NHTSA Complaint #10723009 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA HAS REAR END NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER SLIGHT ROAD BUMPS. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED CAR REAR END AND FOUND BOTH REAR STRUT TOWERS BADLY RUSTED, ESPECIALLY IN TRUNK, WITH NOT MUCH SUPPORT FOR STRUT MOUNTS. I WAS TOLD THE REAR END WILL EVENTUALLY COLLAPSE AND CAR WILL NOT BE DRIVABLE. CURRENTLY, THERE IS VERY LITTLE ROOM BEFORE STRUT MOUNTS WILL TOUCH BOTH REAR TIRES DUE TO RUSTED STRUT TOWERS, A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. WHAT I READ ELSEWHERE IS THAT ON THE FIRST 2000 NEW YEAR W-BODY DESIGN, THERE IS OVERLAPPING SHEET METAL AT THE TOP OF THE TOWERS, THAT GM DID NOT SEAL. SO IT'S A HUGE MOISTURE TRAP, CAUSING RUST TO OCCUR. LATER YEARS GM PUT IN PLASTIC SHIELDS IN THE WHEEL WELLS. AND WHETHER THEY PUT A SEALER IN WHERE THE METAL PANELS OVERLAP WASN'T MENTIONED. THIS 15 YEAR OLD CAR HAS VERY LITTLE OVERALL BODY RUST, BELOW AVERAGE MILES, MECHANICALLY RUNS GREAT AND HAS MANY MORE MILES TO GO. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THIS GM OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW NOW HAS TO COST ME TO REPAIR IF I WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR. VERBAL ESTIMATES QUOTED ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CHEVY OWNER STARTING WITH MY FIRST 1963 CHEVY BISCAYNE. THIS IS MY FIRST MAJOR COMPLAINT ABOUT GM BECAUSE THIS IS NOT DUE TO MY ABUSE OR NEGLIGENCE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LACK OF FORESIGHT TO THIS DESIGN FLAW, GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.