NHTSA Complaint #10232398 — 1996 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VALVE STEMS ON THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY FAIL AND CAUSE THE TIRES TO FLATTEN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VALVE STEM FAILED AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. ON MAY 22, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VALVE STEM FAILED AGAIN, THE TIRE LOST AIR, AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING. WHEN THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRES, THEY WERE FINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VALVE STEM. THE STORE FROM WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED STATED THAT THE RIM WAS BENT AND THE TIRE WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. FOUR VALVE STEMS WERE LOST IN FIVE WEEKS. THE CONTACT WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES, ONLY THE VALVE STEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 07/22/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF