1998 Chevrolet Blazer

MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH IN A CONDIMINIUM PLAN, I ROUNDED A CURVE WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN AND MY VEHICLE SWERVED RIGHT ONTO THE GRASS HILLSIDE BESIDE THE ROAD. WHEN AAA ARRIVED, IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIE ROD HAD PULLED OUT OF THE BALL JOINT WHICH HOLDS THE WHEEL TO THE AXLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS HIS IMPRESSION THAT SOMETHING HAD BEEN HIT BECAUSE THEIR WAS GRASS AND DIRT UP UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER AND WHEEL WELL. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE GRASS AND DIRT WAS FROM WHEN THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE GRASS HILLSIDE AFTER THE WHEEL FELL OFF BUT IT DID NOT CHANGE HIS OPINION. I DECIDED TO PAY $300 TO TOW MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER I LEASED IT FROM. THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER CITING THE ORIGINAL SERVICE MAN'S REPORT. AFTER SEVERAL LETTERS AND CALLS TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY FINALLY RESPONDED TO ME AND SAID THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING $1200.00 TO FIX THE BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD. NOT TO MENTION ANOTHER $400 FOR BODY WORK. ON TOP OF THIS, MY DEALER CLAIMED THAT WHEN THE WHEEL FELL OFF, THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS BENT. HOW COULD A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE TRAVELING 15 MPH GET ITS FRAME BENT FROM THE TIE ROD BRAKING? ON TOP OF THAT, IT TOOK MY DEALER, 5 WEEKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT COST ME $750 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. I DIDNT' TURN IT INTO MY INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY INFORMED ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIST IT AS AN 'AT FAULT ACCIDENT' SINCE THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. SO BASICALLY, A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM COST ME $2250. WHAT BOTHERS ME, IS THAT THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRST MORON SERVICE GUY AT THE INITIAL DEALER WHO REPORTED THAT IT WAS HIS OPINION SOMETHING WAS STRUCK. CHEVROLET WOULD NOT SEND A SERVICE MGR.

IN GOING FROM A GAS STATION TO A LANE OF TRAVEL WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SO THE FOUR WHEELS LEAVE THE INCLINE AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS, THE TRUCK SEVERELY ROCKS TO A POINT WHERE YOU FEEL THAT IT IS GOING TO TIP OVER. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY UNTIL THE FOUR WHEELS COME BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, THEN THE CONDITION STOPS. THE WIFE IS SCARED THAT THE BLAZER IS GOING TO TIP OVER. THE DEALER SAYS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE OWNED FOR WHEEL- DRIVE VEHICLES SINCE 1966. JEEP WAGONEERS, EAGLES, CHEROKEE, GRAND CHEROKEE, AND SUBURARU. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE EXPERINCED THE FEELING OF TIPPING OVER. THE DEALER SAID HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, CHEVROLET WANTS ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER. I CAN SHOW ANYBODY WHAT HAPPENS AS IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GAS UP, AND TURN THE WHEELS TO LEAVE THE GAS STATION. I BELIEVE IT IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. I DO A LOT OF OFF ROAD DRIVING AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OF FEELING I AM GOING TO TIP OVER, ONLY GOING OUT OF A GAS STATION. DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHENEVER DRIVING. INSPECTED BY DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. CONSUMER HAD A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INSPECT VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END WAS LOOSE APPROXIMATELY 11/2 - 2", AND THAT WAS NOT NORMAL. THEY ALSO SAID THE TORSION BAR, IDETER ARM, PITMAN ARM, AND BOTH BALL JOINTS ARE UNSAFE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

ABS BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED EIGHT TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. COSMETIC MUFFLER SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. LOWER CONTROL LEVER ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BROKE OFF AND WAS REPLACED. SHORT IN THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FELL OUT OF THE DASH.SUNVISOR HINGES ON MIRROR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK