NHTSA Complaint #10150360 — 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500

THE 2002 WAS IN NEED OF FRONT HUBS SINCE THEY WERE NOT REPLACED WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TIME THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS REBUILT. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO HAVE EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION, AND COMPROMISED THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW, AND THE FRONT WHEEL FRICTION WOULD VARY BASED ON CHANGES IN SPEED, ROAD CONTOUR, TEMPERATURE, STEERING INPUT, THROTTLE INPUT, AND BRAKE INPUT. WHILE BRAKING THE TRUCK WOULD OFTEN PITCH SEVERELY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE ON DRY PAVEMENT. ON ONE OCCASION THE ABS ACTIVATED WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE. THE TRUCK WOULD ALSO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AS THE FRICTION VARIED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME ONCE FROM CULLIGAN GMC, THE POWER STEERING EFFORT HAD INCREASED GREATLY. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAD BEEN CHANGED. THE TRUCK WAS BACK TO THE DEALER, DAVID CADILLAC, MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME CONCERN WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. ON ONE OCCASION THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO ME GUSHING GEAR LUBE FROM THE FRONT AXLE, ON ANOTHER IT WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL EMPTY. I WAS CHARGED FOR A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEN ONLY 2 WHEELS CAN BE ALIGNED ON THIS TRUCK. THE WRONG OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED, THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ABUSIVELY BY A DEALER EMPLOYEE (IT WAS RUN BEYOND MECHANICAL LIMITS WHILE COLD AS I STOOD IN THE PARKING LOT), AND WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE ADVISER AFTER THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN HIS SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK WITHOUT MY HEARING WHAT IT'S STATUS WAS, THE SERVICE PERSON SCREAMED AT ME ON THE PHONE "WHEN IT IS FINISHED I WILL CALL YOU!!!", AND HE SLAMMED THE PHONE DOWN. *NM