NHTSA Complaint #10100221 — 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE INVOLVING 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY. HOWEVER, WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR, I WAS GIVEN A REPORT THAT STATES, ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE "PARKING BRAKE IS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD ON A DOWN SLOPE AND ONLY DESIGNED TO HOLD AT 8% GRADE ON UP SLOPE." THIS RUNS COUNTER TO THE 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE OWNERS MANUAL, SECTION 7-20, ENTITLED "PARKING BRAKE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM CHECK WHICH INSTRUCTS AS FOLLOWS: "PARK ON A FAIRLY STEEP HILL, WITH THE VEHICLE FACING DOWNHILL" AND PROCEEDS TO GIVE STEPS FOR CHECKING THE PARKING BRAKE FUNCTION THAT CREATE A CLEAR EXPECTATION THAT THE PARKING BRAKE SHOULD FUNCTION "ON A FAIRLY STEEP HILL." SINCE BRINGING MY VEHICLE FOR REQUESTED ADJUSTMENT/REPAIR, I CONTINUE TO FIND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD WITH THE VEHICLE FACING DOWNHILL ON EVEN A MODEST SLOPE.*AK KNOWING THAT I CANNOT RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE, FOR NOW I WILL TAKE OTHER STEPS TO ASSURE SAFETY. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ... FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILIES. IF AN OWNER, UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT, HAVING A DRIVEWAY OF ANY MODEST SLOPE, RELIES ON THIS VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE ... THEY CLEARLY FACE THE RISK OF UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE ... RISKING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR TO HUMAN LIFE.