1996 Chevrolet Blazer

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLAMES WERE NOTICED DROPPING TO THE GROUND UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. GREY SMOKE WAS ALSO OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY, AND WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT PROCESSED AT THE SCENE. THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE MELTED THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF IT, AND DID MODERATE DAMAGE TO A THIRD VEHICLE PARKED ALONGSIDE THE SECOND VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2006. MY SON AND 3 FRIENDS WERE LEAVING A FRIENDS HOUSE. WHEN MY SON APPLIED HIS BRAKE TO SLOW, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THEY FAILED THE ENGINE REVVED COMPLETELY UP, THROTTLED OUT AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. HE OF COURSE HAD NO BRAKES, BUT NOW NO STEERING, AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. NOT HAVING ANY CONTROL, THE VEHICLE HIT A LOOSE ROCK, SLID INTO A DITCH WHICH THEN SENT THEM INTO A SERIES OF ROLLOVERS NO LESS THAN 5 NO MORE THEN 7. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN THEY LANDED 3 OF THE 4 DOORS WERE JAMMED SHUT. AS THEY CLIMB OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THEY NOTICED IT WAS BURNING. IT BURNED FROM BEHIND THE DASH THROUGH THE ENGINE. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THE WORST INJURY AT THE TIME WAS MY SON'S SHOULDER, THEY WERE CONCERNED IT HAD A WORSE TEAR. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED CHEVY AND GM. I AM ALSO TALKING TO AN ATTORNEY NEXT WEEK. THE SERVICE BRAKE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK RECALL HAS CAUSED ME CONCERN. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS EVER TAKEN FOR IT'S REPAIR. NOW GM CAN'T EVEN FIND OR TRACE YET THE VIN NUMBER. HE HAD ONLY HAD IT 2 WEEKS WHEN WE HAD TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE JUMPED TO START. THEN A WEEK AND A HALF ALMOST 2 WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES GO OUT. SOMETHING MAJOR WENT WRONG, AND HE HADN'T EVEN HAD IT 30 DAYS YET. IT COULD HAVE KILLED 4 KIDS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V200000 PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NO: 01048 AFTER NEARLY LOSING CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I DECIDED TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECKED. THE FRONT BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. I FURTHER LEARNED OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED REFERENCES HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP IN ANKENY WAS UNHELPFUL, RUDE, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK REGARDLESS OF BULLETINS, ETC... EACH DAY THE VEHICLE IS HARDER TO HANDLE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND ADVISED WILL START TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION. WHY DO WE HAVE POLICIES BOTH GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE WHEN DEALERSHIPS TOTALLY DISREGARD ALL THE RULES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT DEALERSHIPS LEFT IN DIRE STRAITS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE ADDRESSED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, AND ENGAGING THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH, ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 9/8/2006 - *NM UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB

PURCHASED VEHICLE 12/03 SINCE THEN HAVE REPLACED: WATER PUMP 3 TIMES, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET, MAIN REAL SEAL. OVER THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAKING ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES (MORE THAN 10.) LUCKILY NONE WERE EMERGENCY STOPS, HOWEVER WHEN BRAKING DUE TO TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE OR STOPPING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES "CHATTER," AN AUDIBLE WHINE IS PRODUCED, AND IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE IT WILL REGAIN PRESSURE AND STOP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE AUTO INSURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TOWING COMPANY AND DETERMINED THAT THE LEAKAGE WAS DUE TO THE RUSTING. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AFTER THE COMPLAINT WAS TAKEN.