2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A LOUD POP WAS HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN AND PRONOUNCED INCREASE IN WIND NOISE. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THE REAR TAIL GATE WINDOW HATCH. METAL FATIGUE CAUSED THE LEFT WINDOW HATCH HINGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME. THIS PRODUCED A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE SPEED THE WINDOW HAD FULLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE GLASS WINDOW AND FRAME WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE TRAILING VEHICLE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WAS AUDIBLE WHILE RUNNING. I AM NOT THE PRIMARY DRIVER, SO I WROTE THE NOISE OFF AS NORMAL. A FEW DAYS LATER HOME MY WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED UP AND THE CLUTCH WAS BURNING UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING A NEW COMPRESSOR, DRYER-RECEIVER, ORIFICE FILTER, AND A RECHARGE AND I SHOULD BE ALL SET. NOT THE CASE, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS FILLED WITH METALLIC PARTICLES AND IMMEDIATELY PLUGGED THE FILTER. NOW, I WAS FACED WITH REPLACING MOST OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $1000.00. THE MECHANIC TOOK PITY ON ME AND EXTENDED ME A DISCOUNT, BUT THE PRICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS HIGHER. THE VEHICLE HAD 61,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS VEHICLES WITH A/C AND NEVER HEARD OF THIS, UNTIL IT HAPPENED AND I BEGAN TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FOUND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AMONGST GM AIR CONDITIONING. *JB