NHTSA Complaint #10330174 — 2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TEXAS WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND COULD BARELY GET OFF THE ROAD IN TIME. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOWN IN GAINESVILLE. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE SENDING UNIT FAILED AND IN TURN CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP THAT MADE IT INOPERABLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY KIND OF INDICATION THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PREVENT THIS. THE FUEL LEVEL READ THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1/4 TO 1/2 TANK OF GAS BUT THE MECHANIC MEASURED 1/8 - 1/4. I'M NOT SURE IF THE GAS LEVEL ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHUT DOWN OR NOT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE WILL BE FACTORED IN TO YOUR INVESTIGATION. I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A DEFINITE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEAK UP AND TAKE ACTION. MY SON WAS SPARED FROM INJURY OR DEATH AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM TO AVOID THESE IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. WHETHER IT BE AN INDICATOR LIGHT OR BETTER YET REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEMS SO THAT THEY CANNOT SHUT DOWN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY. REMEMBER HE WAS DRIVING 60 MILES AND HOUR ON AN EXTREMELY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN VERY GRIM, ESPECIALLY HAD IT OCCURRED AT NIGHT. I MAY HAVE BEEN PLANNING A FUNERAL INSTEAD NOTIFYING PEOPLE HOW TO AVOID ONE. PLEASE TAKE THIS AS SERIOUSLY AS I HAVE AND TAKE ACTION TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL DAMAGING EFFECTS OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF SHOP RECORDS ETC. AND WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED TO PROCEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR