NHTSA Complaint #10209250 — 2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO

WHILE ADJUSTING THE AIR CONDITIONER VENT THIS SUMMER, I INADVERTENTLY LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW BUTTON ENGAGING MY 2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO INTO LOW 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT ON THE BUTTON CAME ON (WHICH IS NOT EASY TO SEE), NO BELL LIKE SEATBELT, DOOR OPEN, KEY IN IGNITION,ETC, CAME ON, AND WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER TO PARK, THE TRUCKS FRONT END LOCKED UP. I WAS TOLD THAT WILL HAPPEN IN ALL TRUCKS WHICH ARE IN CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THIS BUTTON CAN EASILY BE PUNCHED BY ANYTHING THAT COMES NEAR THE VENT, OR A PACKAGE THAT BUMPS IT, AND THERE IS NO SIGNAL TO OPERATOR THAT SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT WHICH CAN CAUSE FRONT END TO LOCK UP AS WHEEL ARE TRYING TO TURN TOGETHER (AS DEALER TOLD ME). I FIND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THIS MAY HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY TO A FAMILY WHO SWERVES TO MISS A COLLISION ONLY TO FIND THE 4 WHEEL HAS BEEN UNKNOWINGLY ENGAGED AND THE STEERING IS RENDERED USELESS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS HOW ALL TRUCKS IN ALL MAKES AND MODELS ARE, AND IF I DID NOT LIKE IT, "GO AHEAD AND FILE A COMPLAINT, NOTHING WOULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE ON SUCH A MASSIVE RECALL BASIS". MAYBE IF SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED THE MANUFACTURERS WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT THIS 4 WHEEL DRIVE CHANGE WHICH CAN OCCUR WITH NO NOTICE TO DRIVER TO A BELL OR SOUND WHICH OPERATOR HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, MUCH LIKE A KEY BEING IN IGNITION, OR SEATBELTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT 4 WHEELERS DIDN'T WANT A BELL RINGING EVERY TIME THEY PUT THEIR TRUCK IN 4 WHEEL WHEN OFF ROAD. I THINK 4 WHEELERS WOULDN'T MIND THE SAME REMINDER AS MENTIONED ABOVE (BELL SOUND) WHEN ENGAGED IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, IF IT MEANS IT WOULD PROTECT MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE FROM POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS. *TR