NHTSA Complaint #10082603 — 2004 HUMMER H2

FRONT WHEEL LINKAGE FAILURE, WHEEL FELL OFF. MY BROTHER AND I NEARLY DIED TODAY FROM AN ACCIDENT IN MY MOTHERS H2. WE HAD JUST LEFT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BROKE FREE. THE H2 VIOLENTLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND EVEN THOUGH I AM A BIG GUY IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THAT 6000 LBS BEAST FROM SWERVING. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT THOSE DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP SINCE THE BRAKES WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL WHICH I COULD SEE WAS BEHIND US FROM THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. THE H2 TORE THROUGH THE OPPOSITE LANE AND SLAMMED US INTO A DITCH CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAN ONLY THANK GOD THAT WE WERE FINE AND THAT THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT TIME. THE BRAKING OFF OF THE WHEEL CAUSED MAJOR WHEEL WELL AND FENDER DAMAGE. THE FORCE OF THE WHEEL SLAMMING INTO THE WELL SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND BROKE THE SIDE STEP. I HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW THAT THE WHEEL WAS ABOUT 10 FEET BEHIND US. THERE WERE SEVERAL SUSPENSION PIECES STILL CONNECTED TO IT. THE POLICE OFFICER HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING MY STORY, BUT THAT IS EXPECTED FROM THEM, THE REAL PAINFUL THING IS THAT MY MOTHER WONT BELIEVE ME EITHER. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL CASES LIKE THIS. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY ACCIDENT, NOTHING IS WORSE THAN LOOSING ALL CONTROL OF A VEHICLE WITH A LOVED ONE INSIDE, KNOWING THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PERSON. *AK