NHTSA Complaint #10621829 — 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HEAVY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, I HAD A GUT FEELING TO GET OFF THAT MAIN ROAD SO, I TOOK A RIGHT ONTO A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD. NOT EVEN A MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP FROM THE BACK OF THE TAHOE - SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE BUMPER FELL OFF AND HIT THE ROAD. LOOKED THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SOMETHING SHOOT STRAIGHT BACK (WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WITH A CAR'S WINDSHIELD) AND THE THING CURVED UP AND WENT OVEN AN EMBANKMENT. HUSBAND GOT OUT WHILE I LOOKED UNDER THE BACK OF TAHOE - THE SPARE TIRE HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND IT WAS THE TIRE THAT WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THE BRACKET HOLDING IT HAD BROKEN. HAD I STAYED ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE SHOT THROUGH THE CAR'S WINDSHIELD BEHIND ME AND CHANCES ARE 100% THE PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED. TOOK THE TAHOE TO THE DEALER FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND THEY FIXED IT. TELLING ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THIS TAHOE HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES, NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED, AND NEVER BOTTOMED OUT. MY TAHOE IS 2001 AND JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES - DON'T DO A LOT OF DRIVING AND I KEEP IT SERVICED. DO TAKE CARE OF WHAT I OWN. JUST IN CASE YOU OWN A 2001 TAHOE, MAY WANT TO HAVE THE BRACKET CHECKED. MINE HAD JUST SNAPPED - THERE WAS NO RUST - NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. THAN GOODNESS NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED. LAST YEAR THE TAHOE HAD A BENT ROD, FRONT END BRACKET/TIE ROD BROKEN, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 4WD, HAD IT IN THE SHOP - ALL PROBLEMS HAVE COME BACK- I SPENT OVER 4,000.00 AND I'M NOT SPENDING ANYMORE - THIS TAHOE JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES. WHAT THE HECK. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL MY CARS AND THIS ON JUST KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. (I'D HAVE TO FIND THE LIST FROM THE SHOP - BUT I HAVE NO MORE MONEY TO FIX IT OR BUY ANOTHER - AND I JUST LOVE THIS THING :( *TR