NHTSA Complaint #731013 — 1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

THE INITIAL SYMPTOM HAS BEEN UPON STARTING THE ENGINE THE CLOCK RESETS TO 1:00 AND THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHTS GLOW ON AND OFF(BUT THE A/C SWITCH IS OFF). THE NEXT SYMTOM IS WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JUST DIE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MID-1996. THE BATTERY HAS LEAKED SO BADLY THAT PARTS UNDER THE AREA WHERE THE BATTERY SITS HAD TO BE REPLACED. BESIDES WHAT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES IN THE FRONT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THIS LAST TIME THE ROTERS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE OUT OF MFG. SPECIFICATIONS. BRAKES AND BATTERY REPAIR ARE NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. EACH TRIP TO THE DEALER IS MORE $500.00. THE POTENTIAL FOR A LIFE ENDING ACCIDENT IS SO GREAT WHEN THESE SYSTEMS FAIL ON A VEHICLE. WHY AREN'T THESE VEHICLES BUILT WITH BETTER RELIABILITY? THE TRUCK WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER ON 9/11/2000. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE STILL NOT FIXED! (DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE: CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, V8 VORTEC 454, 4X4, 3/4 TON). *AK