NHTSA Complaint #10247378 — 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN 10/2006, WE HAD HESITATION AND STALLING PROBLEMS. WITH A 2003 CHEVY BLAZER. WE HAD SEVERAL FULL TUNE-UPS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT (UPON THE ADVICE OF A DEALERSHIP), FUEL RELAY REPLACEMENT, FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THE REMOVAL OF TWO (2) FACTORY RAGS THAT HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE FUEL TANK DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. FINALLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP IN JULY 2008 -- TOTAL COST OVER $3,000. CONSTANT HESITATION WITH THE VEHICLE, AND AT LEAST A FEW DOZEN STALLING EPISODES WITH A COUPLE OF THEM HAPPENING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY DURING BUSINESS TRIPS. UPON PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP, WE FOUND A PRODUCT BULLETIN IN THE BOX STATING "NEW IMPROVED CONNECTOR AND PIGTAIL FOR GM FUEL PUMP MODELS". IT WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT MANY GM VEHICLES FROM 1988 TO 2005 HAVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE THAT MAY BECOME LOOSE OVER TIME DUE TO VIBRATION, LEADING TO FAULTY, HIGH-RESISTANCE CONNECTIONS. THE SYMPTOMS -- BURNED OR MELTED CONNECTORS AND PINS -- LEAD TO A VOLTAGE DROP SITUATION WHERE LOW OR NO VOLTAGE CAN CAUSE THE MODULE TO STOP PUMPING. THE SOLUTION WAS THAT THE OEM DESIGN CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. WE WROTE GO GM ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR AT LEAST THE FUEL PUMP AND INSTALLATION AND STATED THAT WE BELIEVE THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION (WITH MORE THAN A PRODUCT BULLETIN ON THE INSIDE OF THE NEW FUEL PUMP BOX) AS THE STALLING PROBLEM COULD HAVE AND COULD VERY WELL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH OR WITHOUT INJURIES/DEATH WHEN THE VEHICLES JUST STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHENEVER AND WHERE EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. GM RESPONDED TO MY LETTER THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKING NO ACTION -- NO REIMBURSEMENT TO ME AND NO NOTIFICATION TO ANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THAT I WOULD PURSUE THE MATTER AS FAR AS I COULD TO SAVE INJURIES AND POSSIBLY LIVES. *TR