NHTSA Complaint #10062370 — 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

WHEN I BOUGHT MY CHEVROLET AVALANCHE NEW IN 2002, AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HEARD A HORRIBLE CRASH AND FOUND THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT LATCHED THE REAR TAIL GATE. IT TAKES A GREAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO CLOSE IT PROPERLY. SINCE THEN , ON ABOUT 10 OCCASIONS, THE GATE HAS FALLEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AGO, I FOUND THAT THE LEFT SIDE CABLE HAD BROKEN. I WAS GOING TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TODAY, BUT , ON MY WAY TO DROP MY BOYS OFF AT SCHOOL, THE GATE ONCE AGAIN FELL DOWN. I STOPPED AND ASKED MY 13 Y.O. TO SLAM THE GATE. WHEN HE TRIED TO DO THIS, THE GATE BOUNCED BACK INTO HIS FACE AND JAMMED. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED, I SAW THAT THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE WAS DISLOCATED, THE RIGHT BOTTOM OF THE GATE WAS DAMAGED, THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS BROKEN, THERE WAS A GOUGE ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE GATE, AND A MINOR PAINT SCRATCH ON THE GATE NEAR THE GOUGE. I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND DID A SEARCH & FOUND THIS SITE. I AM HOPING THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WILL STAND BEHIND THIS DEFECT AND PAY FOR MY REPAIRS. THANK YOU. GARY BOSCO. *JB