NHTSA Complaint #10510865 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

APRIL 18, 2013 AT ABOUT 4:30 PM, DRIVING ON RT 400 EXPRESSWAY SOUTH, WITH MY SON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT,THE LOW TIRE ALARM WENT OFF AND I PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST EXIT, AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. UPON INSPECTION, MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. HAD TIRE CHANGED TO SPARE. ON FOLLOWING MONDAY, TOOK TIRE FOR REPAIR TO MY MECHANIC, WHERE HE FOUND THE VALVE STEM INSIDE THE TIRE. THE THREADED COLLAR THAT GOES ON THE VALVE STEM TO HELP HOLD IT IN PLACE WAS COMPLETELY GONE FROM CORROSION. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER VALVE STEMS. HE ADVISED I REPLACE OTHER VALVE STEMS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ON MAY 1, I WAS WASHING MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED AIR BUBBLES FORMING WHERE THE VALVE STEM MEETS THE ALUMINUM RIM ON THE OTHER FRONT TIRE. I NOTICED THE THREADED COLLAR WAS MISSING FROM THAT VALVE STEM. THAT SAME DAY, I HAD THAT VALVE STEM REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME DESIGN AND MATERIAL AS THE ORIGINAL. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I DID APPROACH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL REGARDING THAT PROBLEM. HE STATED LATER MODEL DESIGNS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO CORRECT THIS. *TR