2005 Chevrolet Equinox

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN TOWING MY POP-UP CAMPER TRAILER, THE 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANMISION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR AUTOMATICALLY. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED, 60 OR 65 MPH, THE ENGINE REMAINS AT A HIGH RPM UNTIL I RELEASE THE ACCELLERATOR PEDAL. THEN IT SHIFTS INTO FOURTH GEAR. I DO NOT TOW THE TRAILER IN FIFTH GEAR (OVERDRIVE). WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, A MECHANIC THAT HAS WORKED FOR THIS SAME CHEVROLET DEALER FOR MANY YEARS, DROVE THE CAR, TOWING THE TRAILER. WHEN IT DID NOT SHIFT, HE TOLD ME STRAIGHT OUT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WHEN I LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALER (DICK WICKSTROM CHEVROLET IN ROSELLE, ILLINOIS), THEY CLAIM TO HAVE CONTACTED THE FACTORY ENGINEERS AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. I VERY MUCH DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. I HAVE TOWED TRAILERS BEHIND QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM TIRED OF HAVING DEALERS TELL ME THAT PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCE ARE "NORMAL AND THAT THEY ALL DO THAT".

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED, AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ADJUST ITSELF ACCORDING TO DRIVING CONDITIONS/ EACH DRIVER'S HABITS, AND 4) POPPING NOISE HEARD WHEN STARTING OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. ASKED FOR FUEL LINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BE CHECKED. AS OF THIS TIME REPAIR CENTER CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NO IDEAS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS IN LIMBO AS THEY ARE 'LOOKING INTO IT' AND WILL CALL ME BACK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT,EST DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK........THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ONLY AFTER THE EQUINOX MADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO THE STREET AFTER IMPACT, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE RIGHT WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OFF. ALSO, THE SHERIFF ON THE SCENE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THERE WAS ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE.*AK