NHTSA Complaint #10371143 — 2000 CHEVROLET TRACKER

I WAS BACKING UP DOWN A SHORT LANE OF 25 FEET OR LESS. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. I THEN PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY (US-41). I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, COMING UPON A STOPLIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED RED, UPON APPLYING MY BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED DRASTICALLY TO THE LEFT, AT WHICH TIME THE RIGHT BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE LEFT BRAKES, DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I PROCEEDED VERY CAUTIOUSLY HOME ( A TRIP OF 15 MILES). AT WHICH TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC, AFTER HIS EVALUATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND A VERY BRIEF ROAD TRIP, INFORMED ME OF "SOMETHING HE HAS NEVER SEEN IN HIS 25 YEARS OF BEING A MECHANIC) THE CROSSMEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED THRU. THIS CAUSED THE ERRATIC STEERING, AND THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING A BRAKING SITUATION.THIS VEHICLE DOES HAVE A RECALL (06186) BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED! I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW, IF I WAS NOTIFIED, I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY HAD IT CHECKED, SINCE IT IS A VEHICLE MY WIFE DRIVES DURING THE WINTER. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IT IS DANGEROUS........NO QUESTIONS. *TR