NHTSA Complaint #716077 — 1995 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU

ON 14 DEC 99, SUBJECT VEHICEL FAILED TO START. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR INDICATION OF POTENTIAL FAILURE. INITIAL ASSESSMENT BY OWNER WAS THE STARTER FAILED TO OPERATE. LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, "JIM RATHMANN CHEVROLET" WAS CONTACTD AND SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD OF INITIAL VEHICLE ASSESSMENT OF FAILURE. SERVICE ADVISOR AGREED WITH INITAIL ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TOWED INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR EXAMINATION. FINAL ASSESSMENT BY AUTHORIZED/CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WAS THE "STARTER FAILED TO OPERATE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOR NORMAL OPERATION. OWNER AUTHORIZED SUGGESTED REPAIRS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS AND TOWING WAS $417.71, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY PAID BY THE OWNER. ADDITIONAL DEFECT WAS ALSO IDENTIFIED BY OWNER. THE WINDSHILED WIPER SYSTEM, WHEN ACTIVATED, FAILS TO OPERATE EVERYTIME WHEN EMPLOYED. IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN EMPLOYED AT ANY SETTING. WHEN EMPLOYING THE WIPER SYSTEM, THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING IF THE WIPER SYSTEM WILL WORK OR NOT, THEREFORE HAVING THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING A FATAL ACCIDENT. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED AND SHOWS NO OPEN RECALL OR SAFTEY NOTICE ON EITHER THE STARTER OR WINDSHILED WIPER SYSTEM. OWNER HAS WRITTEN CHEVROLET TO REQUEST COMPLETE RE-IMBURSEMENT OF STARTER AND TOWING EXPENSE AND COMPLETE FINANCIAL COVERAGE OF WINDSHILED WIPER SYSTEM REPAIR. OWNER NOW AWAITING RESPONSE FROM CHEVROLET. *AK