NHTSA Complaint #732501 — 2000 GMC JIMMY

THE FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER HANDLE HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME. UPON REVIEW OF THE PART IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IT HAS FAILED UNDER A TORSION LOAD. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE PART, THE BOS THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE SEAT AND THAT THE RECLINER HANDLE ATTACHES TO IS THE ITEM THAT FAILED. THE BOSS ITSELF APPEARS TO BE MADE FROM POWDER METAL. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE PART IS MADE OUT OF POWDER METAL. A SLOT IS CUT DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THIS BOSS AS TO ACCEPT THE HANDLE SCREW. THE HANDLE SCREW SLOT PROBABLY WEAKENS THE BOSS EVEN FURTHER. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A PART THAT HAS REPEATED LOADING WOULD BE MADE OF SUCH A MATERIAL SINCE SOME OF THE PROPERTIES OF POWDER METAL DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE REQUIRED FOR REPEATED TORSION. AS I CAN SURMISE, THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS PARTICULAR PART IN MY VEHCILE. THE PART WAS REPLACED BY JIM CAUSLEY GMC, JUNE OF 2000. I AM CONCERNED THAT A REAR OCCUPANT COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE LEVER IN QUESTION CONTROLS THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT BACK. YOUR FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. REGARDS KEN KECK. *AK