NHTSA Complaint #10512524 — 2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES PULL OUT OF THE CAR BODY ON MY 2007 CHEVY LTZ SUBURBAN.. THE DESIGN APPEARS TO USE PLASTIC PLUGS THAT EITHER BREAK APART OR DETERIORATE, CAUSING THE DOOR HANDLES TO BREAK LOOSE WHEN GRABBED AND PULLED TO OPEN THE DOORS. MY HANDLES HAVE ALL BROKEN LOOSE AT THE FORWARD END OF THE HANDLE, WITH THE REAR END REMAINING ATTACHED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE FIRST OF WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN IN 2010. I BELIEVE I INITIALLY HAD THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HANDLES REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (BEFORE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILES). I BELIEVE THAT A SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED TO THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER) DOOR, POSSIBLY IN 2011, AND THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED IT WITHOUT CHARGE AS PART OF A GM ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECTIVE ITEM RECALL. RECENTLY, IN APRIL 2013, I AGAIN NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE HAD BROKEN AGAIN. I JUST HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING AT THE CHEVY DEALER, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANAGER STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY (PROX $200) TO HAVE THE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM WITH GM FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE PROBLEM ON 2007 CHEVY SUBURBANS, AS WELL AS ON SIMILAR GM VEHICLES. THE DOOR HANDLE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN THAT GM SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED, AND HAVE REPLACEMENT HANDLES PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO CAR OWNERS. THIS IS MY THIRD SUBURBAN GOING BACK TO 1992, ALL OF WHICH HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS DEFECTS. I TAKE CARE OF MY SUBURBAN, AND IT LOOKS ALMOST NEW HAVING ONLY 33,800 MILES. I AM SINGLE, AND ONLY OCCASIONALLY HAVE OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, WHO MAY USE THE OTHER DOOR HANDLES. THIS MEANS THAT ALL THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE NOT BEEN USED THAT OFTEN. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ATTACHMENT OF THESE DOOR HANDLES TO THE CAR BODY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY GM., AND REPLACEMENTS OFFERED OWNERS. *TR