NHTSA Complaint #761951 — 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN PLACED VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT BUCKED FORWARD CAUSING MY SON TO BE PINNED AGAINST THE GARAGE INJURING HIS RIGHT LEG AND FOOT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGED IN 4WD BY ITSELF. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICHLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER BOX FAILURE. CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP ESTIMATED AT $1200. PLUS TO REPAIR THIS TIME. TRANSFER BOX COST OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE IN EXCESS OF $800. I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBELM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP TECH TOLD ME HE HAS REPLACED MANY TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS VEHICLE AND IS SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL.I AM A WIDOWER LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME AND THESE UNEXPECTED AND UNNECESSARY EXPENSES HAVE HURT. I EXPECT THE INCIDENTALS WITH KEEPING UP MY VEHICLE, I HAVE MY VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENENCE BUT THIS GOES FAR BEYOND REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. GMC SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THIS MATTER. GMC HAS TO BE SHOWN THAT CONSUMERS DONT HAVE TO BE VICTIMS. *AK