NHTSA Complaint #10524434 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

TIRE VALVE STEMS ----- TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE, FRONT PASSENGER GOODYEAR TIRE BLOWS. ENTIRE TREAD FLIES PAST TRUCK INTO THE PATH OF OTHER TRAFFIC & ALMOST HITS THE WINDSHIELD OF CAR BEHIND US. WE PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. WE GET THE SPARE TIRE PUT ON. ALL THAT WAS LEFT ON THE RIM OF THE BAD TIRE WAS THE SIDE WALLS. NO VALVE STEM W/TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR. 45 MINS LATER, WE CONTINUE ON OUR TRIP. 28 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, WE HEAR A SIMILAR NOISE & SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. WE PULL OVER AGAIN. WE SEE THE REAR TIRE IS SHREDDED & THE VALVE STEM W/TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR IS MISSING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE STEMS FALL OUT OF PLACE & THE TIRE GOES FLAT. THIS CAUSED VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR US & THE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE, BODILY INJURY, OR DEATH. NOW THAT WE HAVE ALREADY USED OUR SPARE TIRE & WE ARE OUT OF TOWN, WE CAN NOT CALL FAMILY FOR HELP. WE ARE FORCED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE US TO THE NEAREST DISCOUNT TIRE. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE 2 DRIVERS SIDE TIRES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A 3RD TIRE & VALVE STEM NEEDED REPLACED. THE 4TH TIRE VALVE STEM W/PRESSURE SENSOR WAS ALSO CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACED WITH A RUBBER VALVE STEM. REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE BILL & TOW BILL. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, TOOK THE TRUCK TO A DODGE DEALER TO COMPLAIN & REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM DODGE. WHILE AT THE DEALER, NOTICED A TRUCK ON THE USED CAR LOT WHICH HAD A CRACKED VALVE STEM. (HAVE PICTURE) A 2009 JEEP CAME IN ON A TOW TRUCK WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2010, BUT STILL NO RECALLS ON THESE 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCKS TO FIX THIS UNSAFE ISSUE. PASSENGER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE USING THESE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS ON A VEHICLE EVER AGAIN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT & A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED.