Tire Valve Problems of Toyota Highlander Hybrid

I purchased 4 sumitomo tires from ntb on Wednesday, 12-15-09. On Friday, 12-17, just 2 days later, I packed up for a trip to boston from DC with my wife and 2 toddler children for a scheduled event that I was slated to speak at. By the time we reached the new jersey turnpike, we pulled over for gas. The gas attendant noticed our left front tire was flat. The autoshop attendant there inflated the tire and rolled it around in water but could not find a leak. They told me to drive a little longer and see if I still have a problem. I pulled over later and saw no problems, but I noticed the steering wheel was tight. By the time I arrived to boston (3 hours behind schedule because of the tires), 3 of the tires were flat. The next day, I brought it to the ntb location in dedham, MA. They told me that all four valve stems were actually recalled because they have a tendency to crack and leak air. Upon my arrival back to DC, I went to the ntb in alexandria and asked them to explain why they sold me these recalled parts. The manager told me that he has been in this business for 20 years and never heard of valve stems being recalled. I told him that I did a quick google search and found links going back to 2007 about these pieces being recalled and asked why he didn't know about them. He told me I am the first person to ever make this complaint. I told him I could care less about the # of people who complained before me and that had my family and I left a day later, we would have been driving in wet conditions and could have crashed. He said the tires seem to be working fine now so whats the problem. I told him the problem is that he is selling pieces that could lead to a serious accident. I asked him why the ntb in dedham knew about the recall and he didn't and he said he cant speak for them. He did not even pull up my record to see what the dedham branch said. He then offered me a free oil change but if he thought they did nothing wrong, why make the offer? to shut me up?.

See all problems of the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 🔎.