NHTSA Complaint #10439264 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

THE VALVE STEM OF MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) HAD SIGNIFICANT CORROSION LEADING TO IMMEDIATE AND RAPID DEFLATION OF FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE REMOVING AIR HOSE WHILE TENDING TO TPMS WARNING LIGHT. THE RAPID DEFLATION WAS DUE TO COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE SEVERANCE WHERE THE THREADED PORTION OF VALVE STEM MET VALVE CAP WITHOUT ANY TORQUE OR ABNORMAL PRESSURE APPLIED. THE SEVERED EDGE OF THE VALVE STEM SHOWS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF CORROSION 360 DEGREES AND INWARD, WITH A THIN HALO (APPX. 1/10 OF THE WALL) REMAINING. BOTH THE TIRE AND VALVE STEM SHOWED NO SIGN OF LEAKING AND HELD PROPER PRESSURE WHILE FILLING TO RECOMMENDED PRESSURE UNTIL REMOVAL OF AIR HOSE CAUSED THE STEM TO SPLIT HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN THE 9TH AND 10TH THREAD. PLASTIC VALVE CAPS WERE IN PLACE ON ALL 4 TIRES. SPARE TIRE ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE PUT IN PLACE DUE TO 'STUCK' LUG NUTS ON SAME TIRE; SIMILAR CORROSION IS SUSPECT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY GALVANIC CORROSION DUE TO METALS FOUND IN DISK BRAKES, SHOES OR ALLOY RIM. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NEEDED TOW TO NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WHEN CALLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT SENDING MY VEHICLE OVER I ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE OTHER 3 VALVE STEMS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD "THEY ARE $150 EACH SO IF YOU WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THE OTHER ONES REPLACED YOU CAN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T GOING TO PAY FOR IT" MY RESPONSE: "REALLY? I'M THANKFUL THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HOPE THE SAFETY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS WOULD COME FIRST" ..NO IM SORRY, NO WE'LL LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU, JUST "WELL CAN I GIVE YOU THE NUMBER FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE?" *TR