NHTSA Complaint #10596063 — 2009 INFINITI EX35

I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER MOUNTING THE SPARE I INSPECTED THE BLOWN OUT TIRE AND COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE TIRE TO FAIL. UPON PUTTING THE DAMAGED WHEEL/TIRE IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL OF THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL VALVE STEM WAS MISSING AND HEARD SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND INSIDE THE TIRE. IT WAS THE (TPMS) VALVE STEM. I THEN INSPECTED THE OTHER THREE WHEELS/TIRES AND FOUND THAT THE VALVE STEMS ARE HELD IN PLACE BY A LOCKING NUT/SLEEVE THAT WAS FAILING DO TO CORROSION. THE NUT/SLEEVE IS ALUMINUM AND THE CORROSION IS CAUSING THEM TO CRACK LENGTHWISE AND DETACH FROM THE VALVE STEM. THREE OF THE FOUR ARE CRACKED AND ONE IS ONLY HELD IN BY HALF OF THE NUT/SLEEVE! INFINITY WANTS ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN INFINITY DEALER AND HAVE IT "DIAGNOSED" AND THEN PUT TO AN INFINITY "COMMITTEE" TO SEE IF MAYBE THEY WILL REPLACE AND REPAIR THE FAULTY PARTS, BUT NO GUARANTEE THAT WOULD HAPPEN. THE NEAREST INFINITY FACILITY IS ABOUT 90 MI. FROM MY LOCATION. THEY SAY THAT IT'S MY PROBLEM TO GET IT THERE. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR IN THE CONDITION IT IS IN! LUCKILY, I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD AND DOING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED! AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS A REAR WHEEL/TIRE! I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MULTIPLE SITES ON HOW THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH INFINITY CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF (TPMS) VALVE STEM. THEY EVEN HAVE A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON SOME MODELS, BUT NOT MINE. THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME. I FIND THIS AS BIG A SAFETY ISSUE AS GM'S IGNITION KEY PROBLEM! *TR