NHTSA Complaint #10463146 — 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500

THERE IS PLAY IN THE REAR AXLES THAT EMIT A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I AM SLOWLY BACKING OVER A GRADE WITH THE STEERING WHEELS TURNED. I DEMONSTRATED PLAY IN THE REAR AXLES TO THE GMC FACTORY REP AND HE SAID THE AXLE PLAY IS WITHIN TOLERANCES. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT NORMAL AND THAT THE GROOVES IN THE DIFFERENTIAL END OR THE AXLES THAT ACCEPT THE HORSESHOE SHAPED KEEPER CLIPS ARE MACHINED INCORRECTLY AND PUTTING EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE CLIPS. EVENTUALLY THE CLIPS WILL FAIL RESULTING IN THE WHEEL COMING OFF. I FURTHER ARGUE THAT IF THE AXLE PLAY IS INDEED WITHIN TOLERANCES THEN THE TOLERANCES ARE WRONG. I TRIED TO MAKE THE INCORRECT TOLERANCE ARGUMENT TO THE FACTORY REP BY MAKING AN ANALOGY TO THE CORVAIR AND HE MISSED MY POINT. THE REAR SUSPENSION ON THE CORVAIR WAS ALSO WITHIN TOLERANCES AND MANY PEOPLE DIED. *JB