NHTSA Complaint #10597021 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

THE LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 35W AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE PICKUP TRUCK UNDER CONTROL UNTIL STOPPING ALONG SIDE THE FREEWAY. THE SCHRADER TIRE STEM HAD LOST ITS OUTER LOCKING DEVISE AND THE MONITOR WAS INSIDE THE TIRE. AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE THE MONITOR STYLE STEM WAS LOCATED IN THE TIRE AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS VERY DISTURBING. THE THREADS WHICH HOLD THE STEM IN PLACE WERE TOTALLY FILLED IN WITH CORROSION......NO THREAD LEFT TO HOLD THE STEM IN PLACE. THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY CARS ARE SUDDENLY LOSING CONTROL AND GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD JUST HAD MY TIRES ROTATED ABOUT 400 MILES AGO OR THE FLAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH A FRONT TIRE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I NOW NEED TO REMOVE THE OTHER THREE TIRES AND HAVE THEM INSPECTED AT A COST OF ANOTHER $101.00 EACH WHEEL OR REMOVE THE MONITORS AND TO BACK TO THE SAFE AND PROVEN RUBBER STEMS. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. *TR