1994 GMC Safari

THE VAN WAS GOING DOWN THE I25 NORTH OF DENVER WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY RACE CARS AND BRINING THE VAN TO A STOP WAS THE HARDEST I HAVE EVER DONE. BY DRIVING SKILLS, LUCK AND THE GOOD LORD I AM HERE TODAY TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT. DOES GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO WAIT FOR A FAMILY TO DIE BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. I DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT TO GET PARTS AND THAT IS WHEN I FIND THAT GM KNOWS THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE TORSION BARS AND SUPERSEDES THE PART NUMBERS TO SHORTER (FROM 40" TO 36" BARS) THESE BARS ARE REDESIGNED AND MUST BE REPLACED IN PAIRS. I HAVE THE VAN TORN DOWN NOW WITH THE FAILED PART AND IT UPSETS ME ENOUGH THAT I AM GOING TO LET THE VAN SIT UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOTE THAT THE GMC SAFARI AWD VANS AND THE CHEVROLET ASTRO AWD VANS ARE THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. ON 03/10/01, I NOTICED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE PERTAINING CAR SAGGING, CAR ALMOST TOUCHING THE TIRE. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM, AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR WAS BROKEN. UPON ORDERING A NEW ONE, HE WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THIS IS A 1994 SAFARI, WE HAVE TO BUY NEW TORSION BARS AND ARMS FOR BOTH SIDE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION. REASON BEING THAT GMC HAD SINCE THEN RE-DESIGNED THIS TORSION BAR SYSTEM. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE FRONT TORSION BAR SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF IT BEING RE-DESIGNED , ALTHOUGH ONLY THE FRONT LEFT BAR WAS BROKEN. WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYING FOR WERE THE PROBLEM LIES, BUT I QUESTION THE FACT THAT GMC RE-DESIGNED THIS PIECE, AS WELL AS THAT IT IS OUR COST. WHAT REASON COULD THERE BE FOR RE-DESIGNING SUCH A PIECE. COSMETICS? DOUBTFULL! OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MISTAKE WITH THE OLD DESIGN. SHOULD THE CUSTOMER THEREFOR PAY FOR THIS. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH GMC ABOUT THIS, BUT GET AS MUCH AS A PHONE MESSAGE BACK, STATING THAT THE CAR IS BEYOND IT'S STANDARD 36,000MLS-3 YRS. WARRANTEE. I FEEL HOWEVER THAT THIS HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE ISSUE. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I'M BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION. WE HOPE THAT YOU COULD SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON THIS, AND WE DO FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE RE-IMBURSED FOR COSTS OTHER THAN THE BROKEN TORSION BAR. HERE IS SOME CONTACT INFO FOR YOU TO WORK WITH: OUR MECHANIC, DEWEY'S TIRE & AUTO REPAIR LLC, 603-356-5703; PONTIAC & GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE, PO BOX 33172, DETROIT MICH., 48232-5172, REFERENCE # C-03448370. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL ME FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION THAT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. A. VAN COESANT. *AK