NHTSA Complaint #726379 — 1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

ON MY 1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500 EXTENDED CAB FLEETSIDE LONG BOX PICKUP, THERE HAS BEEN FOUR FAILURES OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBACK 60/40 SPLIT SEAT. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 1996. AFTER THIS WAS FIXED, WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM CHEVROLET OF A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHERE THE SEATBACK BOLTS COULD BREAK AND FALL BACKWARDS LEADING TO LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. ON JULY 23, 2000, WE WERE ON OUR VACATION TRIP FROM FARGO, ND, AND WERE IN THE PARK RAPIDS, MN, AREA, WHEN THE SEATBACK FAILED ONCE AGAIN. I CALLED THE NATIONAL CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY CHECKED WITH MY MAINTENANCE DEALER IN FARGO AND CONFIRMED AGAIN WITH ME THAT THIS WAS THE FOURTH FAILURE BUT THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD ACT ON THIS WAS ON VACATION AND WOULD NOT BE BACK TO WORK UNTIL JULY 31,2000, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE WITH THE SIZE OF THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. I HAD TO CONTINUE MY VACATION TRIP WITH SUITCASES AND DUFFLE BAGS BRACING THE BACK OF THE SEAT UP WHICH I FELT WAS VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. AS OF AUGUST 1, 2000, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OR RECEIVED ANY MAIL FROM THEM. IN THE MEANTIME I CANNOT USE MY TRUCK TO EVEN GO TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS OF SAFETY IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.*AK