NHTSA Complaint #10628760 — 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

A LOW TIRE INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. PROCEEDED TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. WHILE UNSCREWING VALVE CAP FROM THE TIRE VALVE STEM THE VALVE STEM BROKE LEAVING ALL AIR OUT OF THE TIRE. NEVER HAVE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. I TOOK THE TIRE OFF THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO THE LOCAL TIRE STORE. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER VALVE STEMS THAT HAVE THE AIR PRESSURE SENSORS. HE SAID MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND THAT I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED AT HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT IN THE CAR WASH OR ON THE ROAD WHERE ANY SEVERE IMPACT COULD BREAK THE STEM AND CAUSE A RAPID LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER WONDERING IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THESE VALVE STEMS. THERE HASN'T BEEN. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AND IS IN MY OPINION A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED EITHER THROUGH CANCELLATION OF THIS MANDATE ON TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS OR ENSURING THAT THESE VALVE STEMS WILL NOT DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT PERSONS DRIVING THESE VEHICLES ARE PUT IN DANGER. *TR