NHTSA Complaint #10724310 — 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE

THE 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE BECAME A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THOSE ACCESSING THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. TYPICAL OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE IS THAT THE REAR HATCH OPENS COMPLETELY AND REMAINS OPEN WITH A SINGLE BUTTON CLICK. THE SAME AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE TYPICALLY CLOSES AND REMAINS SHUT WITH A SINGLE BUTTON CLICK. ON OR AROUND MAY 28TH, 2015, MY SON WAS PLACING SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIFTGATE BEGAN SHUTTING ON HIM. IN AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD THE LIFTGATE OPEN, IT CONTINUED TO CLOSE FORCEFULLY WITHOUT RAISING BACK UP. THINKING QUICKLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL HIM AWAY FROM THE LIFTGATE AS IT CONTINUED TO CLAMP ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. MY SON RECEIVED A BUMPED HEAD AND SCRATCHES AS THE DOOR SHUT ON HIM. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE FORCEFULLY AND CLAMP SHUT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. I ALSO WAS NOT ABLE TO PREVENT THE LIFTGATE FROM CLOSING AS IT JUST CLAMPED SHUT, CRUSHING ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND WE FEAR THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THERE IS NO RAPID FUNCTIONALITY TO OVERRIDE THE THE MOTOR (SWITCHING TO MANUAL) THAT CONTROLS LIFTGATE OPERATIONS. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE CRUSHED MY CHILD IF I HADN'T BEEN STANDING NEXT TO HIM. OTHER ISSUES THAT OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN THE VEHICLE INCLUDED: 1) A SINGLE EVENT WHERE THE RADIO STAYED ON ONE CHANNEL AND WOULD NOT CHANGE WITHOUT RESTARTING THE CAR WAS WHEN THE ISSUE BEGAN; 2) XM SATELLITE RADIO BEGAN WORKING WITHOUT A SUBSCRIPTION; 3) THE AUTOMATIC MEMORY POSITION OF THE DRIVER SEAT DID NOT REMAIN IN POSITION AS TYPICAL; AND 4) THE LIFTGATE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN ABOUT 18 INCHES AND IMMEDIATELY CLOSE, CRUSHING ANYTHING IN ITS PATH.