NHTSA Complaint #10597589 — 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT AND DEFLATION WITHIN 10 SECONDS ON A DIRT ROAD. I LOOSENED THE LUG NUTS WITH THE SUPPLIED TIRE IRON AND PULLED MY LOWER BACK MUSCLES (TIRE IRON TOO SHORT). THE LUG NUTS CORNERS ROUNDED OFF (NOT HARDENED STEEL AS THEY SHOULD BE), AND MOST SERIOUS, THE JACK IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. IT HAS A SMALL DIAMETER DISK (APPROX 1AND 1/2 INCH DIAMETER) ON TOP, WITH FOUR SMALL BUMPS ON IT AT 90 DEGREES FROM EACH OTHER. THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE TO LOCATE THE JACK UNDER THE REAR AXLE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES INBOARD FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBER ALL BY PUSHING THE JACK WITH THE 4 FOOT LONG JACK HANDLE. VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE IT PROPERLY UNDER THE AXLE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND GAVE UP AS I COULD NOT HOLD IT IN PLACE UNDER THE AXLE AND CRANK THE HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. A GOOD SAMARITAN PASSERBY STOPPED AND HE TRIED TO HOLD THE JACK IN PLACE (REACHING OVER THE TOP OF THE FLAT TIRE) AS I CRANKED THE HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WENT UP AND IMMEDIATELY SLIPPED OFF THE AXLE (ON A GRAVEL ROAD). THERE IS NO WAY THAT FOUR LITTLE BUMPS ON THE TOP OF THE JACK WILL HOLD THE JACK IN PLACE UNDER THE AXLE WHILE A PERSON JACKS IT UP. IF YOU CAN KEEP IT IN PLACE AND MANAGE TO JACK THE TRUCK UP, TRY TO REMOVE THE WHEEL AND PUT THE SPARE ON WITHOUT THE JACK FLIPPING OUT OF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHING DOWN.. IT IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. I WILL NEVER USE THE TIRE JACK AGAIN.... THIS ALL WAS WITH PERFECT CONDITIONS; (EXCEPT THE GRAVEL ROAD) OFF THE HIGHWAY, PERFECT WEATHER, AND DAYLIGHT. TRY IT IN THE RAIN OR SNOW ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE DARK.... *TR