NHTSA Complaint #10310329 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL FLAT TIRES, WAS NEVER STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY SO NEVER REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE. TODAY AND YESTERDAY 02-13-10 / 02-14-10 HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE AND FEEL GRATEFUL THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IF NOT I WOULD BE STUCK, AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TIRE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I DID REVIEW THE INSTRUCTIONS, SOAK THE TIRE RELEASE IN PENETRATING OIL AND MADE A DOZEN ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE TIRE. THE RESULT WAS A SORE BACK, THE FIRST PART OF THE JACK HANDLE EXTENSION STUCK IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE SECTION THAT IS STUCK WILL NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER USE OF THE JACK. I HAVE TO CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK AND TURN IT SLOWLY, JUST GAVE UP AND WILL CALL THE DEALER ON MONDAY MORNING. MY COMPLAINT IS THE SPARE TIRE RELEASE IS STUCK AND THE TIRE CANNOT BE REMOVED. ALSO WHEN SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ON HOW TO REMOVE THE TIRE WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT RARE BUT AVERAGE. THE COMMENTS REPORT MINE AND OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS WITH THIS TYPE OF TIRE STORAGE DO NOT WORK. ALSO THEY ARE UNSAFE AND CAN DROP THE TIRE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD, RESULTING IN DAMAGE AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC. ALSO MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS THE REAR DOOR WILL NOT SHUT ON THE REAR TAILGATE DOOR OF THE TRUCK, ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM. I THINK BOTH ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY CHEVROLET AT NO COST. THEY POSE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AND COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. I DID READ ONE REPORT ONLINE OF A DRIVER OF AN S-10 TRUCK WHERE THE TIRE FELL AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THAT HE RECEIVED A CITATION FROM THE POLICE AND HIS INSURANCE RATES WERE INCREASED BASED ON THE ACCIDENT. *TR