The contact owns a 2023 Renegade RV built on a 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was servicing the vehicle, he noticed that the rear inner tires had rubber valve stems. The contact stated that an independent mechanic had informed him that the rubber material of the valve stems was inadequate for the RV weight capacity. The mechanic informed the contact that the rubber material was inadequate because the generation of heat while driving could add more pressure to the tire, which could in turn damage the rubber valve stems, and could cause the tire to deflate or to blow out. The mechanic replaced the rear inner tires rubber valve stems with steel valve stems. The contact stated that the information had raised concerns because the rubber valve stems had caused the tires of the RV he previously owned to fail while driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 8,000.
NHTSA ODI 11556297