NHTSA Complaint #10405390 — 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER VALVE STEM CASTING WAS DISINTEGRATED. ALSO, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE VALVE STEM CASTING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SENSOR AND VALVE STEM WERE REMOVED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE VALVE STEM WITH A STANDARD VALVE STEM YET THE SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE CRACKED TIRE VALVE STEM ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE VALVES WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS FOR THOSE VALVES WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VALVES HAD NOT FAILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF