NHTSA Complaint #10329297 — 1997 PONTIAC MONTANA

I RECENTLY SAW THAT TOYOTA VOLUNTARILY RECALLED SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO FAILURES OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THEIR SPARE TIRES IN PLACE. I HAD THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCUR TO ME ON A 1997 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THE ACTUAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/21/08. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE SPARE TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL ONTO THE GROUND. THE METAL CABLE ON THE SPARE TIRE WINCH HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND ALLOWED THE TIRE TO FALL. HAD THIS HAPPENED EVEN 20 MINUTES EARLIER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN BOUNCING AROUND ON THE HIGHWAY, IN MOVING TRAFFIC. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS LIKELY A GENERIC GM PROBLEM AND THE CHANCE OF SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR WORSE, WAS VERY HIGH IF A SPARE TIRE WAS BOUNCING LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. ON 2/6/08, I PERSONALLY REPORTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPORT THE INFORMATION TO GENERAL MOTORS. ON 2/25/08, I EMAILED MY CONTACT AT THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE FROM GM. I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE TO THAT EMAIL. ON 3/4/08, I CALLED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REITERATED MY CONCERN WITH THE DEFICIENT GM DESIGN. I WAS ASSIGNED REFERENCE NUMBER 71-608132149. I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TYPES, THE LAST BEING A SUPERVISOR SUPPOSEDLY. HE INFORMED ME HE DID NOT INTEND TO TAKE THIS MATTER (MY CONCERN) ANY FURTHER IN THE GM ORGANIZATION, THAT HE WOULD PERSONALLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURIES RESULTING FROM FAILED SPARE TIRE WINCHES ON PONTIACS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, GM HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THEIR VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, GM HAS DONE NOTHING. I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE. THIS ISSUE IS OUT THERE AND SOMEONE COULD VERY LIKELY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE IF GM DOES NOT ADDRESS IT. *TR