NHTSA Complaint #10532543 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

WITHIN 2 DAYS OF DRIVING, MY MAZDA 3 HAD TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS, WHERE THE VALVES OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) FAILED, ON TWO SEPARATE TIRES. ON MONDAY, JULY 18, 2013 WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON RT. 25 IN BOURNE, MA, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE WAS VERY FLAT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FILL IT WITH AIR, THE VALVE PUSHED INTO THE TIRE. LUCKILY, I WAS AT A GAS STATION AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE TIRE WITH "STANDARD" (NON-TPMS) VALVE AND I WAS ON MY WAY. AS I WAS ON VACATION. I PARKED THE CAR FOR A WEEK. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR (JULY 22), I DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 50 MILES. I STOPPED TO HAVE LUNCH AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS VERY FLAT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT AIR INTO THE VALVE, IT TOO PUSHED INTO THE TIRE. THAT IS TWO TPMS VALVES THAT FAILED IN TWO DAYS OF DRIVING. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-222-5500, EXT. 6) EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO JOSE (EXT. 1180). HE WAS SYMPATHETIC, BUT WOULD NOT COMMIT TO MAZDA REPAIRING THE TPMS VALVE AT NO COST TO ME. I AM HAVING MY MECHANIC PUT IN NON-TPMS VALVES IN THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ON THE CAR, AS I FEEL THEY ARE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. I WENT ON TO THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF VALVE FAILURES ON MAZDA3 CARS (HTTP://CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/MAZDA3/TIRE-PRESSURE-MONITORING-SYSTEM-PROBLEMS.PHP). I PLAN TO TAKE THE FAILED COMPONENTS TO WELLSLEY MAZDA, IN WELLSLEY MA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, FOR EVALUATION. I DO NOT TRUST THE RELIABILITY OF THE TMPS SYSTEM IN MY MAZDA3, AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE OTHERS WHO FEEL THE SAME. THE FAILURE OF THE TPMS VALVES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER INVESTIGATING. TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAN LEAD TO VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.