1999 GMC Suburban

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SUBURBAN. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES FAILED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR BARN DOORS FAILED TWICE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE ELECTRIC DOORS WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY, BUT ALSO WOULD NOT WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURES. THE OCCUPANTS SEATED IN THE THIRD ROW AND REAR SEATS ARE TRAPPED WHEN THE FAILURES OCCUR. THE DOORS ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE OCCUPANTS MUST CLIMB OUT OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER OR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS. CURRENTLY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPERATES RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CYLINOID LOCKS ON THE DOOR, WHICH TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. UPDATED 06/16/09

WHILE DRIVING UP THE INTERSTATE, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. MOVED THE TILT STEERING WHEEL A NOTCH OR TWO AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. WE DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THEY WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING SMELL. TOOK IT TO GM GARAGE (WHO WANTED $90 AN HOUR) TO LOOK AT IT. I CHECKED IT OUT MYSELF AND FOUND WIRES CORRODED IN THE HARNESS (LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN) AND TWO BURNED THROUGH. CLEANED THE WIRES AND SOLDERED THEM BACK. CONTACTED GM ABOUT PROBLEM, RECEIVED NO HELP. CHECKED WITH INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A STATEMENT WITH THEM. WIRING HARNESS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DOOR ACUATORS FAULTY. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. FUEL GUAGE FAULTY. SECURITY SYSTEM OVERRIDES STARTER WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE STARTED. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE "SERVICED" THREE TIMES FOR "DOOR ACTUATORS" AS WE WERE TOLD THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING SECURITY SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. GMC NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT HELPFUL. THEY DID NOT RETURN CALLS OR SET-UP SPECIAL SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL DEALER AS THEY PROMISED. THERE ARE SEVERAL INCIDENT DATES OF WHEN WE COULD NOT START OUR VEHICLE. WILL USE JULY 29TH AS ONE DATE, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE WHILE ON SUMMER VACATION IN LAKE TAHOE AREA. IF THIS HAPPENS DURING REAL EMERGENCY IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE.

ENGINE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES. ENGINE BACK FIRED AND DAMAGED STARTER. FOUND OEM BATTERY HAD LEAKED ACID FROM POSITIVE TERMINAL ALL OVER ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS, RUBBER HOSES, AC TUBING, FRAME AND DISSOLVED PROTECTIVE HOSE WEAR SHIELDS. DEALER SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS A LOT AND TO CALL GMC AS THE BATTERY ONLY HAD 36 MONTH WARRANTY. BATTERY WARRANTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LEAKING ACID AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO WIRING AND HOSES.*JB