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May 05, 2006

RUN-FLAT TIRE HAZARD SUSPECTED

NHTSA reportedly has initiated an investigation of a suspected safety problem with a popular minivan -- the Toyota Sienna -- equipped with "run-flat tires." According to a news report, the agency has received “dozens of complaints that run-flat tires on the Sienna go flat much too easily.” Federal investigators are said to be focusing on the tire pressure warning system seen on the dashboard and the run-flat tires the system is supposed to be monitoring. According to the report, safety researcher Sean Kane, head of Safety Research & Strategies, said the warning system used on the Sienna "is not directly measuring tire pressure. It's indirectly doing so through other sensors. Those systems are really not that accurate generally speaking." Under federal regulations, car manufacturers began phasing in the systems in the 2006 model year.

Posted by MVHAP at May 5, 2006 05:02 PM