NHTSA Complaint #10703519 — 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES THAT RUN NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER/EXHAUST PIPE ARE PRONE TO 'RUST-THROUGH' DUE TO THE INSULATION WRAP THAT HAS BEEN ADDED BECAUSE OF BEING SO CLOSE TO THE HIGH HEAT SOURCE. THIS INSULATION TRAPS MOISTURE AND SALT IN NORTHERN AREAS AND CAUSES THE LINES TO CORRODE AND LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AS THE FLUID CAN DRIP DIRECTLY ONTO THE EXHAUST COMPONENTS. FORTUNATELY I COULD SMELL THIS AFTER I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOW OF THE LEAK. DEPENDING ON WHEN THE LEAK ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE AND THE RATE OF LEAKAGE THIS COULD ALSO RESULT IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IF THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THAT THE VEHICLE IS LOSING FLUID, IE: EXTENDED HIGHWAY DRIVING. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS CORROSION AND RESULTANT LEAKAGE IS VERY COMMON AND SHOULD BE LISTED AS A SAFETY RECALL. THANK YOU *TR