# 2009 DODGE RAM 1500 — WHEELS
> NHTSA complaint `1146562` · 2015-01-10 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** DODGE
- **Model:** RAM 1500
- **Year:** 2009
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** WHEELS
- **Miles at failure:** 38,000
- **Speed:** 45 mph
## Narrative
ON MY 2009 DODGE RAM TRUCK THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE VALVE SENSORS ARE SECURED TO THE WHEEL WITH A RETAINING NUT.  THE VALVE STEM ON THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS THREADS THAT GO THREW THE WHEELS AND THEN SECURE WITH THAT RETAINING NUT.  THE RETAINING NUT WAS MADE OUT OF ETHER ALUMINUM OR INFERIOR METAL.  DURING LAST YEARS EXTREME COLD WEATHER MOISTURE GOT BETWEEN THE TREADS AND THE RETAINING NUT.  THE RETAINING NUT ON THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2009 DODGE RAM CRACKED FROM THE MOISTURE AND COLD WEATHER.  WHEN THE NUT CRACKED THE LOW PRESSURE SENSOR FELL OFF INSIDE OF THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO START TO GO FLAT.  AFTER THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FELL OFF IT WAS DRIVEN THREW THE TIRE BEFORE I COULD APPLY THE BRAKES.  THAT ACCELERATED THE TIRE GOING FLAT AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.   MY VEHICLE SPUN AROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND REAR TAILGATE WHEN IT HIT A GUARDRAIL. .  THE NUTS CAN NOT BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DEFECTS.  DODGE HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR TO ELIMINATE THE DEFECTED NUT DESIGN.  THE NEW LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR DOES NOT HAVE AN RETAINING NUT.  THEY ARE HELD IN THE WHEEL THE SAME WAY A REGULAR VALVE STEM IS HELD IN.  AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WENT TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE OTHER THREE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS NUTS WERE ALSO DEFECTED.  I HAD REGULAR TIRE VALVE INSTALLED SO I COULD CONTINUE MY TRIP.  I CONTACTED DODGE TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.  BOTH TIMES TH
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*