1995 GMC Sonoma

MY HUSBAND FELL ASLEEP AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 AM AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, SUSTAINED A BRUISED HEART AND NECK INJURY. WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL ER, TRANSFERRED TO ICU; HE IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL NOW, BEING WATCHED CLOSELY FOR ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL PICKUP WHERE THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE? OR IS IT FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON JUST THIS VEHICLE?*AK

THE REMOTE OIL FILTER ADAPTER ON THIS VEHICLE IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE STEEL. ANY KID THAT PASSES SCIENCE CLASS CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE TWO METALS TOGETHER WILL CAUSE A BI-METALLIC REACTION THAT WILL SEVERELY AND QUICKLY CORRODE THE ALUMINUM, WHICH IT HAS. THIS CORROSION HAS CAUSED THE MOUNTING HOLES ON THE ADAPTER TO FLAKE OFF AND NOW ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE MOUNTING BOLT/NUT IS HOLDING THE ASSEMBLY. EVENTUALLY, THE MOUNT WILL COMPLETELY FAIL AND THE ADAPTER MAY FALL INTO SOME MOVING ENGINE PART OR ONTO THE ROAD. THIS COULD SEVER THE OIL FILTER HOSES AND POSSIBLY SPRAY OIL ON THE HOT ENGINE WHICH IS A FIRE RISK. THIS OIL FILTER ADAPTER SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF MATERIALS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE AND WILL NOT CORRODE FROM BI-METALLIC REACTION.*AK

WHEN BRINGING THE TRUCK IN FOR OTHER SERVICE THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VISIBLE PART OF THE TANK WAS INTACT HOWEVER, A PLASTIC SHIELD COVERS THE FRONT PORTION OF THE TANK. REMOVAL OF THE SHIELD REVEALED PACKED DEBRIS, THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THE CAUSE OF THE CORROSION WAS THE FACT THE PLASTIC SHIELD ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK TRAPPED DEBRIS AGAINST THE TANK AND CAUSED CORROSION FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. THIS DESIGN INDUCES CORROSION AND NO REASONABLE INSPECTION WOULD FOREWARN OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER, MR. JOE CHAPMAN OPINED THERE WAS NO RECOURSE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS 7 YEARS OLD. FOLLOWING THIS RATIONALE OWNERS SHOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE FUEL TANKS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY THAN EXHAUST SYSTEMS. MR. CHAPMAN DID PROVIDE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. THAT NUMBER WAS CALLED AND A LINDA ROBERTSON LISTENED AND STATED "DESIGNS ARE NEVER DEFECTIVE." AFTER MORE DISCUSSION SHE PHONE THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED MY VISIT ADDING HE NEVER ADMITTED THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE.( TRUE ONLY THE TECHNICIAN MADE SUCH A COMMENT. THIS SHOULD BE A MOOT POINT TO ANYONE LOOKING AT THE DESIGN OR THE PARTS AT ISSUE. I ASKED MS. ROBERTSON TO WHOM COULD I WRITE FOR FURTHER REVIEW. SHE SAID NO ONE. HER ONLY OFFER WAS THAT SHE CREATED A FILE OF MY COMPLAINT. THE NUMBER THEREOF BEING C06605340. THIS DESIGN AND CONSEQUENT LEAKAGE PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AIR POLLUTION AND THE SEEPAGE OF MTBE INTO GROUND WATER. GMC TOUTS THE DURABILTY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER'S ATTITUDE CONTRADICTS THAT. IN FACT I AM SHOPPING FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE IN A FEW MONTHS. THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT ENCOURAGING. I HAVE TAKEN DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE SHIELD AND WILL LIKELY TAKE PHOTOS OF THE TANK AFTER IT IS REMOVED. NLM