I have had four flat tires within three months due to valve stem failure. These were tires purchased from sears at the end of 2006. Fortunately, the deflations occurred when the car was parked, so there were no accidents as a result. Sears replaced the valve stems for me, but their personnel professed to be mystified concerning the reason for the repeated valve stem failures. After the fourth failure, I did some research online and found about the defective stems made in china and sold by dill. I examined what I could see of my valve stems; three were chrome, but one was rubber, and the cap said "dill." I returned to sears with a news release about the valve-stem recall. The man who waited on me kept saying that the problem had occurred a long time ago and couldn't be affecting my tires now. I kept pointing out that I had bought the tires during the period when the bad valve stems were in use. I wanted him to assure me that the rubber valve stem on my tire was not one of the defective ones; he did not seem able to do that, but finally offered to replace it with a metal stem for free "if that would make me feel better." I agreed to have it replaced. I don't blame sears for the initial defect, but I do blame them for not knowing (or pretending not to know) about the problem, and for not changing all of my valve stems when the first problem occurred. Their negligence could have caused a bad accident. As it was, it caused me a great deal of inconvenience and paranoia (I was beginning to wonder if my tires were being vandalized). I will not go back to sears automotive again, even if I have to travel further and spend more to patronize a difference dealer.

- Chicago, IL, USA