NHTSA Complaint #10467018 — 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO

DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION, MECHANIC NOTICED SLIGHT LOOSENESS IN THE TIE ROD CONNECTION; PASSED INSPECTION AND ASKED ME TO HAVE HIM CHECK DURING NEXT OIL CHANGE. WE DISCUSSED REPLACING THE TIE ROD IN ANY CASE WITH A BRAND WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY IN TWO MONTHS WHEN I WAS OFF FROM WORK. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ALL SPARK PLUG BOOTS AND PLUGS. (CHEVROLET 5-DOOR AVEO). ASKED THE DEALER FOR AN OPINION ON THE TIE ROD. DEALER MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS OF NO CONCERN. WENT BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND ARRANGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD ANYWAY. DURING THE WORK, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE THREADS ON THE OUTER TIE ROD WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED DOWN TO SHINY METAL. THE NUT SLID OFF WHEN PULLED GENTLY WITH HIS FINGERS. REPLACED BOTH PARTS AND THEN HAD TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. OTHER THAN THE LOOSENESS NOTED DURING ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS USED FOR COMMUTING IN WELL-MAINTAINED STATE AND US HIGHWAYS ONLY. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN MARCH 2011. I TRIED TO REPORT TO GM USING THEIR WEBSITE, BUT THERE IS NO PART DEDICATED TO THE REPORTING OF SAFETY ISSUES. *TR