NHTSA Complaint #10150358 — 2005 GMC SIERRA

2005 GMC SIERRA SLT VIN [XXX] I DROVE THE TRUCK 237 MILES HOME AND NOTICED IT WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. I CALLED GMC TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK HAS BINDING IN THE FRONT AXLES, BRAKES, OR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO UNDERSTEER HEAVILY AS THE TRUCK WORKS TO TURN THE FRONT WHEELS OVER THE ROAD SURFACE. THIS ALSO MAKES THE TRUCK DIFFICULT TO STEER, U TURNS ARE ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM, THE TRUCK HAS SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND STAYS LONGER IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE REAR TIRES ARE PRONE TO LOSE TRACTION DUE TO THE INCREASED ROLLING RESISTANCE FROM THE FRONT WHEELS, BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS COMPROMISED, THE TRUCK WILL SWAY BACK AND FORTH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS THE ROLLING RESISTANCE OF THE FRONT WHEELS VARIES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE TRUCK TENDS TO PULL TO THE LEFT, AND THE SUSPENSION IS ALWAYS PRELOADED FROM THE ADDITIONAL STRESS. THE ENGINE LABORS TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON LEVEL GROUND WITH THE VEHICLE UNLOADED. ON OCCASION THE FRONT WHEELS WILL HOP OFF THE PAVEMENT AS IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO COMPRESS THE SUSPENSION/TORSION BARS THAN BE TURNED OVER THE ROAD. IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH THE TRUCK SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS TEND TO FOLLOW THE CONTOURS OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLIES MAKE A LOW FREQUENCY SOUND WHEN DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, AND DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS ARE ALWAYS LOADED AND DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE WOULD BE TREACHEROUS SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD STOP TURNING ON THE LOW FRICTION SURFACE. DRIVING IN THE RAIN IS BAD ENOUGH AND THE REAR WHEELS TEND TO BREAK LOOSE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEHAVED STRANGELY, STUTTERING ON OCCASION AS IT TRIED TO FIND THE PROPER GEAR, IT HAS SLIPPED OR FREEWHEELED AS I WENT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE WRONG OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED, THE AIR CLEANER IS LOOSE AND RATTLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE POWER STEERING PROVIDES LITTLE OR NO ASSIST AND REQUIRES MORE EFFORT THAN I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED FROM A VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE POWER STEERING. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF