NHTSA Complaint #10588771 — 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO ME WAS MADE IN CANADA (SOMETHING WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE TO ME HAD I BEEN TOLD). UPON POSSESSION THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING CAME OFF ON THE RIDE HOME. THE DRIVER SIDE TIEROD END WENT AT 12,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 24,000 MILES BECAUSE UPON INSPECTION THE BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE BOLTS ON THE TRANSMISSION WERE FOUND BY THE DEALER TO HAVE BEEN NEVER PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE SIDEDOOR HINGE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600 BECAUSE IT FROZE UP AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE POWER STEERING UNIT RUSTED OUT AT 12,000 MILES AND STARTED LEAKING FLUID AND, WHAT I FIND MOST IMPORTANT, I AM NOT SURE IF I HAVE AIRBAGS BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON BUT IS NOTED TO GO OFF WHEN THE KEY IS PARTIALLY TURNED HOWEVER THE KEY CANNOT STAY IN THIS POSITION AND MUST BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE. FUEL EXPECTATION WAS NEVER NEAR WHAT I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AND TAILPIPE CONSISTENTLY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING BLACKENED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUEL BURNING. THE POOR BACKDOOR DESIGN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW AND IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT BY ALMOST EVERY VAN OF THIS TYPE HAVING A DENTED BUMPER DUE TO THIS BLINDSPOT IN DESIGN. I HAVE NOT BEGUN TO LIST ALL THE THINGS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT I WILL CHALK THEM UP TO DOWNRIGHT LYING AND JUST INFERIOR PARTS AND CRAFTSMENSHIP. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. *TR