NHTSA Complaint #10505656 — 2009 DODGE JOURNEY

TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON WEST BOUND M-59 HIGHWAY, IN MICHIGAN, WHEN ALL AIR PRESSURE LOST OUT OF RT. REAR TIRE. MANAGED TO GET CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF A BELLE TIRE STORE. HAD THEM TAKE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS JUST ONE MORE FAILURE, DUE TO ROAD SALT, OF THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEM ON A CHRYSLER TPMS AIR PRESSURE SENDING UNIT. THEY ADVISED ME TO REPLACE UNIT ON ALL FOUR WHEELS BECAUSE THEY WOULD SOON BE FAILING. I REPLACED TWO OF THEM AT A COST OF $65 EACH BECAUSE THAT WAS ALL THAT I COULD AFFORD. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME A BUSHEL OF DEFECTIVE CHRYSLER (SIEMENS) UNITS. SINCE ONLY THE VALVE STEMS ARE BAD, AND EASY TO REPLACE, I LOOKED FOR REPLACEMENTS ON THE INTERNET BUT FOUND NONE. TOO BAD THAT THEY MAKE YOU BUY A $65 PART OVER THE FAILURE OF A $1 PART. BY-THE WAY, THERE ARE UNITS OFFERED WITH RUBBER VALVE STEMS THAT HOLD UP JUST LIKE THE OLD ONES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR