NHTSA Complaint #10554255 — 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

ON THANKSGIVING MORNING IN PREPARATION FOR A THREE HOUR DRIVE I BEGAN TO PUT AIR IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY CHEVY EQUINOX BECAUSE THE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS SHOWING IT A FEW POUNDS LOWER THAN THE OTHER TIRES. WHEN I REMOVED THE FILL HOSE, THE ALUMINUM (CAST I THINK) VALVE STEM END BROKE OFF WITH THE VALVE MECHANISM ITSELF AND THE TIRE RAPIDLY DEFLATED. NO UNUSUAL FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE VALVE WITH THE PORTABLE AIR PUMP I HAVE USED NUMEROUS TIMES ON THIS AND OTHER CAR TIRES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VALVE FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY (SOMETHING ELSE TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAT DAY!). I JUST READ WHERE A SIMILAR VEHICLE (FORD ESCAPE I BELIEVE) EXPERIENCED A VALVE STEM FAILURE THAT APPARENTLY CONTRIBUTED TO A ROLL OVER AND FATALITY. ALTHOUGH A RUBBER VALVE STEM CRACKED IN THE FORD CASE, THE RAPID DEFLATION WOULD BE THE SAME IN MY CASE HAD I BEEN DRIVING - AND THE POTENTIAL DRASTIC RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME. I HAD THE VALVE REPLACED FOR $156.00. ALTHOUGH I PREFERRED TO REPLACE IT WITH A RUBBER ONE, I WAS TOLD THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND INSPECTION WOULD FAIL SINCE THE ABSENCE OF THE REMOTE SENSOR WOULD CAUSE A DASH-BOARD WARNING LIGHT. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE VALVE CRACKED DUE TO CORROSION - IN A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR! *TR