2009 Dodge Grand Caravan Wheels Problems

VALVE STEM BROKE WHEN REMOVING CAP TO CHECK PRESSURE

I WAS DRIVING OUR VAN ON VACATION IN OUT OF STATE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH. MY LOW TIRE SENSOR CAME ON, ALONG WITH THE YELLOW EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHT IN THE DASH. I WAS CLOSE TO MY EXIT, PULLED OFF AND INTO A GAS STATION WHERE THERE WAS AN AIR PUMP, LOOKING TO ASSES THE SITUATION. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT AIR INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, WHICH WAS NOW REALLY LOOKING FLAT, I PUSHED THE AIR NOZZLE AGAINST THE VALVE STEM WHICH PUSHED RIGHT INSIDE THE RIM. I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE TO HAVE A WRECKER COME, THEY PUT MY DOUGHNUT TIRE ON. I WENT AND HAD A TIRE PLACE PUT IN A REGULAR VALVE STEM. THE ORIGINAL VALVE STEM IS STUCK TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIM, AND APPARENTLY HAD COME LOSE BECAUSE WHATEVER HAD HELD IT THERE FAILED. WHEN I GOT HOME, I HAD THE VALVE STEM REPLACED WITH A NEW VALVE STEM WITH A PRESSURE SENSOR. I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE, BECAUSE LOSING ANY OF YOUR TIRES PRESSURE AT THE RATE OF SPEED WE WERE DRIVING, COULD HAVE MADE US LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HARMING OURSELVES OR OTHERS DRIVING NEAR US.

NUT CAME LOOSE FROM VALVE STEM AND TIRE DEFLATED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VALVE STEM LOCKING NUT WAS CORRODED, CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VALVE STEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR VALVES BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIRE STEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

I WAS COMING UP TO SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY TPMS LIGHT CAME ON, 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT, AND I COULD FEEL A SHAKE OF A FRONT TIRE GOING FLAT. I PULLED OVER AND THE TIRE WAS INDEED FLAT, PUT ON THE SPARE AND RETURNED HOME. I PUMPED THE TIRE BACK UP, OR ATTEMPTED TO AND NOTICED AIR COMING OUT THE SIDE OF THE METAL VALVE STEM. I CONTACT CHRYSLER CUSTOMER AFFAIRS NUMBER AND GOT A SONG AND DANCE THAT REQUIRED ME TO GO TO A DEALER TO GET IT INSPECTED BUT NOT REPAIRED, THEN TO RECONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING. DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S NOT A WARRANTY ITEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I SHOULD DO ALL 4 TIRE STEMS AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM...HELLO, $600 FOR 4 TIRE STEMS, ARE YOU NUTS? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE READ MANY PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TOTAL FAILURE OF THESE METAL VALVE STEMS LEADING TO CRASHES AND SEVERELY DAMAGED TIRES DUE TO SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF THE POORLY DESIGNED VALVE STEMS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SEE CHRYSLER CHANGED THE DESIGN IN MID 2010 TO A MORE RELIABLE RUBBER DESIGN...HMM, PERHAPS THIS WAS DUE TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL NEED TO BE MORE INJURIES OR DEATHS DUE TO THIS FLAW BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL CARED FOR AND HAS 22,300 MILES. *TR

TL* TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE TIRE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE ON THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

AT ONLY 61,000 MILES, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BEARINGS WERE MAKING LOUD NOISE AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD FAIL. HAD BEARINGS REPLACED AT A DEALERSHIP. *TR

2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ALL 4 TIRE VALVES ARE CORRODING. ONE BROKE OFF AND FELL INSIDE TIRE. OTHER BROKE OFF WHEN TRYING TO UNSCREW OF CAP. BOTH PASSENGER TIRES WENT FLAT. *TR

2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN THE NEW BEARINGS ARRIVE. THEY ARE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF ALL THE REPORTED FAILURES. *TR