NHTSA Complaint #10166373 — 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE

I HAD A MAINTENANCE SERVICE PERFORMED ON MY 2002 CHEVY TAHOE AT THE CARL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN SAN JOSE, CA. A MINOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE WAS INCLUDED WITH THIS SERVICE. THEY REPLACED THE FILTER, PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED 4.5 QUARTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT WAS REMOVED FOR FILTER REPLACEMENT. I PICKED-UP MY SUV AND DROVE IT HOME. THERE WAS A SLIGHT DELAY IN SHIFTING, BUT THIS WAS ONLY NOTICEABLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS LEAVING ON A FAMILY CAMPING TRIP AND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A MILE FROM HOME. WE WERE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SPINNING OR HIGH RPM WINDING SOUND. SINCE WE WERE ABOUT TO START DOWN A STEEP HILL, I TRIED TO TURN AROUND. AS I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A Y-TURN, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. I HAD LOST MY REVERSE GEAR, SO I WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THIS LEFT MY CAR STRANDED IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FEARING FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY,I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD INTO A DRIVEWAY TO PREVENT BLOCKING THE LANE. I HAD MY TAHOE TOWED BACK TO THE CARL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION TECH STATED THAT THE SUN SHELL GEAR HAD WORN OUT AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS DAY'S SERVICE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN THE TAHOES. THE TRANSMISSION TECH ALSO STATED THAT THE CHEVROLET DISTRIBUTED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WITHIN THE COMPANY ADVISING THE MECHANICS THAT THE SUN SHELL GEAR WAS FAULTY DUE TO A LACK OF PROPER HEAT TREATING. CHEVY HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE YEAR 2000. I ASKED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY 10% OF THE BILL. MY FAMILY WAS PUT AT RISK DUE TO THIS KNOWN PART DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB