NHTSA Complaint #10578978 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

MY BROTHER AND I BOUGHT IDENTICAL DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB PICK UPS NEW IN 2009. THEY BOTH HAVE ALUMINUM 20 INCH WHEELS. ON 04-08-14 MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN HIS LOW AIR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HIS DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. (NOTE: HE AND I BOTH ARE VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AS FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT). INSPECTING THE WHEEL AND TIRE INDICATED THAT THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEM HAD BROKEN APART AND DEPLETED THE AIR IMMEDIATELY. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT 2 OTHER VALVE STEMS ON HIS VEHICLE WERE CRACKED. HE HAD ALL REPLACED WITH NEW RUBBER (AIR SENSOR) VALVE STEMS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEMS. I HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR IS CRACKED AND SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP AT $80.00 PER VALVE STEM. EVEN AS AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING. BUT, AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED. I WAS TOLD TO SAVE MY REPAIR RECEIPT FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT IF A RECALL SHOULD COME OUT. THE COST IS A CONCERN BUT NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE SAFETY SIDE OF THIS ISSUE. MY QUESTION IS--WHY IS THE VALVE STEM BREAKING APART NOT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL?? *TR