NHTSA Complaint #759427 — 1999 CHEVROLET MOTOR HOME

THIS FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS MOUNTED UPON A SHEET METAL BRACKET. THE BRACKET HAS NO LATERAL RESTRAINT. THIS LACK OF A LATERAL RESTRAINT PERMITS THE BRACKET TO BEND TO THE LEFT WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. SUFFICIENT PRESSURE CANNOT BE APPLIED TO THE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SUFFICIENTLY SET THE PARKING BRAKE ON HILLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY USED AS A BACKUP DEVICE FOR STOPPING OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER SERVICEMAN. HE AGREED THAT A LATERAL RESTRAINT WAS NEEDED BUT THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COACH MANUFACTURER AND NOT THAT OF CHEVROLET, THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER. I CONTACTED THE COACH MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE CHEVROLET DESIGN, NOT INTENDED TO BE MODIFIED BY THE COACH MANUFACTURER. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET,, FILE # 06531447 (MR. ROBB CHIODO). MR. CHIODO INFERRED SINCE THE BRAKE MECHANISM HAD BEEN BUILT AS DESIGNED BY CHEVROLET THEN IT MUST BE OK AND THAT HE COULD DO NOTHING. HE COULD NOT REFER ME TO ANYONE IN THE COMPANY THAT COULD BE OF ANY HELP. MR. CHIODO SUGGESTED TO ME THAT IF I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN THEN I SHOULD SEEK OUT A THIRD PARTY ON MY OWN WHO COULD BEEF UP THE ASSEMBLY. I STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME BUT HE EXPRESSED NO FURTHER INTEREST IN THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME, I IGNORE USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE AND CHOCK THE WHEELS ON ALL BUT THE LEVELIST OF SURFACES. I AM A GRADUATE MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. I COULD RECOMMEND A MODIFICATION THAT COULD BE MADE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BUT I SEE IT AS A MANUFACTURER FIRST RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN THAT OF A CONSUMER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON HIS OWN.*AK