NHTSA Complaint #10303823 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO VALVE STEMS HAVE FAILED; THE SHAFT OF THE VALVE STEM BROKE OFF. THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS ALERTED BY A TIRE SHOP WHEN HE WAS HAVING TIRES INSTALLED. IN FEBRUARY 2010, WHEN HE CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE, A VALVE STEM POPPED OFF AND THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BECAME FLAT WITHIN MINUTES. HE WAS UNSURE OF WHAT TIRE THE FIRST STEM CAME OFF OF. THE TIRE SHOP INFORMED HIM THAT THE VALVE STEM FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO CORROSION. AFTER THE LATEST FAILURE, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TIRE SHOP AND IT WAS REITERATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TWO VALVE STEMS REPLACED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SINCE THE REPAIR WAS MADE THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HELP BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE THE FAILURE. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE OTHER TWO STEMS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT FAILED AT THAT POINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.