NHTSA Complaint #10104452 — 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2002 CHEVY TAHOE IN TO THE DEALER FOR A LONG OVER DUE REPAIR. AFTER DESCRIBING MY PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN (A CLUNK SOUND AND FEEL THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH I HAD FIRST NOTICED AT ABOUT 20K MILES), HE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A "COMMON OCCURRENCE" IN THE YEAR/MODEL AND THAT IT WAS "DUE TO POOR LUBRICATION/DESIGN" WITH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HE SHAFT WOULD COST $140 PLUS ONE HOUR LABOR.... HOWEVER; IT IS ON A LONG BACK ORDER. SEEMS STRANGE THAT AN ITEM, WHICH IS A "COMMON OCCURRENCE" AND THE ITEM IS BACK ORDERED (MUST BE A LOT OF REPLACING GOING ON) WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT. I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FOR SUCH A STANDARD PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO BE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT THIS LOW OF MILEAGE SEEMS A BIT OUT OF THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. AFTER REVIEWING MANY SITES ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS OCCURANCE IS COMMON ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. WALTER GOODALL. *AK