NHTSA Complaint #10363591 — 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

I OWN 2000 CHEVY EXPRESS 2500 PASSENGER VAN. I BOUGHT THE VAN NEW FROM THE DEALER AND WITHIN TWO YEARS THE SIDE DOOR HINGES HAD SEIZED UP. THIS RESULTED IN THE INSIDE DOOR TRIM PANELS BREAKING AS THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOORS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR WAY OF CORRECTING THE PROBLEM WAS TO HAMMER OUT THE HINGE PINS AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ONES. WITHIN ONE YEAR THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND HAS PERSISTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO LUBRICATE THE HINGES TO ALLOW FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN AND CLOSE EASILY. I RECENTLY TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE NEW WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO CUT OFF THE OLD HINGES AND WELD NEW ONES ON. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EVEN HAS "HINGE REPLACEMENT" PACKAGES SET UP BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. THE NEW FIX IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,700.00. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE INSIDE DOOR TRIM PANELS THAT ARE STILL BROKEN. (IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED TOO HARD THE DOOR PANELS OVERLAP AND STICK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. WE HAVE TO CARRY A STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER IN THE VAN AT ALL TIMES JUST TO GET THE DOOR PANELS UNSTUCK). THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT GM WAS AND IS STILL FULLY AWARE OF AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE HINGES TO BE REPLACED AT THEIR COST. THE FAULTY HINGES MAKE THE PASSENGER VAN WORTHLESS AND AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANY OWNER. *TR