1998 Chevrolet Pickup

THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT BY MY DECEASED UNCLE. MY AUNT ([XXX]) AND MYSELF, [XXX] ARE ON THE TITLE AS OWNERS. I REALLY DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MONTH THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT, BUT IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. THE TRUCK WORKED PERFECTLY ON SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2002, WENT TO USE IT TODAY AND I HAVE ALL MY FORWARD GEARS BUT NO REVERSE. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRENTY ON THE TRUCK. THE NUMBERS LISTED AND THE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS MINE, [XXX] IS IN A NURSING HOME AND UNABLE TO BE REACHED. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

MY CLUTCH FIRST WENT OUT WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE; JUST BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN HAD A ONE-YEAR WARRANTY ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME WE HAD TO PAY OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT. ONCE AGAIN, MY CLUTCH IS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AGAIN AND IS SOMETIMES HARD TO GET INTO GEAR -- ANOTHER WORD, MY CLUTCH IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE.*AK

WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING VEHICLE, BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHT UNITS BURNED OUT . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT UNITS. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH UNITS, THE LIGHT BULBS WILL BURNED OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO MONTHS. THREE MONTHS AGO (APR-02) BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHT UNITS BURNED OUT AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE'S SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE TAIL LIGHT UNITS BURNING OUT AND BURNING OUT THE BULBS EVERY TWO MONTHS.*AK

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSURE FOR OUR EMPLOYEE. WE HAVE THREE OF THESE TRUCKS AND HAVE HAD FOUR FUEL PUMP FAILURES . THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO NATIONAL RECALL BUT WE KNOW THE DEALERSHIP REPLACES THESE FUEL PUMPS ON OTHER TRUCKS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THIS TRUCK HAS HAS TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES, BOTH WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP IN TRAFFIC WHICH WE FEEL IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUT EMPLOYEE. WE HAVE THREE OF THESE TRUCKS WHICH HAVE ALL HAD FUEL PUMP FAILURES. ONE TRUCK HAS HAD TWO FAILURES. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A NATIONAL ISSUE BUT WE KNOW THAT THE DEALER CHANGES MANY FAILED FUEL PUMPS. ONE TRUCK HAS HAS TWO FAILURES. *AK

TRUCK WAS PARKED AT 6PM ON 1/1/01 IN DRIVEWAY.AT 6:30 AM ON 1/2/01, OPENED DOOR TO FIND CAB FULL OF SMOKE, DRIVER DOOR INTERIOR MELTED AND HEAD LINER PARTIALLY MELTED.1/2/01 NOTIFIED POLICE AND DEALERSHIP.DEALERSHIP CONTACTED API (EXTENDED WARRANTY CO) WHO REFUSED TO PAY.1/9/01 CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LINE BUT WAS DENIED (CLAIM #02805467)DUE TO "WIRING HARNESS ON BACK OF TRUCK".HOWEVER, ORIGINAL STICKER ON TRUCK SHOWS TRAILERING HARNESS AS OPTION THAT WAS INSTALLED BY MANUF.1/29/01REPORTED LOSS TO BBB.2/1/01 RECD CALL FROM GM,NEW CLAIM #C0305797.1/26/01 FIRE MARSHALL INSPECTED TRUCK & CONFIRMED SHORTAGE OCCURED IN POWER LOCK, WINDOW OR MIRROR SWITHCHES.2/1/01 GM REP (LAREN NORRIS) AGREED WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED TRUCK TO CATCH ON FIRE. 2/5/01 GM DENIED CLAIM DUE TO "OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY". PERSONAL INSURANCE PAID FOR REPAIR OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER, PERSONAL LOSS OF INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE, RENTAL VEHICLE COST AND PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN VEHICLE WAS SMOKE DAMAGED. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF WIRING IN THIS VEHICLE.*ASK

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING OR SYMPTOMS, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD, THE MULTI-STACKED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES (2 TERMINALS STACKED WITH 2 WIRES EACH TOTAL OF FOUR WIRES) FAILED TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, INCLUDING ACCESSORIES, ENGINE, AND LIGHTS. MANUAL STEERING AND MANUAL BRAKES WERE USED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER TO ROAD SIDE. INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO CORROSION. THE SIDE-POST POSITIVE BATTERY BOLT WAS EXAMINED AND WAS NOT FOUND TO BE LOOSE. HOWEVER, PRYING THE POSITIVE WIRES (ROTATING APPOXIMATELY 30 DEGREES OR MORE) RESTORED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER EACH OF THE 7 OCCURANCES, I HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING: REPLACED THE POSITIVE SIDE-POST BOLT, CLEANED THE COPPER FLAT TERMINALS WITH PROPER CLEANING MATERIALS, VISUALY INSPECTED FOR DEBRIS INTERFERENCE, TIGHTENED THE TERMINAL BOLT, CHECKED FOR WIRING CRACKS OR BREAKS, AND/OR CHECKED FOR FIRE/HEAT DAMAGE TO THE CABLES. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PROBLEM AT THE POSITVE BATTERY POST SHOULD NOT RESULT IN A STALLED ENGINE.*AK