While inflating a tire for one of our customers, the valve stem broke causing all air to escape from the tire.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

Tires pressure monitors sensors won't hold air.tires go flat.

- Holcombe, WI, USA

The tire pressure monitoring sensor mounted in the rim failed and the tire lost air pressure while traveling on an interstate highway until it was flat and the spare tire needed to be mounted. The flat tire was later taken to a tire service dealer who determined that the flat was caused by corrosion of the threaded aluminum stem on the TPMS causing the plastic retaining nut to crack and fall off resulting in a leak around the rim and stem. The corrosion was so severe that the TPMS could not be used, and a rubber valve stem inserted. The corrosion was not obvious as the owner of the vehicle routinely inflates the tires, the nut concealed the corrosion. Corrosion this severe was not anticipated at 25K miles of driving, the tires were not yet worn to the point of requiring replacement. The design and application of the TPMS used for this vehicle is dangerous as rapid deflation of the tire could have resulted, the outward appearance of the valve stem does not provide any indication of pending catastrophic failure, the exposure of the tire and valve stem to de-icing materials in the northeastern usa is a normal environmental exposure that would warrant significantly better corrosion protection than the oem TPMS that is installed provides. A full recall and replacement of the TPMS's installed in this make, model and year needs to be made. This type of failure has never been experienced by the owner when rubber valve stems were used in the past, it is unfortunate that a new safety device - TPMS - presents a higher risk for catastrophic rapid deflation of a tire at highway speeds than would ever be expected.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

TPMS valves badly corroded and leaking air, these need to be recalled and replaced by Mazda due to thousands of complaints about this occurring under normal use and care. This is definitely a major safety issue because of possible blowouts at highway speeds.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

I have had my 2009 Mazda 3 since Oct. Of 2009 and have had several problems with the tire sensors. The tire sensors are made of aluminum and metal and they keep breaking. Everytime I turn around my tire sensors are falling apart or breaking off, leaving me with flat tires! when this occurs, the tire deflates at an accelerated rate. Refer to ODI id # 10357809 for more information about this problem. For I have had the same experience several times in the last 2 yrs.

- Newport, VT, USA

On or about October 2010 I was driving my 2009 Mazda 3 when I had a sudden loss of tire pressure, when I looked at the tire I noticed the tire valve had sheared clean off the tire. Today (2/13/11) I filled my tires with air and a second tire valve sheared off in the process causing the tire to rapidly deflate. I've now had two tire stems on a 3 year old car snap off (once while in motion, once while filling it with air) in less then 6 months? I believe this to be a defect in material and not a rare occurrence! I have noticed many other Mazda owners complaining of this issue online. I am very worried about what would happen at high speeds if this valve failure occurred. Please look into this safety issue!!!!

- 22314, VA, USA

Stem value broke off when I put the air cap after the tire was refilled with air.

- Nj, NJ, USA

I purchased a new 2009 Mazda 3. on two separate occasions and on two different tires I have experienced a TPMS alarm followed by a rapid deflation of tire pressure due to the tire valve stem breaking off. Fortuitously, both times this occurred while I was driving in my neighborhood at a low rates of speed. I am concerned of the consequences if this occurred at highway speeds. Mazda claims this is due to corrosion induced by metal after-market valve stem caps, but the caps I have are factory original and appear to be made of plastic. I believe Mazda has a design/materials of construction issue with these aluminum valves stems and that they should be redesigned and replaced. In both cases I had to take the vehicle to the dealer and have new stems installed but I now fear the remaining original stems will shear off or the problem will repeat itself with the new stems.

- West Lafayette, IN, USA

I bought 2009 Mazda 3 and has 18,700 miles on it as of today Nov 2010. I noticed TPMS sign come on yesterday and goes off and comes back on without any beeping sounds. Tire air pressure is showing acceptable levels and at 18K miles I don't expect to change tires for sure. Not sure what's going on. Mazda must address this issue.

- Edison, NJ, USA

TPMS valve stems replace ordinary rubber valve stems for 2009 (possibly other years) Mazda 3. they are made of aluminum and are prone to corrosion (see Mazda tsb 02-004/06). Mazda has stated the cause of the corrosion to be "after market" valve stem caps, and dissimilar metals when in fact aluminum will corrode without a dissimilar metal being present. Corrosion on the valve stem will lead to a breakage during routine maintenance as pointed out in the tsb, but can also cause a valve stem to be weak enough that it breaks free during normal operation. This would cause a catastrophic failure of the tire due to rapid deflation, creating a very unsafe operating condition with no warning. The TPMS system is designed as a safety feature, but in this case is causing hazardous conditions with no notification to the operator. Further, these parts are not covered under manufacture warranty, and are quite costly to replace. Consumers may elect to replace the TPMS valve stems with more proven, standard valve stems which results in an inoperable TPMS system and constant illumination of dashboard indicator. The valve stem breakage specific to this case occurred while removing a standard air compressor from the tire. The valve stem was not contained in the air compressor hookup as the compressor was fully disengaged. Instead the broken part simply fell to the ground.

- Ambler, PA, USA