NHTSA Complaint #753788 — 1995 GMC SAFARI

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS: POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ENGINE COOLING/WATER PUMP, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS OPERATED BY THE SERPENTINE BELT. MY INITIAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE PULLEY SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET FAILED ALLOWING THE BELT TO BECOME DISLODGED. STILL FURTHER INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE REAR BOLT(S) HOLDING THE ALTERNATORS IN PLACE WERE MISSING ALLOWING ENOUGH DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO BE EXERTED ON THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY TO BREAK THE TWO FRONT "EARS" OF THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET AND TO THROW THE BELT OFF THE PULLEYS. THE ALTERNATOR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE REAR BOLT(S) OF THE ALTERNATOR EITHER WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT THE FACTORY OR THAT THEY NEED TO BE INSPECTED OCCASSIONALLY TO ENSURE THEY HAVE NOT LOOSENED AND FALLEN OUT. I HAVE FOUND NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTING THAT THESE BOLTS BE CHECKED AS A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE. MY GUESS IS THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO EITHER STEER OR STOP.