NHTSA Complaint #10515975 — 2002 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 A THUMP WAS HEARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FILL WITH EXHAUST FUMES. ON EXAMINATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE TO THE REAR WINDOW GLASS BROKE. SINCE THE GLASS EXTENDS UP PAST THE HINGE THE ONLY FIX WAS TO EPOXY IT. THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THE WINDOW IS BEING CLOSED IT CAN BE SEEN THAT THE HOLD OPEN STRUT IS PUTTING IMMENSE PRESSURE ON THE HINGE. EVEN IF THE WINDOW IS NEVER OPENED, THE HEATING OF THE GAS IN THE HOLD OPEN ROD PUTS PRESSURE ON THE HINGE SO I HAD THE ROD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REMOVED. GOOGLING THIS PROBLEM SHOWED MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT DIFFERENT MILEAGES AND TIMES. THE TWO WORST CASE SCENARIOS FROM THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE HINGE ARE THAT THE WINDOW WILL SIMPLY FALL OFF AT 70 MPH INTO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC OR, LIKE MY CASE. THE CAR WILL FILL WITH EXHAUST FUMES INCAPACITATING THE DRIVER AND THE OCCUPANTS WHILE SPEEDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR