Can you tie new car rims/wheels to the VIN somehow?

forthillforthill Member Posts: 34
edited September 2015 in General
I bought a new car and when I picked it up I noticed it didn't have floor mats, which the dealer quickly found. I also did not notice until I got home with the car that the front driver's wheel has a dent on the rim as well as a tear in the tire sidewall. I also noticed that the 3 other tires have red dots on them but oddly the front driver's wheel tire does not (this may not mean anything, I know).

I'm thinking that the wheel was switched from some other vehicle before being prepped and given to me.

Yes, I should have done a complete visual inspection of the entire inside/outside of the car on delivery but I did not. I expected that as I paid for a new car then I get all new parts. I shouldn't have to open the hood to see that the engine is there and look under the chassis to make sure the transmission is there.

When I told my sales rep at the dealer he said bring it in to service and 'we"ll make it right, as per the general manager'.

Is there any correlation to tying back the wheels/rims on a new car to the VIN somehow? I still think the driver's wheel was switched from another auto....

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Walter.
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Comments

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 261,918
    Seems doubtful. I've never seen a serial number on a wheel, just model numbers.

    If you get a new wheel and matching tire, why would it matter?

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  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Wonder if the red dots are for balancing the wheels/tires?
  • forthillforthill Member Posts: 34
    From all I've read the red dot is no longer used for balancing the wheels - hence why place it on the tire(s) in the first place
  • forthillforthill Member Posts: 34
    Forgot to mention - the car they sold me (I bought) was inside on the showroom floor the day before I picked it up. I would doubt they'd put a car with a wheel dent and tire damage on the showroom floor.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited September 2015
    Hard to say, maybe they ran the car through an automatic car wash and it dinged the wheel and they hoped you wouldn't notice. How many miles were on your car when you picked it up?

    The better practice imo would have been to notify you that damage occurred (and why) and either fix the wheel and replace the tire before delivery or give you a due bill covering repair when you bring it back in.

    In most states, dealers don't have to disclose repairs made to new cars prior to sale.
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