2003 Chevrolet S10

I WAS PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION WHEN SOMETHING "JOLTED" THE VEHICLE AND MADE A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE TRUCK. LOOKING BACK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS LYING IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT IT. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TIRE. AFTER RETURNING HOME MY FATHER INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SAID THE CABLE HAD BROKEN WHERE THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT HOLDS THE TIRE UP UNDER THE TRUCK BED. THE TIRE IS CUT IN A COUPLE PLACES ON THE SIDEWALLS AND THE BRACKET THAT SHOULD BE ON THE END OF THE CABLE IS MISSING. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT LYING IN THE ROAD AS I JUST GRABBED MY TIRE IN A HURRY BECAUSE MORE TRAFFIC WAS COMING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (LUCKILY NOT FAST AND WITHOUT TRAFFIC!!) . I FELT A SLIGHT BUMP. FIRST THOUGHT WAS I HIT A POTHOLE OR RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD IN SPITE OF THE FACT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. NATURALLY, I CHECKED THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND TO MY SURPRISE, SAW A WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHICH I KNOW I DID NOT RUN OVER- NEXT THOUGHT WAS "ITS FROM MY TRUCK! THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY !!". UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE SPARE TIRE RETAINING CABLE HAD RUSTED THRU AND ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO DROP OFF FROM UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I CALLED CHEVY TO COMPLAIN BUT WAS MET WITH THE ANTICIPATED RESISTANCE TO WARRANTY REPAIR. I SUGGESTED TO MY WIFE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO DRIVE BEHIND ANY CHEVY S10 TRUCKS! *TR

PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, AN A METALLIC CLANK WAS AUDIBLE. LOOKING BACK THE SPARE TIRE LAY ON THE ROAD. RETURNING TO THE SPARE TIRE, IT THE KEEPER AND THE END OF CABLE WERE RECOVERED. THE CABLE HAD BROKEN AT THE CABLE STOP RESULTING IN A SINGLE PART FAILURE INCIDENT. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY BEFORE THIS AS I DROVE TO THIS LOCATION ON THE FREEWAY, SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES WERE PROBABLE. THIS TIRE HOIST MECHANISM WAS ONLY RAISED INTO PLACE WITH BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. *TR

UPON PERSONAL INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE I DISCOVERED MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND THE CABLE HAD SNAPPED DUE TO CABLE FRAYING OR CORROSION. THE EXACT TIME AND SPEED OF THIS FAILURE IS UNKNOWN BUT THE DANGER COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS A: THE TIRE COULD POSE A HAZARD TO TRAFFIC BEHIND THE VEHICLE. B: THE TIRE COULD ROLL INTO LANES OF TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS. C: THE TIRE COULD FALL AT SUCH AN ANGLE TO LIFT AND DEFLECT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF CONTROL. D: THE OPERATOR COULD FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE. *TR