3.5
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 37,137 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
March 23, 2011 driving at highway speeds the tire pressure light came on and the rear passenger side tire went immediately flat. Upon inspection, the pressure sensing valve stem seal failed. Only about 1/8 of the stem could be found. The failed sensor stem allowed the tire to blow down instantly. Pictures of the failed stem, tire and rim where collected to show there was no damage to the rim or tire to cause the stem to fail. Tire and rim were taken to Nissan dealer and stem was replaced under warranty. Thankfully it was the rear tire and not a front tire.
- Erie, PA, USA
I understand that federal law now requires all new cars to have tire pressure monitoring systems. I would like to complain that many of these systems are so sensitive that they will be effectively useless because drivers will ignore them. I have always been religious about regular maintenance, including checking my tire pressure regularly. My 2009 Nissan versa's tire "idiot light" is almost always on. It takes as little as 1/3 lb. Change from the recommended pressure for the light to come on -- sometimes it comes on while I'm driving and is off again by the time I finish my trip. Consulting with both dealers and other owners of new cars confirms my suspicion that the sensors are just too sensitive -- some have replaced all their sensors two or three times to no effect. I just wanted to make someone aware that these devices, while a good idea in principal, are just too sensitive (and annoying) right now for them to be useful safety devices. Thank you.
- Swarthmore, PA, USA
- Providence, RI, USA