2005 Chevrolet Classic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

I HEARD SOME CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WAS TOLD BY A CHAIN REPAIR SHOP THAT THE STRUTS PROBABLY NEEDED REPLACING. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LOUD FOR THAT, BUT I TRUSTED THEIR OPINION. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WAY OFF CENTER. AS I WENT TO MAKE A U-TURN, I LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER ON THE FREEWAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE MOUNTING TABS FOR THE STEERING GEAR WHERE EVERYTHING IS ATTACHED RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED A CRADLE SO HE COULD RE-ATTACH THE STEERING COMPONENTS. ALSO, THE STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1390, WHICH WAS ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF FINDING USED PARTS.

FOR THE 4TH TIME POWER STEERING FAILED. FOR THE 2ND TIME THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED CHAPMAN CHEVROLET IN TEMPE, AZ REPLACED THIS AND CHARGED $970 FOR REPAIRS. THE 2ND AND THIRD TIME THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED FOR FREE AT NO CHARGE. NUMEROUS GM CARS INCLUDING THE 2010 COBALT HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BUT GM AND CHAPMAN REFUSE TO REFUND TO REFUND THE INITIAL CHARGE SINCE THIS IS NOT SHOWN AS A RECALL ITEM AT THIS TIME. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND A SECOND PASSENGER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND HAD TO REMOVE ALL THREE OF THE PASSENGERS FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS TURNED OVER ON THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, THE RIGHT ARM ROTATOR CUP, AND A BRUISED BREAST AREA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED PAINS AND BRUISES IN THE PELVIC AREA AND THE THIRD PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR ABRASIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT ALL THREE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY BREAKS AWAY FROM ENGINE CRADLE DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. (PHOTOS AVAILABLE) WIFE COMPLAINED OF THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. I TEST DROVE A FIGURE EIGHT AND PARKED WITH PASSENGER WHEEL 30 DEGREES OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LOSS OF STEERING (NOT JUST POWER), REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CRADLE CAN'T BE ALLOWED TO FAIL, EVER. EITHER THE ORIGINAL METALLURGICAL SPECIFICATIONS WERE IN ERROR, OR SOME SUBSET OF THE SUPPLIED CRADLES DID NOT MEET SPECS. 10579587, DATED 3/12/2014 ? IS AN EARLIER ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF SAME PROBLEM. WEB WISDOM SUGGESTS A/C CONDENSATE REPEATEDLY COLLECTS ON THE CRADLE CAUSING (HIDDEN) CORROSION. THAT SEEMS PLAUSIBLE TO ME, SINCE MY CAR IS RUST FREE, INCLUDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE HEAVILY CORRODED CRADLE. ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA GM PRODUCTS THAT SHARE THE SAME GMX130 PLATFORM USING THIS CRADLE ARE: 1999?2004 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1999?2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997?1999 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 1997?2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2004?2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC I MANUALLY BROWSED NHTSA DB FOR FRONT-END RELATED 'FAILED COMPONENTS' ON THESE VEHICLES. I READ FOR A DAY. WHAT DOES A STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF FRONT-END RELATED FAILURES SAY ABOUT THE GMX130 PLATFORM? I ASSERT THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL FLAW IN SOME OR ALL CRADLES USED BY THE GMX130 PLATFORM MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO EXTREME CORROSION, LEADING TO A VARIETY OF POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING COMPONENT FAILURES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF STEERING. ... UPDATED 03/19/15*BF *JS

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS SATURDAY DECEMBER 21,2013. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT BRIEFLY WHILE DRIVING THE FREEWAY AND GOING UP A HILL RETURNING TO MY RESIDENCE. IF POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ALMOST LOST WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS,INCREASING MY RISK OF CRASH. THE MANUFACTOR OR DRIVE TIME WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL OF THIS PART. *TR