NHTSA Complaint #10526373 — 2009 DODGE JOURNEY

THE VALVE STEMS ON MY 2009 DODGE JOURNEY CRACKED CAUSING THE STEM TO FLY OUT OF THE TIRE. THIS CAUSES THE TIRE TO INSTANTLY GO FLAT, WHICH IN TURN MAKES THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN IN ANY OTHER LANE I MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE OR IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I HAD TO FIX THE OTHER TWO TIRES AS WELL AS THEY WERE ALSO CRACKED. THIS IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM THAT DEALERS/MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF. DODGE IS ALSO AWARE. THEY HAVE SINCE CHANGED THE WAY THE VALVES WERE MADE. THEY ARE NOW SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. THE CONSUMER HOWEVER IS NOT AWARE UNTIL SOMETHING GOES WRONG. IN BOTH CASES AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED. AGAIN, I WAS LUCKY. BY DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND IT HAPPENS TO 2009 AND 2010 VEHICLES. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND ALL I GOT WE'RE APOLOGIES. IF I LOST MY LIFE OR MY CHILDREN AN APOLOGY WOULDN'T BRING ANYONE BACK. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS. WHEN THE STEM BLOWS OUT OF THE TIRE THE AIR LOSS IS INSTANTANEOUS. THERE IS NO WARNING JUST LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I TRULY HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN HELP MAKE OTHERS AWARE THAT THIS A PROBLEM. *TR