[cabcurtains]

The chances are getting something are almost nil, the wheel is exposed to the elements and all thats needed is a chip and the bubbling will start and that is likely to be a "fair wear & tear". Its not as if the wheels have failed, they still work perfectly they just look cosmetically worse than when new. Once your out of warranty expect very little help on an issue like this.

Onk,

Regards the 12yr body warranty, if the corrosion came about as being started by a stone chip or similiar you would get no help at all! The chances are the car would have to have spontaneously rusted to receive anything ;)