NHTSA Complaint #10585399 — 2000 OLDSMOBILE ALERO

THIS IS THE SECOND GM VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWED WITH THE SAME STRUCTURAL DEFECT. THE FIRST WAS A 1999 CHEVY MALIBU AND NOW THIS OLDS ALERO. THE LOWER SUB FRAME WHERE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR IS MOUNTED ROTS AWAY CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE RUSTED OUT SUB FRAME, LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE STEERED. WITH THE ALERO WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN A CLUNK NOISE WAS HEARD. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY BROKE FREE OF THE RUSTED FRAME LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT STEERING. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VERY SAME WEBSITE FOR MALIBUS, ALEROS AND PONTIAC GRAND AMS. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME ROTTING AWAY ON THESE VEHICLES, CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME, LEAVING THE CARS UNABLE TO BE STEERED, HAS NOT CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR DEATHS. HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD. IF THIS DEFECTIVE FRAME DESIGN DOES NOT WARRANT A RECALL, POSSIBLY SOME TYPE OF INSPECTION NOTICE CAN BE SENT TO VEHICLE OWNERS ADVISING THEM TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE FRAMES INSPECTED (WHERE THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME - ESPECIALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE) TO CHECK FOR CRACKS AND EXCESSIVE RUST - CORROSION, BEFORE THIS CONDITION DOES CAUSE ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR SOMEONE'S DEATH. I CHECKED WITH TWO OF THE LARGER GM DEALERS IN THE CHICAGO AREA, BILL JACOBS AND PHILLIPS CHEVY, BOTH STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, THE LOWER SUB FRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM. *JS