NHTSA Complaint #721304 — 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE

WHILE MAKING A ROUTINE RT TURN, THE GEAR ASSEMBLY OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY "BLEW-OUT". THIS EVENT LOCKED MY STEERING UP. NO WARRANTY IN PLACE TO RECOVER LOSS. BUT, THE NATURE OF THE EVENT WAS UNUSUAL. THAT IS, THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE GEAR(S)FRACTURING AND EXPLODING IT'S HOUSING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE? AT A HIGHER SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WITH 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCED INDICATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY "BLOW-OUT" LIKE THE ONE I AM PRESENTING IN THIS CASE. THE SUPERVISOR MECHANIC FURTHER INDICATED, "THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT". I HAVE THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN MY POSSESSION AND I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE (DOC# 000029454 GM). GM HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT REGARDING THE REPAIR COSTS AND HAS INDICATED NO INTEREST IN HAVING GMC ENGINEERS LOOK AT THE FAILED SYSTEM. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT A VALID LIABILITY DOES EXIST THAT AND THAT THERE IS A MFT DEFECT WITH THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE HIGH HOPES THAT YOU ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN MY CONCERN. I WILL WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE I GO PUBLIC REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU, MIKE JOHNSON. *AK