NHTSA Complaint #10968506 — 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

I'VE NOTICED THAT MY FRONT END WAS LOWER THAN USUAL. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE GIVING IN. I TOOK MY CAR TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES AND TO ALSO GET A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THAT IS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUT BASE THAT IS WELDED ONTO THE CHASSIS WAS ROTTING OFF. THE MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT I WAS A VERY LUCKY GUY BECAUSE AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING MY COMMUTE, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH SINCE I MOSTLY USE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO COMMUTE TO WORK. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL HE ACTUALLY SHOWED ME ALL THE ROTTED PARTS AND I WAS IN DEEP SHOCK ONCE I SAW WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME. I'M THANKFUL THAT THE CARS STRUT WAS LEANING ON THE INNER FENDER FRAME PREVENTING IT FROM COMPLETELY FALLING TO THE GROUND. I ASKED THE MECHANIC HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE HAPPEN AND HE EXPLAINED THAT SINCE WE LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE IT SNOWS, THE SALT THAT IS APPLIED ON THE ROADS GETS TRAPPED INTO THE SLOTTED HOLES OF THE CHASSIS AND DETERIORATES WITH TIME. IT IS UNKNOWN OF THE TIME OF WHICH THE CHASSIS HAD BEGUN ROTTING.