2009 Chevrolet Equinox

ON THANKSGIVING MORNING IN PREPARATION FOR A THREE HOUR DRIVE I BEGAN TO PUT AIR IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF MY CHEVY EQUINOX BECAUSE THE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS SHOWING IT A FEW POUNDS LOWER THAN THE OTHER TIRES. WHEN I REMOVED THE FILL HOSE, THE ALUMINUM (CAST I THINK) VALVE STEM END BROKE OFF WITH THE VALVE MECHANISM ITSELF AND THE TIRE RAPIDLY DEFLATED. NO UNUSUAL FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE VALVE WITH THE PORTABLE AIR PUMP I HAVE USED NUMEROUS TIMES ON THIS AND OTHER CAR TIRES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VALVE FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY (SOMETHING ELSE TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAT DAY!). I JUST READ WHERE A SIMILAR VEHICLE (FORD ESCAPE I BELIEVE) EXPERIENCED A VALVE STEM FAILURE THAT APPARENTLY CONTRIBUTED TO A ROLL OVER AND FATALITY. ALTHOUGH A RUBBER VALVE STEM CRACKED IN THE FORD CASE, THE RAPID DEFLATION WOULD BE THE SAME IN MY CASE HAD I BEEN DRIVING - AND THE POTENTIAL DRASTIC RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME. I HAD THE VALVE REPLACED FOR $156.00. ALTHOUGH I PREFERRED TO REPLACE IT WITH A RUBBER ONE, I WAS TOLD THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND INSPECTION WOULD FAIL SINCE THE ABSENCE OF THE REMOTE SENSOR WOULD CAUSE A DASH-BOARD WARNING LIGHT. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE VALVE CRACKED DUE TO CORROSION - IN A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE HAD BECOME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE VALVE STEMS AND MONITORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,779 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,1216. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHROME CLAD WHEEL COVER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MACHINE PRESSED ON TO THE ALUMINUM 17 INCH RIM, SHOT OFF THE RIM TOWARDS INCOMING TRAFFIC. WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. IT FLEW OFF AND ALMOST HIT A CAR PASSING US. TWO MONTHS LATER ANOTHER ONE CAME OFF, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT BEFORE WE WERE IN TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN WALKING BESIDE THE CAR. DOING ON-LINE RESEARCH A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL OWNERS OF THE 2009 EQUINOX WITH THE CHROME CLAD COVERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR