NHTSA Complaint #10811565 — 2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE

I AM ONE OF MILLIONS OF 1999-2007 CHEVROLET V8 TRUCK ENGINE OWNERS, WHO IS TOLD BY THEIR GM MECHANIC THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT(S) HAS BROKEN, LEADING TO EXPENSES RANGING FROM $500 TO $1,500. GM BUILT THE ENGINES WITH SUBSTANDARD BOLTS THAT DO NOT LAST IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE. ONE OR MORE WILL BREAK, WHICH CAUSES AN EXHAUST LEAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE AS IT CANNOT PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE EXHAUST LEAKS ARE NEAR OTHER SENSORS WHICH CAN CAUSE FAULTY READINGS OR UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SELF-FIX THIS GM-CAUSED PROBLEM FACE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET TO, REQUIRE A WELDER TO FIX, MAY DAMAGE SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT, ETC. THE NEED FOR A RECALL IS WELL-KNOWN AND VERY LARGE, AND IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THESE, SIMILAR AS HAVE FORD AND TOYOTA HAD RECALLS ON SIMILAR ISSUES. GM SURVIVED DUE TO A BAILOUT FROM TAXPAYERS (MANY OF THEM THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS); IT IS TIME FOR GM TO PERFORM RESPONSIBLY TO A NEEDED RECALL. IN THE PICTURE, THE BROKEN-OFF BOLT HEAD IS EVIDENCED A FEW INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUSTY ONE THAT STILL EXISTS, WHERE THERE IS AN EMPTY HOLE (THE BOLT REMAINS STUCK INSIDE THE ENGINE, AND REQUIRES BORING OUT OR WELDING SOMETHING ON IN ORDER TO BACK IT OUT).