NHTSA Complaint #10153733 — 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. ACCORDING TO TSB 00-07-30-022 THE 4L60E A/T WILL LOSE REVERSE, 2ND, AND 4TH GEARS. THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION CALLED THE REACTION SUN SHELL, WHICH WAS RETURNED TO ME BY THE TRANSMISSION REBUILDER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT MAINTENANCE RELATED IN ANY WAY. THE FAILURE OF THE PART WAS DUE TO INADEQUATE STRENGTH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS AFTERMARKET REACTION SUN SHELLS THAT ARE MUCH STRONGER AND DURABLE THAN THE DEFECTIVE GM PART. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND COULD CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 3RD IF YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN 1ST THEN LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I PULLED ON TO A HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY AND COULD ONLY MAINTAIN 25 MPH WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OVER, UNTIL I REALIZED THAT IT WOULD SHIFT TO 3RD IF YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING MINE. THIS CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE TRIES TO TURN AROUND AND NEEDS REVERSE OR NEEDS TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEED SUCH AS ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. GM SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT THE TSB APPLIES TO. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION BUT DO NOT WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT WOULD COST THEM TOO MUCH MONEY. *JB