Regulators Probing Cracks in GM Wheels

General Motors Corp. faces a U.S. safety investigation on 384,608 of its 1999 through 2003 sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks because of wheel cracks.

The preliminary investigation includes GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe sport utilities and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. The Washington agency said it received two complaints involving cracks in six-bolt 16-by-6.5-inch full-face steel wheels, including one that involved three wheels. No injuries or accidents were reported.

The U.S. action affects about 7% of the five vehicles for those model years and involves buyers who requested steel wheels rather than the aluminum ones that are standard equipment, said a General Motors spokesman.