1999 Oldsmobile Bravada

I HAVE A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA OF WHICH I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THERE IS A TSB ON ITS TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 3RD GEAR/REVERSE REACTION SHELL BRAKAGE. I HAVE INQUIRED WITH GMC AND A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND NEITHER TOLD ME OF THIS. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND ACCORDING TO THE TSB, OLDSMOBILE SERVICE PERSONNEL IS REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED ME A 50/50 SPLIT. I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY CAR IS STILL CONSIDERED BRAND NEW EVEN THOUGH MY 36,000/3YR WARRANTY IS UP AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF MILES IT HAS ON IT, IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I DID NOT READ ABOUT A WARRANTY CLAUSE RELATED TO THE TSB AND FEEL OLDSMOBLE IS NOT HONORING THE TSB AS IT IS STATED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH OLDSMOBILE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE IS IMPERATIVE.*AK

1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA - FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE. RESULT IN FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING. TOP OF TIRE WENT INWARD. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN MAY 1999 AT GENERAL MOTORS PLANT IN MORIANE, OHIO. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ON THIS AND SIMILAR GM VEHICLES SINCE 1996. A RECALL WAS DONE ON THEM. (GM RECALL BULLETIN ? SUBJECT 01048A ? UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION ISSUED OCTOBER, 2001) (ALSO REFERENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER RQ02-012) HOWEVER I CALLED OLDSMOBILE (1-800-222-1020) AND THEY SAID NO RECALL ON MY CAR WAS ISSUED. I WAS TOLD RECALLS ARE DONE ON INDIVIDUAL CARS, NOT LOTS OF CARS, AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOW CARS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE SALT IS USED ON ROADS IN THE WINTER HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPING. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 8 YEAR I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ENGINEER A SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NHTSA NEEDS TO DO A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION FOR THE PUBLICS SAFETY. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS BROKE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ROLLOVER FIASCO. WHEN I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND ASKED IF I COULD TALK TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THIS AREA THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THE REGIONAL MANAGERS DO NOT TALK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IS THAT? *NLM

MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS RETRIEVING SOMETHING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. SHE OPENED THE REAR HATCH GLASS DOOR AS USUAL. WHEN SHE WAS DONE, SHE GRASPED THE HANDLE ON THE REAR GLASS AND STARTED TO PULL DOWN TO CLOSE IT. IT IMMEDIATELY SHATTERED ALL OVER HER. SHE RECEIVED TWO SMALL CUTS TO HER HANDS AND ONE SMALL CUT ON HER CHIN FROM FLYING GLASS. AT THIS TIME, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO GLASS IN HER EYES. UPON MY LOOKING INTO WHY THIS HAPPENED, I FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HATCH HINGE PIN WAS LYING IN A RECESSED CHANNEL ON THE TOP OF THE CAR. THE "E" CLIP RETAINER WAS MISSING AND THE PIN HAD FALLEN OUT. THIS OBVIOUSLY ALLOWED THE GLASS TO TWIST AND SHATTER. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER IN THE MORNING AND WILL EXPLAIN THIS SAME STORY. TO SAY I'M FURIOUS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IN MY OPINION, THE HINGE PIN RETENTION SYSTEM IS NOT POSITIVE ENOUGH. THE "E" CLIP RETAINER CAN EASILY POP OFF OF THE PIN. I'M A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AND I HAVE ALREADY THOUGH OF 3 BETTER WAYS TO RETAIN THE PIN. YOUR PROMPT INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER IS MUCH APPRECIATED.*AK