NHTSA Complaint #10910126 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

TWO TIRE VALVE STEMS HAVE FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE INFLATION. FIRST FAILURE, JUNE 5, 2016 DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (70MPH). TIRE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. SECOND FAILURE, SEPT 26, 2016 PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE OCCURRED ON STATE HIGHWAY (55MPH). TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR INTERNAL DAMAGE. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SHOWS CRACK IN VALVE STEM RETAINING NUT. CRACK RUNS STRAIGHT FROM TIRE TO TOP OF RETAINING NUT. CRACK APPEARANCE LOOKS AS THOUGH THE RETAINING NUT IS A STAMPED PART WITH A SEAM. PHOTOS: 1) SEPT 26 FAILURE SHOWING VALVE STEM PARTS COMPLETELY MISSING. 2) UNFAILED, BUT CRACKED RETAINING NUT (DARK LINE IS CRACK) TAKING TRUCK TO TIRE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL VALVE STEMS. WILL ASK FOR ALL EXISTING PARTS TO BE RETURNED. NOTE FIRST FAILURE REQUIRED CHANGING TIRE WITHIN 4 FEET OF HEAVY VEHICLE TRAFFIC MOVING AT 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT. SECOND FAILURE REQUIRED CHANGING TIRE ON DARK ROADWAY DURING RAIN STORM. UNLIKE TYPICAL TIRE PUNCTURES WITH SLOW PRESSURE LOSS, I HAD NO ABILITY TO RE-INFLATE AND MOVE TO SAFER LOCATION FOR TIRE CHANGING.