NHTSA Complaint #10474341 — 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

DURING A UTAH STATE SAFETY INSPECTION LAST YEAR IT WAS FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 12 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE BROKEN ON MY 6.0L ENGINE. THE BOLT HEADS WERE COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF/MISSING. THE BROKEN BOLTS ALLOW THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO LEAK CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH EMISSIONS. IF LEFT UNDETECTED THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL. JUST TO HAVE THE BOLTS REPAIRED IS A VERY EXPENSIVE >$500 REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED BY HAVING THESE FAULTY BOLTS CHANGED OUT EARLY ON. ONCE THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN THEY HAVE TO BE EXTRACTED WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE THERMAL DEFORMATION AND CORROSION. TWO OF THE BOLTS WERE IN THE REAR MOST HOLES WHICH HAVE VERY LIMITED ACCESS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE IT WAS NEW. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT CAUSES EMISSIONS PROBLEMS AND INCREASES POLLUTION. IF YOU CONSIDER HOW MANY OF THESE TRUCKS, TAHOES, AND SUBURBANS HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD SINCE 1999, THE INCREASE IN POLLUTION IS CONSIDERABLE. *TR