8.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $220
- Average Mileage:
- 79,550 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 9 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace valve stems (4 reports)
- replace valve stems with non aluminum ones (3 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
Aluminum valve stems rotted off twice (two separate stems) that cost me a total of about $300.00 Not cool...one broke off just driving down road, the other one while checking air pressure. they were JUNK !
- lfrasier, Gasport, NY, US
Had loaded my van with all of my daughters wordly belongings in order to move her to her first semester freshmen dorm in aug. 2013. Van was really loaded and to be extra safe because of the heavy load I began pumping up the tires to their maximum pressure for the 2 hr. drive the next day. As I attached the air chuck from my pump to the tire valve stem the next thing I know the entire stem cracked off and the tire immediately deflated to completely flat. Not having the time to get the tire repaired and not being able to get to the temp. spare because of the load in the van and because of the distance and load on the vehicle, what I was able to do luckily was put 2 of my snow tires mounted on other wheels on the rear for the trip until I got back and got the problem repaired with a rubber valve stem and just put up with the low tire pressure light until I eventually replaced that set of tires and the TPMS on that wheel with the new tires. Scary scenario though. Still worry about this as my daughter now drives the car.
- darkcloud, Tully, NY, US
Two of these snapped off the last time I had my winter tires swapped. They snapped high enough on the stem that the spring-loaded valve isn't leaking, but low enough that I can't screw valve stem caps on all the way or they'll press the valve and release air. And I'm not sure I'll be able to add air if I need to, but I haven't had to yet.
- atticus, Calgary, AB, canada
It was really annoying cause I was preparing to attend an event which was like 3 hours away. Last thing I checked was the pressure on each tire and when I put the air chuck on the valve stem, it just crumbled like a cookie!!! Air rushing out from the tire really scared me. I thought the van was gonna fall on me.
- roydrt, Regina, Saskatchewan, canada
AGAIN! This has happened this time my husband was driving home from work and it made him loose control and go into the ditch, it didn't cause any damage because he wasn't driving fast thankfully! But if he was, it could have been A LOT worse. This time it was the front tire that the valve stem corroded and fell in to the tire! Why can you not think of a different design?? If we would have been driving on the HWY we could have died!
We are leaving next weekend to drive 6 hours and this could have happened then and we would have had our whole family with us! This needs to be a recall and replaced!! If something happens I will be following with a lawsuit!
- Melinda M., Prescott, Ontario, canada
We were driving on the HWY when suddenly the check tire light came on, the can jerked to the right into the passing lane and almost hit another car. I slowly pulled the van over, luckily there was no other vehicle or TRANSPORTS! behind me. When we pulled over our back tire was completely flat! My husband tried to use the instant tire inflate can, it filled it up then as soon as the valve stem moved it instantly deflated. We had to remove the sensor and pep lace it with a regular valve stem because it was corroded and fell in to the tire... Could have been a lot worse, we were stuck on the HWY with our kids! This should defiantly be a re-call!
- Melinda M., Prescott, Ontario, canada
click to see larger images
The valve stems have a sensor on the tires to indicate when tire pressure is low.. Due to this system the valve stem mechanism makes the stem weaker causing more problems. If I had knowledge of this I probably look at a different vehicle..
- Pam P., Brookfield, WI, US
The check tire light came on so when we got home I went to check the tires, and when I got to the driver's side rear tire, as soon as I put the pressure gauge on the valve stem, it shot off like a rocket and bounced off the wall that is about 4 feet away from the tire, and of course the tire immediately deflated. We had to have the car towed to a garage to have the valve stem replaced and to check all the rest of the valve stems for signs of corrosion. Had this happened while going down the expressway, who knows what might have ensued.
I have read up on this issue online and I see that this has been an on going issue with the Dodge Caravan. I feel that there should be a recall for this problem BEFORE someone gets killed! Dodge has known about this issue on this four year old model and has not done anything in regards to a recall. FOUR YEARS!! Can you say GM???? Better to pay it forward rather than pay death or injury compensation I would think. Again, look at what GM is going through this year for not addressing a safety issue until after people were killed and injured. I hope that Dodge's customer care is at a higher level than where GM's was! How about it DODGE? Will you skirt this chance to shine? Pay now or later, THINK ABOUT IT!
Sincerely,
DKB.
- Dae B., Hastings, MI, US
we were driving on a gravel road and there was a truck coming from the opposite direction. as we passed each other we got peppered with gravel and my tire just blew. when i checked the aluminum valve stem broke off. !!!
- roydrt, Regina, Saskatchewan, canada