NHTSA Complaint #747779 — 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATES AND BLOWS FLUID OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION VENT. THIS LEFT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TRUCK TOWED BACK TO DEALER THAT DAY. DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRANSMISSION GET SO HOT BEFORE , AND BURN THE FLUID BLACK. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I DON'T BELEIVE THEM FOR A SECOND! I ASKED IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY CAN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD CHECK MY FLUID ONCE A WEEK TO SEE IF THE FLUID IS TURNING BLACK, AND TO SMELL THE FLUID TO SEE IF IT'S BURNING. THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER I WANT AFTER SPENDING $27000.00 FOR A NEW TRUCK! BEFORE THIS PROBLEM AROSE I NOTICED ON HOT DAYS AFTER DRIVING DISTANCED OF UP TO 40 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY , ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN. WHEN I BEGIN TO GO AGAIN THE TRUCK SHIFTS INTO 1,2, AND 3RD GEAR HARD, ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE TRUCK. I BELEIVE THERE IS A PROBLEM OUT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND CHEVROLET IS TRYING TO HIDE IT, OR CAN'T FIX IT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THAT CAN BREAK DOWN AT ANYTIME OR ANYWERE ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I AM GOING TO SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE OWNER OF TRABUCCO CHEVROLET TO SEE IF I CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH HIM. BUT I AM PREPARING MYSELF FOR THE SAME SONG AND DANCE JUST LIKE I GOT WHEN I APPROACHED ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT THE CHEVY LUMINA REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS. IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ANOTHER CLASS ACTION SUIT TO MAKE CHEVROLET DO ANYTHING. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK WITH THE INTENSION OF KEEPING IT FOR 10 TO 12 YEARS. NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT, THIS IS A $27000.00 MISTAKE I MADE FOR TRUSTING CHEVROLET AGAIN!! BUT MORE THAN THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THESE VEHICLES BREAK DOWN DURING OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY!! I AM JUST HAPPY THAT AFTER WAITING 40 MIN. ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A TOW TRUCK THAT NOBODY IN MY FAMILY WAS HURT. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOES BY AT 65 SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED.