1996 Chevrolet Pickup

THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RECENTLY TRANSFERED TO MY NAME THOUGH I HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 1995. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I TRADE LOOK AT IT AND UNLESS I WANT TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF HAVING THE MOTOR REPLACED THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I "JIGGLE" THE WIRE TO THE WIPER BOX. AFTER SEEING A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE I TOOK THE ARTICLE TO THE DEALER AND HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AT MY EXPENSE AND HOPE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS EVENTUALLY ISSUED AT WHICH TIME I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THIS IS A DANGER AND IT IS A PERSISTANT AND ONGOING PROBLEM. I FAIL TO SEE WHY THE RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPENSE SHOULD BE MINE. I AM ASKING THAT NHTSA FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT OPERATING UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THERE OPERATION, DURING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN, LOSS OF DRIVER VISIBILITY GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS HAS OCURRED TO ME ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. A RECALL WAS INITIATED BY THE CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION ON ALL LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS & SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 & 4 WHEEL DRIVE. A SOLDER JOINT NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE PROBLEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 1998. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION OF THE PROBLEM & HAVE BEN INFORMED BY THERE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER LARRY LARSON THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL & NOT INVOLVED IN ANY SPECIAL POLICY FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS. HE STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO OWNER MAINTENANCE, AGE OR WEAR. I ADVISED HIM THAT A CIRCUIT BOARD IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, & I DON'T SEE HOW A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT ON A CIRCUIT BOARD PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER COULD BE CONSIDERED A OWNER MAINTENANCE ITEM. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THIS SITUATION THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE & IT IS OCURRING TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THE MAKE & VINTAGE THE SAME AS MINE. THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF A MANUFACTURER HIDING DEFECTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES THAT CAN GET YOU KILLED. *AK