NHTSA Complaint #10671583 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

ON MY 2009 DODGE RAM TRUCK THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE VALVE SENSORS ARE SECURED TO THE WHEEL WITH A RETAINING NUT. THE VALVE STEM ON THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS THREADS THAT GO THREW THE WHEELS AND THEN SECURE WITH THAT RETAINING NUT. THE RETAINING NUT WAS MADE OUT OF ETHER ALUMINUM OR INFERIOR METAL. DURING LAST YEARS EXTREME COLD WEATHER MOISTURE GOT BETWEEN THE TREADS AND THE RETAINING NUT. THE RETAINING NUT ON THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2009 DODGE RAM CRACKED FROM THE MOISTURE AND COLD WEATHER. WHEN THE NUT CRACKED THE LOW PRESSURE SENSOR FELL OFF INSIDE OF THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO START TO GO FLAT. AFTER THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FELL OFF IT WAS DRIVEN THREW THE TIRE BEFORE I COULD APPLY THE BRAKES. THAT ACCELERATED THE TIRE GOING FLAT AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE SPUN AROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND REAR TAILGATE WHEN IT HIT A GUARDRAIL. . THE NUTS CAN NOT BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DEFECTS. DODGE HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR TO ELIMINATE THE DEFECTED NUT DESIGN. THE NEW LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR DOES NOT HAVE AN RETAINING NUT. THEY ARE HELD IN THE WHEEL THE SAME WAY A REGULAR VALVE STEM IS HELD IN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WENT TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE OTHER THREE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS NUTS WERE ALSO DEFECTED. I HAD REGULAR TIRE VALVE INSTALLED SO I COULD CONTINUE MY TRIP. I CONTACTED DODGE TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THEY DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. M<Y 2009 DODGE RAM IS NOW ALMOST 6 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS APPROX. 48000 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK STAYS IN A GARAGE AND IS COMPLETELY STOCK. WHEN I TALKED TO THE TIRE SHOP THEY SAY THEY SEE A LOT OF THIS PROBLEMS WITH DODGE AND THE RETAINING NUTS ON THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS BUT DODGE ALWAYS TELLS THEIR CUSTOMERS ITS NOT A DESIGN PROBLEM OR AS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR