NHTSA Complaint #10273253 — 2007 FORD EXPEDITION

I HAVE EXPERIENCE 3 VALVE STEM FAILURES ON CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TR TIRES; MODEL P265/70R17 113S ON A 2007 FORD EXPEDITION . THE VALVE STEMS APPARENTLY ARE THE CHINESE MODEL TR-414 STEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL AUTOMOTIVE NEWSPAPER COLUMNS. TODAY (6/9/09) I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFYING VEHICLE OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE SAID SINCE THIS IS NOT A RECALL, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT TO VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE VALVE STEMS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER A MANDATED RECALL FOR ALL TIRES USING THESE POORLY MGF. VALVE STEMS. MY STEM LEAKAGE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED ON APRIL 9, APRIL 23 AND JUNE 9, 2009. I HAVE ROTATED MY TIRES EVERY 3000 MILES AND THEY HAVE APPROX. 21620 MILES WEAR. FORTUNATELY I HAVE A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OR BEFORE I WAS STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR