Tire valve stem failed on 2004 Hyundai Sonata. There were defective wheel covers. All tires were replaced on this vehicle on 11-10-2006. Mileage wa S37,063. Vehicle was taken to dealer for tire rotation on 6-21-2007. On 6-26-2007 while travelling at 70+ mph on the interstate, I experienced sudden loss of air in the left front tire. Luckily, I was able to control the vehicle to a safe stop. Took the tire to the vendor. Determined that the cause of the failure was a broken valve stem. Vendor stated that they have had problems with the Hyundai wheel covers. Affected tire was unusable due to the time it took to get stopped from 70+mph and was replaced. After that event, I began watching the wheel covers and observed that the wheel covers rotate on the wheel while driving, and bend the valve stem with significant force. I frequently removed and re-installed the wheel covers to relieve the force on the valve stem, only to find out that the problem would re-occur with less than 100 miles of driving. I became concerned and worried to drive my car at interstate speeds due to the possability of a potential crash due to the rapid loss of air should another valve stem break. Consulted the internet (google) and seached for "hyunadi Sonata valve stem problems." Others have experienced the same problem. Also, found this problem being investigated on 2002 - 2003 Hyundai Sonatas. See NHTSA "PE05-059 2002 - 2003 Hyundai Sonata tire valve stem failures 07-Nov-2005 " note: Today, I replaced the original Hyundai wheel covers with ftermarket wheel covers purchased from auto zone. These wheel covers have a close apparence to the originals and appear that they cannot bind the valve stems. A $29.95 fix. My opinion is that the factory Hyundai wheel covers are improperly designed and represent a safety hazard. Had I not been an experienced driver and paying attention to my vehicle, I could have easily wrecked at 70 mph.

- Sophia, WV, USA

I was driving to Arizona from Texas on interstate 10 in a rain storm when my car started to fishtail. I thought it was hydroplaning, but it was soon totally out of control and I started to apply the brakes. My car started spinning and spun across the 15 foot grassy median which sloped down about two feet, proceeded across the two lanes of oncoming traffic, continued down a three foot sloped grassy median about three feet wide and finally came to a stop on the frontage road. My back tire had gone flat!! when I got to Arizona I brought my car in to discount tire (where I had purchased the first two tires) to have the rims and tires checked. They changed the tire but could find no nail or any reason for the tire going flat. The other rear tire also had to be changed because there were cracks in the tire (the 2 rear tires had 20,000 miles on them). I was told the rims were damaged, but not to the extent that they needed to be replaced. The two front tires had to be replaced at 17,000 miles because they both had bubbles. I believe I received four defective tires when I purchased my car because these Michelin tires supposed to be good for around 50,000 miles. I went on the internet and found a site of unhappy Michelin customers with their horror stories. I printed ten pages of complaints, two very similar to mine where the tire went flat for no apparent reason, others that had blowouts on almost new tires. One customer stated that he was told to return the tire (as I was) and about a week later when he called he was told there was nothing wrong with the tire. He received a notice from the postal service that the tire had been delivered and it was dated after the conversation he had with Michelin!

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

: the contact stated after having a flat tire due to a road hazard, the dealer performed an inspection and it was determined the tread depth was depleted. The tires were replaced. The tires were Michelin mxd4 plus H 205/165/115. Additionally, the automatic transmission was slipping into gears without warning while driving various speeds. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. The automatic transmission seized and was towed to the dealer. The vehicle is currently awaiting replacement of the automatic transmission.

- Port Jefferson Station, NY, USA