NHTSA Complaint #10132553 — 2002 GMC ENVOY

I OWN A 2002 GMC ENVOY THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2002. ON 24 MAY 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 68,920 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THERE WAS NO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED MARGINALLY IN GEARS 3,2,AND 1---ENOUGH TO LIMP INTO THE DEALER. LUCKILY, IT DIDN'T FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY...OR I MIGHT NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS COMPLAINT! AFTER TEARING DOWN/CHECKING OUT THE TRANSMISSION, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A DAMAGED SUN REACTION SHELL AND SUN GEAR. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, ALONG WITH NEW GASKETS AND SEALS, THE TRANSMISSION CLEANED AND POWER FLUSHED. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS EFFORT WAS $2277. :-( :-( IN DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE, I'VE DISCOVERED OTHER GMC ENVOY, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, AND TRAIL BLAZER OWNERS HAVE BEEN VICTIMS TOO. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THEM, WHO WORKS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A GM DEALER, THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS STATE THE MATERIAL USED IN THE SUN SHELL OF THE 02 BLAZER, ENVOY, AND OLDS BRAVADA WASN'T ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING IT TO STRIP (WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN MY VEHICLE). HE GOES ON TO STATE. THAT IN VEHICLES FROM 2003 ON, GM USED A "MORE HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL" IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE SUN GEAR FAILURE. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE ROOT CAUSE OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE...AND THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS... WAS DUE TO FAULTY MATERIAL...WHICH THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT...YET DIDN'T INFORM THE CONSUMER ABOUT. I'VE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE, GM OR OTHERWISE, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT A YOUNG 68,000 MILES! HELP PLEASE! *NM