NHTSA Complaint #10096104 — 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

I DROVE MY TRUCK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; PRIMARILY COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK (HIGHWAY MILES). AT ~ 66,000 MILES, FRONT LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY STARTED MAKING INTERMITTENT NOISE AND NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. THE HUB/TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF PLAY WHEN I INSPECTED IT DURING A RECENT TIRE CHANGEOUT. ULTIMATELY, THE HUB ASSEMBLY INTERNALS FAILED AND THE LUBRICATION ESCAPED FROM THE SEAL. IT IS MY OPINION THAT IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THE HUB COULD LOSE ALL LUBRICATION AND EITHER FREEZE UP, FALL APART OR CATCH FIRE. IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A HUB TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 68,000 MILES. DEALER CONFIRMS THIS BY TELLING ME THAT THEY'VE NOT SEEN MANY IF ANY 3/4 TON TRUCKS COME THROUGH WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT CANNOT PROVE THIS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET THE NHTSA TAKE IT APART AND INSPECT IT AND HEAR OF THEIR CONCLUSION. I AM ALREADY OUT THE $400+ DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER "DIS-SERVICE" WOULD NOT ADMIT TO ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I OFFERED TO MEET THEM "HALF-WAY" AND PAY FOR THE LABOR IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE PART. IF THE NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE PART, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WEBSITE. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I'VE HAD (WITH MY TRUCK AND GM). THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND FEEDBACK!