NHTSA Complaint #10242420 — 2007 FORD EXPLORER

WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK IN AUGUST, I'VE HAD TWO FAULTY TIRE VALVE STEMS CAUSE LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND NECESSITATE A TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THESE WERE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE CAR (RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR). I PARK IN A CARPORT AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR IS THE MORE EXPOSED SIDE. THE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM BY PRESSING SIDEWAYS ON THE TIRE STEM AND HEARING THE AIR HISS AS IT ESCAPED. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE CRACKING PROBLEM THAT I'VE READ ABOUT IN CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. I APPROACHED THE DEALER ABOUT FIXING THE OTHERS SO THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE A CRISIS LATER. THEY PULLED UP A REPORT BASED ON THE VIN AND SINCE THERE WERE NO OFFICIAL RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT FIX THEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE WHO IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS JAMIE. HER RESPONSE WAS EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING AS SHE APPEARED TO BE GIVING ME SCRIPTED ANSWERS: NO RECALLS ON MY CAR, WE DON'T FIX THINGS THAT AREN'T BROKE. APPARENTLY SAFETY ISSUES ARE NOT A CONSIDERATION. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AND HE FIXED REST OF MY TIRES AT NO CHARGE TO ME. *TR