NHTSA Complaint #10726323 — 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND JUST ABOUT GOT UP TO SPEED AND FELT A VIBRATION THAT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS GOT REALLY INTENSE THEN HEARD A POP AND THEN SEVERAL BANGS. I THOUGHT A TIRE BLEW, SO AS I LOOKED UP IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE IF I WAS CLEAR TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER, I SAW MY DRIVESHAFT CARTWHEELING ABOUT 8 FT. IN THE AIR AS PEOPLE BEHIND ME WERE SCRAMBLING TO AVOID FROM HITTING IT. LUCKILY THE DRIVESHAFT DIDN'T LIFT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK INTO THE AIR, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH SOMEONES WINDSHIELD BEHIND ME! IT TURNS OUT THAT THE KNUCKLE ON THE REAR OF THE SHAFT HAD SNAPPED, VIOLENTLY VIBRATED AND THE SHAFT DROPPED, RIPPED APART ABOUT A FOOT BEHIND THE TRANSMISSION AND CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. THE U-JOINT WAS STILL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND A FOOT OF DRIVESHAFT WAS STILL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR A VIBRATION AND CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN IT WAS NEW, (1900 MILES) BOTH DEALERS TOLD ME "THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN"...I'M A MECHANIC, I'VE WORKED AT DEALERSHIPS, THIS IS WHAT THEY TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY DON'T WANT THE HEADACHE OF DEALING WITH AN ISSUE. AFTER LOOKING DRIVESHAFT VIBRATIONS UP ON THESE SPECIFIC TRUCKS, I CAME TO REALIZE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2014 AND 2015 GM FULL SIZE TRUCKS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT MUCH WORSE THAN IT DID...IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE TRUCKS AND NOTICE A VIBRATION AT ALL, GET IT INTO THE DEALER AND GET IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY, DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE OF HURTING YOUR FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE!