1998 Chevrolet Truck M/L Van

I OWN A CHEVROLET 1998 CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK, AND HAVE A FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING PACKAGE. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR I WAS TOWING A SMALL SKI BOAT, CONSIDERABLY LESS WEIGHT THAN THE MAX ALLOWED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN THE TOWING MECHANISM BUCKLED, AND DISENGAGED FROM ITS HOUSING ON THE TRUCK. IF NOT FOR THE SPARE TIRE ON THE TRAILER, WHICH SUPPORTED THE TRAILER, PREVENTING IT FROM STRIKING THE GROUND, I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE LOST THE TRAILER, AND POSSIBLY MY TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK AND DISFIGURED TOWING MECHANISM TO CHEVY, WHO RESPONDED WITH "TOO BAD". NO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, NOR OFFER REPLACEMENT WAS MADE. I ENDED UP HAVING A NEW TOWING PACKAGE INSTALLED BY A THIRD PARTY.*AK

THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD:AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, C5 CHEVROLET CORVETTES (1997-2004) HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING-COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTIONING AND LEAVCING OWNERS STRANDED. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OWNERS THUS AFFECTED, AND THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEIR CARS TOWED. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROTENTIAL PROBLEMS; THEY ARE HANDLING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY TO SAVE MONEY. MY CONCERN IS THAT I COULD END UP FAR FROM HOME OR IN A BAD SECTION OF TOWN WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. IF I DON'T HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT, I WILL SURELY BE STRANDED.*AK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997, WHY HAVEN'T THEY ADDRESSED THE ISSUE YET? SINCE THE AFTERMARKET HAS RESPONDED WITH A STEERING-COLUMN-LOCK BYPASS, I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD AUTHORIZE A DEALER TO INSTALL IT WITHOUT VOIDING THE WARRANTY. FURTHER, WHY DID GM ELIMINATE THE STEERING -COLUMN LOCK ON 2001 AUTOMATICS, BUT NOT ON THE MANUAL-TRANSMISSION MODELS? I WOULD HOPE YOU COULD STRONGLY URGE GM TO ADDRESS THIS VERY REAL ISSUE. I REALLY LOVE MY CORVETTE, BUT NO CAR IS WORTH RISKING BECOMING AN ACCIDENT/BREAKDOWN STATISTIC. SINCERELY, [XXX] 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AUTOMATIC [XXX]

AUTOMATIC PARK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED FIRST TIME 6/14/01.AUTOMATIC BRAKE LIGHT ON, ROLLING WHEN UNIT PUT INTO PARK POSITION.REPLACED SOLONOID,CABLE FROM ATUATOR,BRAKE SHOES, AND PUMP. FAILED SECOND TIME 40,232 MILES. AUTO PARK LIGHT STAYING ON,LOSING LOTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID,ALMOST CAUSING FIRE FROM ALL THE OIL. UNIT ROLLING WHEN PUT IN TO PARK. REPLACED PRESSURE SWITCH ON AUTO PARK SYSTEM. FAIL THIRD TIME 45,345 MILES. AUTO PARK LIGHT STAYING ON. UNIT ROLLS WHEN PUT INTO PARK. LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID. REPLACED HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT ACTUATES THE AUTO PARK BRAKE. VERY VERY DANGEROUS WITH THIS UNIT ROLLING WHEN IN PARK. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HEADLAMPS ARE OPERATING, THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCES POWER SURGES. VOLTAGE METER WILL CONSTANTLY DROP WHEN TURN SIGNALS AND/OR OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IS ON. HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE SO FAR. VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE POWER SURGES. AT THE POINT OF TRADING THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER SUV (FOREIGN MODEL).*AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ENGINE STALLS ON MY 1998 6.5 CHEVROLET DIESEL ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL QUIT AS IF THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DANGER THAT THIS POSES IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC CAN NOT BE UNDER STATED. WHEN THE ENGINE QUITS I ALSO LOOSE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING MAKING THIS A VERY DANGERIOUS SITUATION. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD A CRASH WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS AND HAVE READ ON INTERNET WEB SITES OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. MY TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE (ACCORDING TO THEM) NO ERROR CODES ARE RECEIVED FROM THE COMPUTER. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RESENT FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES APPLIED WHEN I RAN OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT IN THE BRIDGE THE BRAKE PRESSURE WENT COMPLETELY AWAY AND I HAD NO BRAKING POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON. HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WAS NOT GOING TO WORK EVEN IF WE SPENT THE $2700.00 GM WANTED FOR ALL NEW COMPONENTS TO THE SYSTEM. I CANNOT COME TO A FAST STOP WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, YET MY OLD TRUCK ( A 1978 CHEVY K-10 SILVERADO ) NEVER ONCE HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM. THIS NEWER TRUCK ( A 1998 K-2500 SILVERADO ) HAS HAD NOTHING BUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT MANY, MANY MECHANICS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE DISCONNECTING THE ABS SYSTEMS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY MUCH HAPPIER AND SAFER. IF YOU CANNOT STOP AND YOU HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY THEN I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.*AK