NHTSA Complaint #10340528 — 2007 FORD F-150

MY 2007 FORD F150 JUST EXPERIENCED ITS 3RD VALVE STEM FAILURE FROM A TOPSEAL AUTO PARTS TR414 VALVE STEM THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY MANUFACTURED BY SHANGAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD TO CHECK MY VALVE STEMS BACK ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT ALL OF THEM APPEARED OKAY AT THE TIME I CHECKED THEM AND AS I RECALL THE BULLETIN DID NOT INSIST THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY A DEALER. I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST VALVE STEM FAILURE ON 9/6/09 REQUIRING A NEW TIRE. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TOUGH LUCK, SAYING I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR IT TO BE CHECKED BY THEM. I HAD TO REPLACE THAT TIRE MYSELF FOR ABOUT $185. I THEN REQUESTED THAT THE 3 REMAINING STEMS BE REPLACED BY THE FUGATE MOTORS DEALERSHIP IN EL DORADO SPRINGS, MO. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY IN SEPTEMBER 2009. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE VALVE STEMS BUT SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT STEMS AND SAID THEY HAD CHECKED THE 3 REMAINING STEMS AND THEY WERE FINE AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE RETURNING FROM COLORADO LAST WEEK I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FAILURE ON 6/24/10 REQUIRING A CHANGED VALVE STEM AT A WALMART AND AND A 3RD FAILURE ON 6/25/10 WHICH WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER NEW TIRE. THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SHREDDED TIRE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS WRECK. THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR MAY BE BAD DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE TIRE SHREDDING. THEY NOW ALSO REMIND ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SOMETHING IS DESPERATELY WRONG HERE! *TR