NHTSA Complaint #10532210 — 2005 GMC YUKON

THE SPARE TIRE IS STORED UNDER VEHICLE AND LOWERED FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE BY A CRANKING A CABLE. IT ALSO HAS A SECONDARY LATCH TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING ON ROAD IF THAT CABLE SHOULD FAIL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LATCH IS DESIGNED VERY POORLY AND QUITE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUSTING FROM ROAD SALT. THIS PREVENTS IT FROM RELEASING THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REASON THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE SPARE TIRE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE WITHOUT PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ON EXACTLY HOW TO RELEASE A FROZEN SAFETY LATCH. IT IS VERY UNLIKELY ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO WHILE STRANDED ROADSIDE WITH A FLAT TIRE. IT WOULD AT LEAST GREATLY EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME PERSON WOULD BE WORKING ON THEIR VEHICLE ALONG THE ROAD. *TR