NHTSA Complaint #10567681 — 2010 DODGE JOURNEY AWD

I AM CURRENTLY THE CO-OWNER ALONG WITH MY WIFE OF 2010 DODGE JOURNEY AWD . WE LIVE IN NORTHWESTERN ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS AREA TRADITIONALLY RECEIVES 86 PLUS INCHES OF SNOW, AND SNOW COVERED ICY ROADS ARE THE NORM DURING THE SNOW SEASON. ON 5 MARCH 2014, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. I ATTRIBUTED THE SIGNAL TO THE LOW AIR TEMPERATURE WHICH WAS BELOW 0 DEGREE F. ON 6 MARCH 2014 AFTER I DROVE THE CAR IN 20+ DEGREES F. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ACTIVATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED BY THE PROFESSIONAL. THE OWNER/TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN ALL TIRES. WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE, ONE RETAINING NUT (LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE TIRE RIM) WHICH HOLDS THE TIRE SENSOR MONITOR (LOCATED INSIDE THE TIRE) SPLIT, AND ONE HALF OF THE NUT FELL ONTO THE FLOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE REMAINING RETAINING NUTS WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED, BUT NOT CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN/OWNER EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND WHAT THE RESULTS COULD BE IF THE SENSOR MONITOR WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY REPLACE. HE ALSO GAVE ME EXAMPLES OF OTHER CUSTOMERS TO WHOM THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED. THE BIGGEST DANGER ACCORDING TO HIM WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE AIR PRESSURE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HE STATED HE FINDS THE RETAINING NUT PROBLEM ONLY ON CHRYSLER/FIAT VEHICLES. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE AT MY EXPENSE THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR MONITOR WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT UNDER FEDERAL LAW REPLACE THE SENSOR MONITOR WITH A STANDARD TIRE VALVE. I FEEL THAT THESE MONITORS NEED TO BE CONSIDER FOR A SAFETY RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE ME AND OTHER OWNERS (ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO RESIDE IN COLD, SNOWY CLIMATES) OF CHRYSLER/FIAT PRODUCTS AS TO REMEDIES TO THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND FINANCIAL BURDEN. *TR