Complaint 1748227

Complaint Summary

SEAT BELTS

Owner Narrative

STEERING-LINKAGES: TIE ROD ASSEMBLY ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE THAT HTE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. WHEELS: ON CERTAIN SUV'S THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CAUSING AN ERRONEOUS WHILL SPEED SIGNAL. CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFECT: THIS CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BRAKE, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND TORQUE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL WHICH RELY ON THIS SIGNAL FOR PROPER OPERATION. VISIBILTY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS DRIVERSHAFT, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE WIPER FROM THE PARK POSIIOT FROM THE PARK POSITION. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. SEATS BELTS: REAR ON CERTAIN SUV'S, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEATS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FITTED PROPERLY. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGED. IN MY CASE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS DECLINED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTS EVEN WHEN THE DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED MY SUV WITH THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM, PLUS THE DEFECTS ALREADY MENTIONED. THEREFORE,THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 122431 DATES MANUFACTURED: FEB 2003 TO JUN 2004

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.