NHTSA Complaint #10734170 — 2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER

MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THE IT WILL SNAP OFF. WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN OR GO OVER BUMPS I CAN HEAR CRACKING NOISES. CONTACTED CHEVY (GM) WAS ADVISED THAT I AM 4 YEARS TOO LATE IN CONTACTING THEM. ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SILENT RECALL. AND BECAUSE I LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS SNOW AND ICE THIS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. I ADVISED THAT IS THIS IS THE CASE THEN EVERY CAR IN THIS STATE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FOLLOWING IS FROM GM'S WEBSITE: " FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER DID NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE MOST NOTICEABLE ON VEHICLES DRIVEN IN AREAS WHERE RUST IS MOST COMMON, SUCH AS AREAS WHERE SALT IS USED TO CONTROL SNOW AND ICE. THE CORROSION MAY ADVANCE AND CAUSE RUST-THROUGH PERFORATION OF THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS. AS THE CORROSION PROGRESSES THE CROSS MEMBER WILL BECOME THINNER AND THE ATTACHMENT BRACKETS AND THE PERFORATIONS WILL GROW IN SIZE. IF THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF PERFORATIONS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BECOME WEAKENED AND BEGIN TO FLEX. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CUSTOMER MAY NOTICE FRONT TIRE WOBBLE, STEERING LOOSENESS, VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE, FRONT END NOISES (CLUNK, BANG, RATTLE, ETC) VEHICLE SHAKING, OR STEERING WHEEL ROTATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND DRIVE TO REVERSE.