NHTSA Complaint #10231576 — 2004 MERCURY SABLE

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08036 WE PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES ON OCT, 06, FROM NTB IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA TO PUT ON MY 2004 MERCURY SABLE. WITHIN THE PAST 2 MTHS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS. THE FIRST WENT FLAT, I TOOK IT BACK TO NTB, THEY REPLACED IT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, REPLACED THAT VALVE STEM. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO WORK, WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, I HEARD AIR AND ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. I HAD THE LAST TWO VALVE STEMS REPLACED. THE VALVE STEMS BROKE OFF. THE LAST TIRE DEALER , LITTLE TIRE IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA, GAVE ME ONE THEY TOOK OFF MY CAR AND SAID THEY LOOKED AS IF THE VALVE STEMS HAD DRY-ROTTED. I CONTACTED NTB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ASKING IF THERE WAS A DEFECT OR RECALL ON THE VALVE STEMS. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK. I DO THINK THESE VALVE STEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY, I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY CAR AND TIRES AND NOTICED THE LEAKAGE BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OR BLEW OUT BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE DO THAT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR