1996 GMC Safari

GMC SAFARI VAN WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, NEXT MORNING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT HAD COLLAPSED AND WAS JUST 2 INCHES OFF THE PAVEMENT, INNER FENDERS WERE TOUCHING THE TIRES. DISCOVERED THAT THE TORSION BARS HAD FAILED, DEALER SAID REPAIRS WILL BE $1000, PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND HAS A NEW MOUNTING KIT TO GO ALONG WITH NEW TORSION BARS . VEHICLE IS USED AS SECOND FAMILY CAR AND DRIVEN BY DAUGHTER FOR SCHOOL AND WORK, LUCKILY FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A BOOMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TORSION BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

ON AUGUST 13TH, 2003, I BACKED THE VAN OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHICH HAS AN ABOUT 2 INCH DROP. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, I COULD FEEL THE TIRE SCRAPING. BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF THE CAR,THE DRIVERS' SIDE WAS ALMOST ON THE GROUND. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE, WHERE WE HAVE MOST OF OUR WORK DONE.I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STRUT, BUT IT WAS THE TORSION BAR. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TORSION BARS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE REPLACEMENT BARS WERE DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINALS. I CHECKED AROUND AND WAS TOLD, THAT BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE PRICES WERE ABOUT THE SAME. I WROTE TO GMC, AND TOLD THEM THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TORSION BARS, OTHERWISE THE REPLACEMENTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. ON THE 4TH OF SEPT. WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THEM. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL 01036, BUT OUR VEHICLE IS TOO OLD , SO THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT WHEN THIS RECALL WAS, SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE SAFARI SINCE 1999, AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.IN THE FIVE YEARS WE'VE HAD THIS VAN, WE HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $3000.00 ON REPAIRS, NOT COUNTING REGULAR MAINTENANCE.

LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHEN DRIVING. THE REPAIR SHOP CHANGED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TORSION BARS AND ARMS EVEN THOUGH THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. GM'S PARTS DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN PROBLEM AND THUS I HAD TO CHANGE BOTH SIDES. THIS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER SAME MODEL CARS AS WELL. I FEEL THAT IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL CARS BECAUSE IT POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE - RECALLED - DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS REPAIRED, NOW WIPERS OPERATE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. BOTH TORSION RODS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN 1 DAY APART OF EACH OTHER. MECHANIC REVEALED THAT GM NOW HAS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO BE DONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT COSTS AN EXTRA $90 TO REPAIR. WHICH MEANS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST. BROKEN SPARK PLUG ALMOST KILLED MY FAMILY. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN, DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT OPERATE.

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE, CAUSING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TORSION BAR TO BREAK. *AK WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VAN HAD DROPPED DOWN ON THE LEFT TIRE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY. THE TIRE RUBBED ON THE FENDER AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO STEER HARD, THEN THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED. *SCC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH DRIVERS SIDE TORSION BAR INEXPLICABLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BROKE. ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY FOR MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL AND COME TO A SAFE STOP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SUCH A FAILURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SINCE THE TORSION BAR FAILURE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DIFFERENT MECHANICS "THEY BREAK ALL THE TIME" AND "IT IS A DESIGN FLAW". I UNDERSTAND THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE AFFECTED PARTS. THIS IS A FAR MORE SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE THAN THOSE ADDRESSED BY OTHER RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE (SEATBELT WARNING BUZZER AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURES). IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY FOR ALL OWNERS, PASSENGERS AND ANYONE IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER.*AK