NHTSA Complaint #763891 — 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MFG ON 3-1-02- STATES IS NOT A RECALL THOUGH IS LISTED AS A RECALL ON YOUR WEB SITE. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER ON 3-1-02 & WAS TOLD CHEVROLET WOULD NOT RPAIR/REPLACE PARTS DUE TO MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE (JUST TURNED 1000,000 MILES). NOTICED ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A RECALL ITEM DATED 7/02/01. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 1000,000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A FRONT END CLUNKING NOISE SINCE LAST FALL, AND WHEN HAD LUBRICATION SERVICE DONE RECENTLY, WAS INFORMED OF FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. JUST WHAT IS THE LAW REGARDING THIS ISSUE? THEIR LETTER STATES IS NOT A RECALL, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT LIBEL IF VEHICLE IS EITHER 8 YEARS OLD OR HAS GREATER THAN 100,000 MILES. I WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THIS "RECALL" ITEM FOR 8 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL DATE OF 7/2/01, AND BY THAT TIME I HAD JUST WENT OVER THE 100,000 MILEAGE MARK. ALSO, MY PARTNER OWNS A 1995 BLAZER AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR EITHER THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SHE HAS JUST UNDER 100,000 MILES. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE NOW? IF I HAD BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR FREE WARRANTY REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED NOW FOR OVER 10 MONTHS AND CANNOT AFFORD THE COSTS OF REPAIRS AND AS A RESULT AM UNECCESSARILY PUTIING MYSELF AND ANY PASSENGERS AT RISK OF SEVERE INJURY DUE TO FRONT END FAILURE. SHOULDN'T CHEVROLET STILL BE RESPONSIBLE GIVEN THE MISINFORMATION (NOT A RECALL), AND LACK OF TIMELY CONTACTING OF ME?*AK