NHTSA Complaint #10106094 — 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

LEFT AND RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCKS ARE OFTEN IMMOBILIZED IN THE LOCKED POSITION, PREVENTING THE DOORS FROM BEING OPENED FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT RELATED TO TEMPERATURE. THE LEFT REAR DOOR FAILED FIRST, AND NOW CAN RARELY BE OPENED. THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. THIS IS A DESIGN AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT'S A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THE DOORS ARE FAILING IN LARGE NUMBERS, AND IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE THE DOORS CAN'T BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WHEN THE POWER LOCKS FAIL. THE DEALER SAID THE DOOR ACTUATORS AND LATCH ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT, SO I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, APPROXIMATELY $300 PER DOOR. THIS CLEARLY IS A SAFETY DEFECT SINCE IT IS PROBABLE THAT UP TO SIX PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER SEATS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.*AK