NHTSA Complaint #10252719 — 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K2500 EXT LWB 4WD WITH APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES. I HAVE USED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE OFF AND ON AS NEEDED TO NEGOTIATE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, WHICH OCCURRED ON 12/23/08: WHILE DRIVING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, HIGH RANGE, AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON AN ICE COVERED ROAD THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND SKID OFF THE ROAD. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, OR IF I HAD BEEN IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES OR DEATH. THIS FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT AS LONG AS THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SELECTOR IS IN EITHER HIGH OR LOW RANGE. IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVIDENT. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SELLING DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT AS YET I DO NOT KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. ALTHOUGH THIS INCIDENT WAS A NEAR MISS, I AM REPORTING IT BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS NATURE AND THE HOPE THAT A SAFETY RECALL MAY BE ISSUED SO THAT OTHER ACCIDENTS MAY BE AVOIDED. *TR