NHTSA Complaint #10598739 — 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA

SUBJECT: GROSS MECHANIC ERROR , POSSIBLE FIRE / EXPLOSIVE SITUATION WHILE IN PALM BAY FL, I HAD MY FUEL FILTER CHANGED AT TIRE KINGDOM FOR ABOUT $90. THEIR MECHANIC INSTALLED A FUEL FILTER THAT RATTLED / DEFECTIVE AND HE DESTROYER THE FUEL LINE IT MOUNTED TO. THE TIRE KINGDOM MECHANIC, THREW OUT THE PLASTIC FUEL FILTER BRACKET AND BRAKE LINE HOLDER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RUSTY. I WAS TOLD THIS A WEEK LATER BY THE MANAGER. I LOST ABOUT TWO TANKS OF FUEL GETTING TO ATLANTA, GA. I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AND NOTICED A 4 FOOT CIRCLE OF FUEL UNDER MY BRAVADA. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT A HACK JOB TIRE KINGDOM DID. MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP!! THERE SHOULD BE FINES FOR SUCH A GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. IF THE FUEL WOULD HAVE SPRAYED ON THE EXHAUST PIPE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TO GET ME HOME A LOCAL GARAGE, IN ATLANTA GEORGIA, FIXED IT TEMPORARILY SO I COULD MAKE IT HOME, WITH TIE TRAPS, NEW FILTER, REPAIRED FUEL LINE AND O-RING. I AM OUT ABOUT $446. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TBC CEO & SENIOR STAFF AT TCB CORP AND EXEC'S AT TIRE KINGDOM, OVER THE LAST 7 WEEKS BY E-MAIL & MAIL AND CERTIFIED MAIL. TIRE KINGDOM MANAGER BY PHONE & MAIL. I DO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, PICTURES AND BILLS! I WAS NOT GIVEN THE DISCARDED BRACKET ASSY.. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY BRAVADA IN THE LAST 7 WEEKS FOR FEAR IT COULD BLOW UP. I NEED TO HAVE MY BRAVADA PUT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL STATE WITH THE PROPER FUEL FILTER AND BRAKE LINE BRACKET ASSY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SPRAY / LEAK TWO FULL TANKS OF GASOLINE ACROSS TWO STATES. YOU CANNOT JUST THROW AWAY PARTS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THINK THEY ARE TOO RUSTY. PLASTIC BRACKETS DO NOT RUST. I WAS UNEXCEPTIONALLY AND INEXCUSABLE. *TR