NHTSA Complaint #10290488 — 2001 CHEVROLET S10

I DRIVE A 2001 CHEVROLET S-10, THAT FOR THE MOST OF ITS LIFE HAS BEEN IN SNOWY OR SALTY ATMOSPHERES. SO THERE IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE. A WHILE AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, I HIT A BUMP AND HEARD A POP, AND LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND THERE WAS MY SPARE TIRE BOUNCING IN THE LANE I WAS DRIVING IN. CARS SWERVED AROUND IT, I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND GOT THE TIRE AND PARTS AND EXAMINED THE DAMAGE AND CAUSE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ONLY THING HOLDING UP THAT SPARE TIRE UNDER MY TRUCK WAS A LITTLE CABLE. WELL, JUST LIKE THE SPARE WHEEL, THE RUST GOT A HOLD OF THE CABLE AND THE CABLE RUSTED THROUGH AND GAVE WAY. I AM A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC, AND I COULD THINK ABOUT HOW MANY VEHICLES THERE ARE OUT THERE THAT ALL THAT IS HOLDING THIS WHEEL UNDER THE VEHICLE IS A LITTLE CABLE, NO "SYSTEM REDUNDANCY" SORT OF SPEAK. JUST LIKE MINE DID, IF THE CABLE BREAKS, THERE IS NO SAFETY DEVICE TO CATCH IT. SOME VEHICLES ARE BETTER AT SECURING IT THAN OTHERS. MY CASE WAS A LUCKY ONE, ITS OBVIOUS THAT A TIRE AND WHEEL BOUNCING ON THE INTERSTATE COULD EASILY CAUSE A WRECK OR EVEN KILL SOMEONE. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY HEART DROPPED WHEN I SAW THE SPARE WHEEL IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE SHOULD BE BETTER WAY TO SECURE THE TIRE. RIGHT NOW MY SPARE TIRE IS JUST SITTING IN THE BED UNTIL I HAVE SOME TIME TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, GET A NEW CABLE SYSTEM AND DESIGN A 'SYSTEM REDUNDANCY' LIKE A BAR OR CHAIN HOLDING IT UP WITH THE CABLE, TO SUPPORT IT. *TR