NHTSA Complaint #10515125 — 2010 VOLVO XC70

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE TIRE PRESSURE VALVE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE METAL. THE NEW VALVES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE IS THAT ONE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT OCCURS. IF THE FRONT TIRE HAD LOSS PRESSURE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A WORSE INCIDENT. THIS HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS EARLIER WITH ANOTHER TIRE. I STOPPED TO ADD AIR TO A TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE WAS PUSHED INTO THE TIRE WHEN TRIED TO APPLY THE AIR HOSE. THE TIRE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AT THE TIME. THIS TIME AROUND I HAD ALL OF THE ORIGINAL VALVES REPLACED, AND FOUND THAT THE DEALERS IN THE AREA ARE ALL OUT OF STOCK WITH THE VALVES, SO IT APPEARS TO BE A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL VALVE CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WITH RESPECT TO THE MATERIALS USED. AS A RESULT, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO DAMAGED TIRES, AS WELL AS FOUR TIRE PRESSURE VALVES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE QUICKLY INVESTIGATED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU. *TR