NHTSA Complaint #10179005 — 2002 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-70) THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AND LEFT ME DRIFTING WITH NO POWER ON THE INTERSTATE. AFTER DRIFTING OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO POWER ASSIST STEERING OR BRAKES TO STOP AND LETTING IT SIT AND TURN THE KEY OFF AND PUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IN "PARK" THE ENGINE WILL START BACK UP IN A FEW MINUTES. SOMETIMES HOWEVER IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES FOR A RESTART TO OCCUR. I CAN NOT BE CERTAIN, BUT I BELIEVE THIS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER (SUTLIFF CHEVROLET CO.) AND ASKED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BE REPLACED. THIS REQUEST CAME AS A RESULT OF MUCH INVESTIGATION AND CONVERSATION WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD CHANGE THE SENSOR BUT WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SENSOR BREAKS UPON REMOVAL. THIS THEY SAID WOULD REQUIRE MANY HORS OF LABOR TO FIX AND THEY WILL NOT DO THAT. I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME THE BILL FOR REPAIR IN ADDITION TO THE REQUESTED REPAIR SHOULD THIS HAPPEN. I AGREED TO PAY ONLY FOR THE REQUESTED REPAIR AND SAID THAT THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN THE PART AND THAT CHEVROLET OR GM SHOULD ASSUME ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY REFUSED AND TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIC INDICATING A PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH INDICATES OTHERWISE AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD THINK OF TO PROOF MY SUSPICION WAS TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. I WILL PAY FOR THE REQUESTED REPAIR, BUT NOT FOR ADDITIONAL COST DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN TO EXIST BY GM. I NOW FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND FEAR NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY BUT ALSO FOR THOSE AROUND ME SHOULD THE SENSOR FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT STALL SITUATION OCCUR. *JB