NHTSA Complaint #10052319 — 2000 GMC SIERRA

DEAR SIRS, IN JANUARY OF 2000 I PURCHASED A NEW GMC SIERRA PICK-UP TRUCK FROM A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP. IN APRIL OF 2003 THE GAS GAUGE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER A FILL-UP. IT WOULD GO FROM FULL TO EMPTY, AND THEN ACT NORMAL UNTIL THE NEXT FILL-UP. THE ODOMETER READING WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE GAUGE WOULD ONLY REGISTER FULL. AT THIS TIME I HAD THE TRUCK INSPECTED BY TWO INDEPENDENT GARAGES. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN A NUMBER OF GMC'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMED THAT THE 1999-2001 MODELS HAD A DEFECTIVE PART. WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2003 I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE PART. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WOULD BE $650.00, INCLUDING PARTS (THE PART COST WAS $395.83). I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. I STATED THAT THE MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR FOR A FUEL GAUGE. I DID NOT EXPECT GM TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY; HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT SOME CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TOWARD THE COST OF THIS PART. I HAVE CONTACTED THE GM CONSUMER DEPARTMENT HOWEVER NO RELIEF HAS BEEN OFFERED TOWARD THIS REPAIR/PART. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE HELD FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. *LA