NHTSA Complaint #10081271 — 1995 CHEVROLET BLAZER

ONE OF THE OIL COOLER HOSES CAME OFF THE CRIMP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL OIL AND PRESSURE. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (BUT LUCKILY REGAIN IT). ENGINE IS A COMPLETE LOSS AND WILL BE COSTING US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THIS REALLY SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUE, AS THE CRIMP METHOD USED FOR THIS HIGH PRESSURE (AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT) HOSE IS OF A TYPE THAT DOES NOT SEEM RELIABLE. THE SHOP THAT IS HOLDING OUR CAR, PENDING OUR DECISION ON WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HAS INDICATED THEY HAVE HAD ONE OR TWO OTHER BLAZERS IN THEIR SHOP IN THE LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING - AND THAT THEY NOTED AT THE TIME THAT THE CRIMP METHOD, WITHOUT BARBS TO GIVE EXTRA GRAB TO THE HOSE - SEEMS TO BE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE CHEVROLET TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT - IF THE HOSE HAD BEEN ATTACHED IN A RELIABLE METHOD, THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK