NHTSA Complaint #10118653 — 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK

FORTUNATELY WHILE STILL IN MY GARAGE, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE. UPON DOING SO THE DOOR UNLATCHED AND IMMEDIATELY FELL INTO MY CHEST AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WITH MY RIGHT HAND STILL ON THE DOOR HANDLE. AFTER SUPPORTING THE DOOR WITH A FOOT STOOL IT WAS OBVIOUS THE DOOR HAD FALLEN OFF THE TOP HINGE COMPLETELEY. YES, THE 4 SPOT WELDS HAD SIMPLY GIVEN WAY. TO SAY THE LEAST I AM AMAZED SOMETHING AS HEAVY AS THAT DOOR IS SIMPLY SPOT WELDED ON AT THE HINGES. I AM GREATFUL MY WIFE OR ANYONE ELSE WAS NOT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED MAKING A TURN WHILE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN LEANING ON THE DOOR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL GARAGE I DO BUSINESS WITH AND THEY RECOMMENDED A CLOSE BY RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP. UNFORTUNATELY I PREFER NOT TO TAKE MY CARS TO THE DEALERS ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF WARRANTY FOR REASONS I WON'T GO INTO HERE. THEY ORDERED A NEW HINGE FROM THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND I THINK IT INTERESTING IT CAME WITH 4 BOLTS AND NUTS WHICH MAKES A WHOLE LOT MORE SENSE TO ME THAN 4 TINY SPOT WELDS. I DID TAKE THE BILL FOR THE REPAIR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER ($199.05) TO SEE IF THEY OR GM MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PAYING IT AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENED OR EVEN BETTER WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY OFCOURSE REMINDED ME THE TAHOE WAS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY AND I SAID I KNEW THAT BUT THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE FACT A DOOR FELL OFF IN A CUSTOMERS HANDS AND BESIDES BEING DANGEROUS IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOOD PR EITHER. I DID ASK THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO CHECK RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY VEHICLE. I WATCHED AS HE HIT A FEW KEYS ON HIS COMPUTER NEVER ALLOWING ME TO VIEW HIS SCREEN AND SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING EXCEPT A COUPLE OF CARGO DOORS. I DID NOT ASK THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THE OLD HINGE BUT I"M SURE THE ALONG WITH ANOTHER WITNESS FROM MY REGULAR GARAGE CAN TELL YOU WHAT THEY FOUND. I WILL CALL THEM FIRST THING TOMORROW AND SEE IF BY CHANCE THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD HINGE.