NHTSA Complaint #10110587 — 1999 CHEVROLET S10

I OWN A 1999 CHEVY S-10 PICKUP. I VERY RARELY HAVE PUT LOADS IN MY TRUCK. I HAVE MOVED A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, AND THAT'S BEEN ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT PUT ANYTHING REALLY HEAVY IN THE BACK SUCH AS AN ATV. THIS PAST SUMMER, ONE OF MY TAILGATE CABLES BROKE. UPON INSPECTION, IT CLEARLY RUSTED OUT UNTIL IT BECAME WEAKENED AND BROKE. I INSPECTED MY OTHER CABLE AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT IS ABOUT TO BREAK AS WELL. THE CABLE HAS RUSTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC COATING THAT COVERS THE CABLE. WHEN MY CABLE BROKE IT BENT THE TAILGATE OF MY TRUCK (I GUESS WHEN IT HIT THE BUMPER). UPON A VISIT TO MY DEALER, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $40 JUST FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART, MUCH LESS INSTALLATION. THESE CABLES NEED TO BE REDESIGNED/REPLACED. SOMEONE COULD GET HURT IF THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE A 1980 LUV PICKUP AND ITS TAILGATE WORKS FINE. NOW I CAN'T PUT ANY WEIGHT ON MY 1999 S-10'S TAILGATE FOR FEAR OF THE OTHER SIDE BREAKING.