Tire Pressure Monitoring System problems of the 2009 Mazda MAZDA3

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

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.

Tl- the contacts daughter owns a 2009 Mazda Mazda 3. While driving approximately 60 mph the front passenger side tire blew out. The contacts daughter inspected the vehicle and notice the front passenger side valve stem casting had disintegrated. Also, the rear passenger side valve stem casting had cracked. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where the front passenger side tire sensor and valve stem were removed. The mechanic replaced the valve stem with a standard valve stem. The sensor was not replaced. The vehicle was later taken to a different independent mechanic to repair the rear passenger side tire valve stem that was cracked. The valve stem was replaced with a standard valve stem. The sensor was removed but not replaced. The vehicle was later taken to dealer where the two standard valve stems were removed and replaced with a newly designed valve stems and sensors. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was concerned the front and rear drivers side valves would experience the same failure. The manufacturer stated the repairs for those valves would not be covered under warranty because the valves had not failed. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Ds.

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 aluminium 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.

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 materal 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!!!!.

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

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.

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.

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.