1999 GMC Suburban

THE ISSUE I WANT TO DISCUSS CONCERNS THE PLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK ON SUBURBANS. THE SUBURBAN MY WIFE PURCHASED DID NOT HAVE A TRAILER HITCH. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I OWNED A 86 VW SCIRROCO. I NOTICED WITHOUT A TRAILER HITCH ON THE SUBURBAN THE 43 GALLON WAS VERY EXPOSED. IN FACT MY VW WOULD GO UNDER THE BUMBER AND HIT THE GAS BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING ELSE ON THE SUBURBAN. THIS HAS TO BE DANGEROUS!!. I BOUGHT A CLASS III TRAILER HITCHED AND INSTALLED IT SOON AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MOST SUBURBANS HAVE TRAILER HITCHES BUT FOR THE ONES THAT DON'T IS THIS A PROBLEM???

THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN SLOW, IE..WHEN TRYING TO STOP, I CAN PUSH, AND PUSH AND THE CAR WONT STOP. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE BURB WILL "JUMP" MY FOOT DOES NOT LEAVE THE PEDAL, NOR DO I RELEASE ANY PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, AND THE "JUMPING" WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO MAKE UP PRESSURE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS RUNNING. WELL, NOW MY BRAKES SQUEEL LIKE A BANSHEE, AND IM STILL JUMPING WHEN STOPPED, WETHER MY AIRCONDITIONING IS ON OR OFF. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TODAY, WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT,

WHEN DRIVING WHILE IT IS SNOWING OR SLEETING, THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOVES SNOW AND ICE TO THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE END OF THE LEFT SIDE WIPER THEN PUSHES THE SNOW/ICE DOWN THE WINDSHIELD WHERE IT PILES UP IN THE CENTER. AS THIS PROCESS CONTINUES, THE PILE GETS LARGER AND LIFTS THE LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) WIPER FROM THE WINDSHIELD, ALLOWING MORE AND MORE SNOW/ICE TO ACCUMULATE UNDER IT, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY REMOVE THE PILED UP ICE/SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD.

VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT COLUMN WAS STRUCK BY THE PASSENGER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SENT INTO REVERSE. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCKUP AND THE CONTROL MECHANICAL LOCK ON THE WHEEL COLUMN WAS LOCKED INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN WITH NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHILCE STARTED TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL AND THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE IN SAFTEY BELTS EXCEPT MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS INT THE BACK SEAT ASLEEP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. IT TOOK RESECUE CREWS TO REMOVE MYSELF THE DRIVER AND DAUGHTER WHO WAS TRAPPED IN THE BACK. WE WERE TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. ALL FIVE PASSENGERS WERE RELEASED WITH ONLY MINOR BRUISES AND CUTS. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND WHY A SAFETY FEATURE IS NOT PROVIDED TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING ACCIDENTLY PUT INTO REVERSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN DRIVE. PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *AK