NHTSA Complaint #10151156 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE DESIGNED WITHOUT INLINE FUEL FILTER, ONLY A FILTER MADE INTO THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE TANK. ACCORDING TO GM AND ALL DATA REPAIR MANUALS, THIS FILTER IS A NON-SERVICEABLE ITEM INTENDED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES, VEHICLE MIL INDICATOR CAME ON, DIAGNOSED AS MISFIRE CONDITION. VEHICLE STUTTERED UNDER BOTH IDLE AND ACCELERATION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT SEDIMENT FROM THE FUEL TANK HAD CONTAMINATED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. CLAIM FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY WAS DENIED, EVEN THOUGH NON-SERVICEABLE LIFETIME PART ALLOWED CONTAMINATION INTO THE SYSTEM. VERY POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE STALLING UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *JB