NHTSA Complaint #10430574 — 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE SPARE TIRE WINCH OF GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE AN UNDERSIDE MOUNTED SPARE TIRE. I USED MY WINCH FOR THE FIRST TIME AND FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO LOWER THE TIRE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. YES, I HAD TO BREAK OUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT THE SECONDARY RELEASE! WHEN THE SERVICE STATION WENT TO PUT IT BACK UP, THEY TOLD ME THE WINCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED. I'M CLAIMING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW. GM IS SAYING IT IS "NORMAL" WEAR & TEAR. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SWALLOWING THIS SINCE IT HAS ONLY BEEN USED ONCE. NOW THEY ARE CLAIMING "ENVIRONMENTAL" FACTORS AND RUST, CAUSED BY SALT IN MY STATE. THEY ARE POINTING TO SOME LOOPHOLE IN THE MANUAL TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY. UNDERSTAND THAT I'M OUTSIDE OF THE 3/36 WARRANTY, BUT STILL BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THIS FLAW. IF THIS AREA IS PRONE TO RUST AND HAS A HISTORY OF FAILING (AS INDICATED ON MY AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS), WHAT IS TO KEEP THE SPARE TIRE FROM FLYING OFF DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS SPARE WILL NOT SNUG UP TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY, IT SEEMS THAT HITTING A BUMP COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO BREAK FREE OR ONE OF THE "RUSTED" COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE IT TO DROP EXPECTANTLY. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THIS RESOLVED THROUGH MY LOCAL DEALER AND GM'S CUSTOMER CARE DIVISION, BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A POOR DESIGN. *TR