NHTSA Complaint #732057 — 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA

WHILE DRIVING INTO THE SETTING SUN IN A PARKING LOT I STRUCK A3 INCH CURBING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. A LARGE FLAG POLE WAS SLIGHTLY SCRAPED WITH THE LEFT FENDER CAUSING SOME MINOR DAMAGE. THE LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAUSING THE TIE ROD END TO SNAP AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. THE CAR TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE STOPPING WITHOUT USE OF THE BRAKES. THE ONLY SKID MARKS WERE FROM THE NOW SIDEWAYS TIRE AND FROM THE DRAGGING UNDERCARRIGE BOLTS. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS MINOR IMPACT SHOULD HAVE CUASED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE. THE RIVETS CONNECTING THE BALL JOINTS HAD SHEARED OFF. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED IN ANY WAY. IF THIS HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE I WOULD LIKELY HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. OUR OLDS DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "NOT THEIR PROBLEM".