Faulty tire valves may have been installed on 2007 Fords

Federal safety regulators have opened an official investigation on faulty tire valves that may have been installed as original equipment on more than one million 2007 Ford cars and trucks.

The valve stems in question were made for Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, N.C. by Shanghai Baolong Industries Co. in China. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration started investigating the valve stems this past May after they were linked to a rollover crash of a 1998 Ford Explorer that killed a Florida man a year ago. Cracks in valve stems can cause tires to lose air, and such air loss at highway speeds can result in tire failure and a loss-of-control crash.

NHTSA says it has identified 37 complaints of cracked and leaking tire valves in 2007 models of Ford vehicles. The models identified include Grand Marquis, F-150, Mustang, Edge, Fusion, Expedition, Explorer, MKX, MKZ, Milan, Focus and Escape.

Eleven complaints allege that loss of tire pressure caused by a cracked and leaking valve resulted in under-inflated tires needing replacement. In addition, 23 of the 37 complaints said more than one valve was found to be severely cracked or cracked and leaking and needed to be replaced.

Dill informed NHTSA that as many as 30 million of the suspected valve stems have been distributed in the North American market. Soon after the original investigation was opened in May, one U.S. auto parts distributor, Tech International of Johnstown, Ohio, issued a recall on some of the faulty tire valves it had sold under the Topseal brand, also manufactured by Shanghai Baolong. Ford Motor Company uses valves stem supplied by Topseal as original equipment on its vehicles.

In documents on the newly-opened Ford probe, NHTSA says the original equipment snap-in tire valves may crack due to poor ozone resistance. "Air leakage from a cracked tire valve may result in tire damage, which could affect vehicle control," said NHTSA.

Most consumers will have a have a hard time figuring out with any certainty if they have any of the defective valve stems on their tires. That's because there is no visible identification of the valve once a valve stem is installed, The only way to to view the manufacturer’s identification and part number found on the base of the valve is to remove the tire from the wheel and inspect it from the inside.

Consumer Reports says motorists should conduct a visual inspection of their valve stems to check for cracks. Move the top of the stem around, checking for any sign of cracks in the base of the stem where it meets the wheel. Consumer Reports also recommends that you check your tire pressure every month and if one or more tires continually needs to be topped-off, it may be a sign of a leaking valve stem or tire puncture. If a valve stem is found to have cracking, have it replaced as soon as possible and as a precaution replace all the other valve stems at the same time.

Dill has posted photos on it Web site of what consumers should look for when they inspect valve stems.

Comments

[Darell Anderson]

OK, it just happened to me. My 2007 Ford f-150 front left tire deflated rapidly on an interstate. Tire came apart before I could get safely off. No visible tire damage but the valve stem is cracked open. Upon examination the other 3 are cracked! I could have had multiple tire failures! Ford customer service refuses to pay. This is the Explorer debacle all over again! How many will die this time?

[ROBERT R HAYNES]

DOES THE DEALERSHIP FIX THIS PROBLEM?? I HAVE A 07 FORD 500

[Bunny]

I have Michelin Tires that were purchased in Sears. Last winter I had a skidding accident due to one tire that continually loses air. I brought it back to Sears and they fixed the stem, but it still does this. Obviously this problem exists in other areas, not only on new car tires.

[Gina]

Hi everybody-
I recently needed to get new tires and wanted to avoid getting Chinese-made valve stems. I asked at so many different tire stores where their valve stems were made and didn't get a straight response. Some of the places DEFINITELY were covering up where they were made, but I am uber-persistent, so I finally found out that at each and every place they were ALL made in China.
So here, in a nutshell, is my advice for ALL of you: (This is what I ended up doing)
Because tire valve stems are not brand-conscious (you can use whatever brand you like... no matter what brand car you have), I called the local Volkswagen dealership, and they confirmed that theirs were made in GERMANY, so I bought 4 of their valve stems, took 'em to Wheel Works, and voila'.
I am now confidently driving around on tires with Non-Chinese origin valve stems. They were actually less money than the marked-up retail that the tire dealerships would have charged me for theirs, too!
This will work for your Fords. Just check what size your valve stem is (and buy one that's long enough to stick out through your wheel cover/hubcap too).

[BOB]

I brought 4 brand new michelin tires to Tire Kingdom and within a couple of months one (1) tire collapsed and almost killed us as the tire deflated very quickly.
Went back to Tire kingdom and told them that the mechanic that changed the tire said it collapsed because of the bad valve. I told Tire Kingdom that their valve stems were bad and they said that when they replace tires on the rims that they automatically put new valve stems on.
We have now replaced all four(4) of the new tires at a considerable cost to us.
Tire Kingdom would not admit that they installed bad valve stems.
There are plenty of cars on the road with these valve stems from China and people are going to be severely injured or killed as they deflate very quickly.
Need the government to step in and clear up this mess.

[Vic Rouse]

It is becoming very apparant to me that the Chinese manufacturer is in total disregard of the material specifications called for and substituting inferior cheaper alternatives to increase profits. This is appearing in many industries eg melamine fillers in baby and pet foods

[WJH]

I have a 2006 Ford Focus wagon. I have had 2 slow leak flats that my local mechanic said were bad tire valves, and now a third slow leak has been a problem for weeks. All tires are the original summer tires. I swap them out for snow tires on different wheels for half the year; which I did a few days ago. When we get snow - we get snow.
WJH - NL

[Douglas]

I have a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. I hope this problem is only for the 2007's.

[Big Al]

Also, Discount Tire is recalling Dill Valve Stems! So the problem is wider than just Fords. Cheap Chinese parts again!

[concerned Mom]

Yes...we decided to replace all 4 tires on an Escape after my son had a blowout with tires less than 1 year old. Again, the consumer loses.

[Anthony]

I have a much older ford, a '98, however I purchased new tires last spring from a goodyear dealer. I've so far had two flats due to cracked valve stems in 6 months. Both front tires. The store said 'you must have rubbed it against something' but I can assure you that I haven't. I mean, my street doesn't even have lines, let alone curbs, and I park in a garage at work. There's just no chance. What I'm wondering is were any of these faulty stems sold to tire retailers?

[Glen Pope]

You do know that it is recommended that you visually check your tires every day and use a gauge on them at least once a month!
i mean at some point you have to take responsablity for your vehicles maintenance and not blame the manufacture for all your oversites.

[jeff broadrick]

i have a 2007 ford expedition and already replace one tire because of tire deflation and have problem with two more flate tires on the right side of vechilce. it has ruined my tire and im going to replace the tire and valve stem on the other tire that i haven't had problems with yet. all total is going to cost me over 600.00 dollars for there mistake. for tires that have less than 11,000 miles on them. cant get anyone to help me with it. not even the dealship where i bought the vechicle. thanks need help. jeff

[Wallace]

Have had to replace 2 tires on Grand Marquis because of faulty valve stems.How do you register a formal complaint?

[Andrew]

Can we trust anything made in China ever again?