NHTSA Complaint #704486 — 1993 CHEVROLET C35

WE OWN A 1993 CHEVROLET 1 TON DUALLY PICKUP TRUCK, AND TO THIS DATE WE ARE STILL PAYING ON A LOAN FOR THIS TRUCK. WHILE WASHING THE TRUCK 2 WEEKS AGO, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PICKUP BOX HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. NOT KNOWING AT THIS POINT EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I GOT THE TRUCK TO A HOIST AND DID FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FRAMEWORD UNDER THE PICKUP BOX, WHICH IS PIA TO THE PICKUP BOX, HAVE BROKEN LOOSE. THESE ARE THE CROSSMEMBERS THAT ATTACH THE BOX TO THE FRAME, USING A J CLIP IN THE CROSSMEMBER, AND A BOLT FROM THE FRAME TO THE CROSSMEMBER. MY COMPLAINT IS WHAT HOLDS THIS BOX ON? IT DOES NOT RELIE ON ANY NUTS AND BOLTS TO HOLD THE BOX ON, BUT RELIES ON SPOT WELDS.BECAUSE THE BED IS NOT BOLTED ON, THE CROSSMEMBER IS. I USE THIS TRUCK AS A HAULER FOR MY CAMPER, AND INTERESTING ENOUGH, THE RV INDUSTRY SELLS THE HOLD-DOWNS THAT ATTACH A PICKUP CAMPER TO THE BOX. AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE CAMPER ON THE TRUCK IS THOSE SAME SPOT WELDS, BECAUSE THE NUTS AND BOLTS ONLY HOLD THE CROSSMEMBER, NOT THE ACTUAL BOX. WE THINK THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND TRULY THOUGHT THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD THINK SO TO AND FIX OUR PICKUP TRUCK. WHILE TALKING CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE SERVICE REP. AGREED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AS DID THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WE TOOK IT TO. THE CLAIM WAS DENIED FROM GM REP. DUE TO MILEAGE. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY CLAIM, FOR IT SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON THE MILEAGE, BUT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF WHAT WOULD HAD HAPPENED IF THIS BOX HAD BROKE LOOSE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. WHAT A DISASTER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. I WORK FOR A AUTOMOTIVE PROTOTYPE ENGINEERING FIRM , I AM NOT AN ENGINEER BUT A MECHANIC, BUT I SEE NEW IDEAS AND THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TRYING TO COST CUT VEHICLES ALL THE TIME, AND I FEEL THAT THE CONSTUCTION OF THE BOX IS NOT SAFE.