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Mahindra starts silent recall of weak alloy wheels (XUV500)

Last month, D-BHPian SDP highlighted two similar cases of Mahindra XUV500 alloy wheels inexplicably breaking off vehicles. The intriguing part about both these cases was that the wheel broke off without any external impact or abnormal force.

These were not OEM alloy wheels, but instead, the 'Speed-Rims' that are officially available at Mahindra dealerships as an accessory.

In February 2015, an XUV500 owner fitted with these alloy wheels walked away from a disastrous accident on the highway (picture 2), which was caused due to the front left wheel breaking off at highway speeds. The problem came to light when yet another owner reported that on his two month old XUV500, the aftermarket alloy wheel broke off from its mounts while he was traveling at just 30 km/h (picture 3). These two incidents raised a big concern about the quality of materials used during construction of the 'Speed-Rim' aftermarket alloys, manufactured by Neo Wheels in India.

Mahindra Takes Action

Mahindra investigated this serious issue, and as per BHPians rahul kej & apn6, a silent recall has begun - starting April 2015. Owners can take their vehicles fitted with these 'Speed-Rim' alloys to the service center for inspection. If the serial number stamped on the wheels matches that of the defective batch, Mahindra will replace them with new ones (of the same design) at no additional charge. The relationship managers have also been directed to get in touch with concerned XUV500 owners for inspection. Since these wheels aren't OEM, there is a probability that Mahindra might not issue an official recall.

Attention XUV500 Owners

It's important to note that this issue only affects the 'Speed-Rim' design pictured, and is not a known concern for the other (more common) XUV500 alloy design. Reason: Not only are the two designs structurally dissimilar, they are manufactured by different companies too.

If you own an XUV500 with the 'Speed-Rim' alloy wheels fitted, do contact your Mahindra relationship manager and request an inspection. Do act immediately, as this is a serious safety concern for you, your passengers and other road users too.

 
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