Oil change group: More consumer ed needed on TPMS

WASHINGTON (Jan. 25, 2013) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) should require auto makers to educate consumers about the maintenance requirements of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) told the agency.

AOCA submitted its comments to NHTSA as part of the agency's request for comments on the economic impact of the TPMS rule on small businesses.

Like the Tire Industry Association, which also sent comments, AOCA said consumers are told too little about TPMS, how it operates and what it costs to be maintained.

"Consumers routinely arrive at small business automotive service facilities with malfunctioning TPMS equipment, like corroded sensor valves, and are caught completely off guard by both the problem and the cost involved," said AOCA President Patricia Wirth.

The average cost of a TPMS sensor valve replacement is $103, and more often than not the garage owner must eat the cost, rather than lose the customer forever, Ms. Wirth said.