NHTSA Complaint #10683607 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

TODAY AS I AM REPORTING IS THE 3RD INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND MY CAR NOW HAS ONLY 44 K MILES ON IT. THE TPMS SENSORS ON THE MAZDA 3 ARE CONNECTED TO THE AIR VALVE IN THE TIRES. TPMS SENSORS ARE VERY FICKLE AND TEND TO CORRODE AND BREAK WITH SEASONAL WEATHER. WHEN THE TPMS SENSOR BREAKS ON A MAZDA3, IT LETS ALL THE AIR OUT OF YOUR TIRE AND GIVES YOU A FLAT, STRANDING YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE. TPMS SENSORS ARE SUPPOSED TO AID DRIVERS TO LET THEM KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY ACTUALLY CAUSE THE PROBLEM. THE AIR VALVE BEING CONNECTED TO THE TPMS IS UNIQUE TO THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR, AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, DEPENDING ON HOW FAST THE CAR IS TRAVELING AND WHERE. I HAVE LOST AIR ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TPMS SENSORS/INSTALLATION ARE 200 BUCKS EACH APPROXIMATELY, AND IF YOUR TIRE GETS RIPPED UP DURING THE INCIDENT, YOU MUST ALSO BUY A NEW TIRE. *TR