NHTSA Complaint #11021654 — 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

THE ISSUE I'M REPORTING TOOK PLACE IN MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD VIN: [XXX] BUT THE VEHICLE ITSELF WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A EVERSTART MAXX BATTERY SERIAL# JCH1600480782 MANUFACTURED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS INC, SOLD BY WALMART. I NOTICED A PROBLEM ON 7/25/2017 AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TO CLEAN INSECTS OFF TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY. WHEN I USED THE CONTROL TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE WASHER FLUID BUT IT WAS ALREADY HALF FULL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND NOTICED LEAKING WASHER FLUID. I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE SO I INVESTIGATED IT. TO GET TO THE WASHER BOTTLE THE BATTERY MUST BE REMOVED AND WHEN REMOVED IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID EVERYWHERE. SOME ACID DID GET ON MY CLOTHING AND ATE THROUGH IT BUT THANKFULLY NONE MADE CONTACT WITH MY SKIN. THE BATTERY SITS ABOVE THE WASHER BOTTLE, PUMP, LINES, AND BATTERY TRAY - ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS WERE DESTROYED BY LEAKING ACID. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS INC, THE MAKER OF THE BATTERY AND THEY SEEM DISINTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE SAVED ALL DAMAGED PARTS, RECEIPTS, AND CORRESPONDENCE SO FAR. IN THE FOLLOWING PICTURES YOU WILL SEE THE WHITE CORROSION FROM THE ACID LEAK AND THE PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING AND REDUCING VISIBILITY. I'LL ALSO INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE SHIRT THAT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ACID WHEN LIFTING THE BATTERY OUT AND THE HOLES IT ATE THROUGH THE FABRIC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR