NHTSA Complaint #10490700 — 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO

I BEGAN HEARING A "THUD" FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHILE MAKING NEAR-90 DEGREE LEFT TURNS, AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AT SPEEDS FROM 5-25 MPH. ON 11/25/2012 I WAS ASCENDING LEVEL AFTER LEVEL IN A PARKING RAMP, MAKING LEFT TURNS. DURING MANY OF THE LEFT TURNS THE "THUD" NOISE WAS HEARD, AT ONE POINT I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A PIECE OF METAL FALLING OFF THE REAR HALF OF THE CAR. IT MADE NOISE AS IT BOUNCED AROUND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR BEFORE FALLING OFF. I STOPPED, GOT OUT, AND TRIED TO FIND WHAT HAD MADE THE NOISE BUT AFTER LOOKING AROUND IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. IN THE WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT I NOTICED A SLIGHT WOBBLE OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THE "THUD" NOISE WAS CONTINUING TO INCREASE IN FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY. I DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS NOW OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT IN THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION. I WAS WORRIED THAT A TIE ROD WOULD COME LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE BUSHINGS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON THE REAR AXLE. THE AXLE WAS LOOSE AND MOVING AROUND WHILE DRIVING! IT WAS BEGINNING TO DAMAGE OTHER PARTS OF THE UNDER BODY. HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS FROM PARTS STORES OR THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE REAR AXLE. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE PLENTY OF AXLES AVAILABLE IN STOCK FOR THIS REPAIR BUT NOT A SINGLE BUSHING. THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE, BUT THAT THERE IS A MUCH LARGER SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS ON MANY OTHER VEHICLES. *TR