NHTSA Complaint #10363268 — 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A LOUD POP WAS HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN AND PRONOUNCED INCREASE IN WIND NOISE. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THE REAR TAIL GATE WINDOW HATCH. METAL FATIGUE CAUSED THE LEFT WINDOW HATCH HINGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME. THIS PRODUCED A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE SPEED THE WINDOW HAD FULLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED IN TRAFFIC. THE GLASS WINDOW AND FRAME WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE TRAILING VEHICLE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH.