I was driving down highway 50 in sacramento, California, in a 2007 C230 Mercedes Benz, when I ran over an object. The right rear tire immediately went flat. I drove to a tire facility and had the tire exchanged for the spare. The tire facility suggested I take the car to Mercedes Benz. On the way to Mercedes Benz I stopped at an automobile repair shop and had the tire and rim inspected. The middle of the rim was cracked and ruptured. The shop owner stated he had been in the auto repair business for 30 years and had never seen a rim failure of that type. I took the vehicle to Mercedes Benz sacramento and the serviceman told me tires and rims were not covered under warranty. He did not even bother to take the tire out of the trunk. I said I wished to speak to the service manager. He informed me the service manager wasn't in. I said I would make an appointment to see the service manager - that I had concerns about the rim failure. When I met with the service manager, I voiced my concerns regarding the rim. The service manager called me later in the afternoon and stated the damage would be at my cost and wasn't covered under warranty. I inquired why this wasn't covered under warranty because I was only 4 months into the lease of this new car. The answer was tires and rims are not covered under warranty under any circumstance's left a voice mail message for general manager of Mercedes Benz sacramento to call me regarding this rim failure and my concerns. He called me back and defended the service technician and service manager's decisions to give the stock answer it was not covered under warranty. I pointed out to the general manager that my concern was the rim had ruptured and cracked and that this was a new vehicle. I felt my concerns were being ignored by the service department. Mr. Crowley did not seem to be of the same opinion. The tire and rim were being replaced at a facility other than Mercedes Benz.

- Sacramento, CA, USA