NHTSA Complaint #10542413 — 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3

THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS HAVE FAILED CAUSING TIRE DEFLATION. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN MY DRIVEWAY.UPON TRYING TO RE-INFLATE THE LOW TIRES I FOUND THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS JUST FELL AWAY INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. MY TIRE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REINSTALL THE MONITORS(ONLY TO HAVE THEM FAIL AGAIN LATER) MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM THE INCIDENT (AFTER I HAVE STEWED ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE) THAT HAPPENED ON 6-26-2013. MY WIFE,WITH DAUGHTER, HAD A BLOWOUT ON INTERSTATE 75 AT RUSH HOUR IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM. OF COURSE IT WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. LUCKILY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS NOT AT THE WHEEL. WHEN I ARRIVED TO CHANGE THE TIRE I DECIDED TO TRY AND RE-INFLATE IT FIRST TO TRY AND GET TO A SAFER LOCATION. ONCE AGAIN THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FELL TO THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE!!! MY TIRE DEALER (TIRE DISCOUNTERS WALTON KY) TOLD ME THAT THE THREADS ON THE STEM THAT HOLDS THE MONITOR TO THE WHEEL CORRODES AND EVENTUALLY CRACKS THE NUT HOLDING THE MONITOR. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK. I STILL HAVE THE OLD MONITORS AND INDEED THE CORROSION LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM A DISSIMILAR METAL ON METAL CONTACT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IN MY OPINION AND I SHOULD HAVE COMPLAINED AS SOON AS I COULD BUT I REALLY THINK THAT NOTHING WILL COME OF IT. I ALMOST PAID FOR NEW MONITORS(DECIDED TO JUST REPLACE WITH PLAIN STEMS ON MY OWN AS I DO NOT TRUST ,NOR DO I WANT TO FINANCE MAZDA ANY FURTHER), I LOST A TIRE DUE TO THE HIGHWAY INCIDENT AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NO SURPRISE TO THE TIRE STORE.