NHTSA Complaint #742877 — 1999 GEO METRO

THE CAR WAS PARKED. I OPENED THE DOOR AND THE WIND TOOK IT OPENING IT PAST IT'S DESIGNED MAXIMUN. I WAS ABLE TO RECLOSE THE DOOR WITH ONE HAND, SO THE WIND WAS NOT THAT STRONG. I FEEL THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED WAS EXCESSIVE FOR A SAFELY CONSTRUCTED VEHICLE. THE PARTS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO GIVE WAY AND ARE REPLACEABLE DID NOT GET DAMAGED. THE DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE REPLACEABLE AND THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE MUST BE FABRICATED. UPON VIEWING THE DAMAGE IT IS EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST FACTORY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. AT 18,000 MILES A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY FROM THE TIME I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A DEFECTIVE BLOCK, SO THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. QUITE HONESTLY I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IF A LITTLE WIND COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MUCH DAMAGE, WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF SURVIVING A EVEN A MINOR IMPACT FROM THE SIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE BODY SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT CHEVROLET BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE DID NOT SEEM CONSISTENT WITH THE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT AND THE DESIGNED INTEGRITY OF A ROAD WORTHY VEHICLE! THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DEALER LOT AT RYDELL CHEVROLET AT 18600 DEVONSHIRE ST. IN NORTHRIDGE, CA 91324 PHONE# (818) 832-1695 [XXX] IS MY CONTACT. I WOULD APPECIATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION TO COME OUT, VIEW THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURED AND MAKE AN UNBIASED DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THIS SITUATION WAS A RESULT OF ANOTHER FACTORY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. A MANUFACTURES REP FROM CHEVROLET SUPPOSEDLY EVALUATED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT A DEFECT, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED WITH ANY DOCUMENTATION TO THAT EFFECT AND HAVE TO ASSUME THAT HIS OPINION IS A BIASED ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMAT