NHTSA Complaint #10265352 — 2007 FORD FUSION

07 FORD FUSION REQUIRED TWO LEAKING STEMS TO BE REPLACED SINCE JAN 09. 4/6/09 TRAVELING ON I-4 OUTSIDE OF TAMPA AT 70 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT, NO POP OR ANYTHING, JUST NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE ROAD NOISE SO I TOUCHED THE BREAK AND IT GOT LOUDER. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GOT SAFELY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHEN THE TREAD PART OF WHEEL CONTINUED TO ROLL/BOUNCE DOWN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. A ROAD RANGER STOPPED AND CHANGED MY TIRE FOR ME, ASKED WHERE I WAS GOING AND TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW TIRE. PURCHASED NEW TIRE FOR $278 FROM A FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS PUNCTURES IN THE TREAD, IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE SIDEWALL AS THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT ON THE RIM AND COULDN'T TELL ON THE TREAD PART. I HAVE THE PIECES IN MY POSSESSION. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT AFTER 2 TIRES GOING FLAT AND STEMS HAVING TO BE REPLACED THE STEM (WHICH HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED) FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLAT TIRE. ON 4/10/09 DROVE TO WORK, CAME OUT FOR LUNCH LEFT REAR WAS FLAT AND ANOTHER STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. I'M NOT SURE IF WHEN I PURCHASED THE NEW TIRE, THEY PUT ON A NEW STEM BUT ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY ALL LOOK OK AS OF TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD STEMS. *TR