1995 GMC K1500

SINCE PURCHASE, THERE HAS BEEN A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GEARS INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL ARE LOOSE. ON MONDAY 3/15, I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING AREA AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE WAS LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE, AND AS THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT THE GROUND, I HEARD AN AUDILBLE CLANKING NOISE, UPON WHICH THE REAR WHEELS BECAME FREE. I RESEARCHED VIA INTERNET ALL REPAIR BULLETINS PERTINENT TO THIS VEHICLE, AND FOUND A BULLETIN DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. AND DESCRIBED MY FINDINGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BULLETIN WAS NOT A RECALL, AND THAT THE NOISE IS DUE TO THE FREE-PLAY IN THE AXLE GEARS (SET AT FACTORY). IF THIS PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR DURING DRIVING, THE DRIVER MIGHT LOSE CONTROL AND HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE SINCE THE 3/15 DATE, HOWEVER, THE CLUNKING NOISE CONTINUES TO BE NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING.

WHEN I CONTACTED THE GMC DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS ON MY OWN AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THIS WAS THE SAME RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS. EVEN WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION. DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE SEAT FRAME, I CONSIDER IT A "CATASTRPPHIC FRAME FAILURE". IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE FRAME WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH A POOR QUALITY METAL. THE DAY THAT THE FRAME FAILED, I HAD JUST ENTERED MY TRUCK IN PREPARATION TO LEAVE FOR WORK. WHEN I ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME SNAPPED OFF FROM THE BASE AND THIS FLEX CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO RELEASE. I THEN FOUND MYSELF LOOKING UP AT THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK. THIS FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY MECHANICAL OR MOVING PART. THIS IS A SIMPLE CASE OF METAL FAILURE AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE. AT A 185LBS I DON'T FEEL THAT MY WEIGHT HAD ANY THING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE FAILURE OF THIS SEAT FRAME. I LOCATED ON THE NHTSA WEB PAGE AND LOCATED THE ACTION NUMBER: PE97027 WITH REFERENCE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH THIS FRAME. THER IS NOT DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS FRAME FAILURE. IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THAT I CAN GET WITH REFERENCE TO THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON THIS FAILURE. I ALSO HAVE THE FRAME AND ITS BROKEN PARTS IN MY POSSESSION FOR REVIEW OR INSPECTION IF NHTSA NEEDS TO SEE THE COMPONENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY J. TREVOR ANDERS