NHTSA Complaint #10463920 — 2009 DODGE AVENGER

ON 9 JUNE 2012 THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF PRESSURE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND THE TPMS VALVE HAD BROKEN APART AND FALLEN INTO THE TIRE. THE SENSOR/STEM WAS REPLACED AND THE WHEEL AND UNDAMAGED TIRE REMOUNTED. ON 1 JULY 2012, THE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATED THAT THERE WAS LOW PRESSURE TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN MONITORING THE PRESSURE, THE PSI WAS DROPPING ABOUT 1 PSI EVERY 5 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO THE NEXT REST STOP 5 MILES LATER AND THE STEM WAS COMING APART IN VARIOUS PLACES. AIR WAS LEAKING FROM THE BASE OF THE STEM. THE ENTIRE SENSOR WAS BARELY BEING HELD ONTO THE WHEEL BY WHAT REMAINED OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE STEM. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BACK HOME WITH A SPARE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STEM WAS FOUND TO HAVE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE BUT STILL MAINTAINING PRESSURE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY DAMAGE. ON 2 JULY 2012 ALL SENSORS/STEMS WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED TO AVOID ANY FUTURE DANGEROUS FAILURES. *JS