2001 Chevrolet S10 Suspension problems

Filed 24 Sep 2007 at 95,000 miles Huntington Beach, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT USING BOTH HANDS. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION AND NOTICED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE BUSHINGS HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN TIMES. HE NOTIFIED FABTECH, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10204014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Aug 2006 at 41,000 miles Felicity, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

NO SPECIAL EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. LOWER BALL JOINTS DETERIORATED BEYOND USE AT 40000 MILES RESULTING IN SOME TIRE DAMAGE DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. DEALER RESPONSE WAS "NORMAL WEAR ITEM* , NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THESE FACTORY BALL JOINTS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH GREASE FITTINGS, THUS CANNOT BE LUBRICATED. BALL JOINTS REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCT. PIECES OF ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS REGARDING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10165218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Aug 2006 at 89,000 miles Boulder, CO

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

IN MAY OF 2004 MY IDLER ARM WAS LOOSE, AND I HAD IT REPLACED. I STARTED TO NOTICE EXCESSIVE AND UNEVEN WEAR ON MY FRONT TIRES BY OCTOBER 2004. AROUND THANKSGIVING I WAS DRIVING UP MY STREET, AND LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK AS I DROVE AROUND A CURVE AND ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DID NOT CRASH, BUT I HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE IDLER ARM REPLACED AGAIN, AND THEN NEW TIRES PUT ON THE TRUCK. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END, AND UNEVEN WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES AGAIN. THE STEERING IS LOOSE, AND AROUND CURVES IT SEEMS TO SLIP, AND I FEEL AS THOUGH I AM ABOUT TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10164478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Dec 2005 at 40,975 miles Parsons, KS

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

DURING 41,000 MILE SERVICE, FRONT SHOCKS WERE LEAKING, REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10144407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 Mar 2005 at 62,344 miles Holyoke, MA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WITHIN 12 MONTHS GM GENUINE BALLJOINTS (LOWER) ON OUR 2001 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK FAILED WITHIN 12 MONTHS, POSSIBLY SOONER IF IT WERE'NT FOR THE STATE REQUIRED MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTIONS POINTING IT OUT AGAIN. IMAGINE THAT THEY PROBABLY FAILED WAY BEFORE THE INSPECTION. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPIERENCED THIS PART FAILURE WITH THE CHEVROLET, S10.

NHTSA complaint #10114087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Mar 2005 at 37,000 miles Punxsutawney, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE TOO LOOSE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10113451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Feb 2005 at 37,571 miles Springfield, TN

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAL. THEN, PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND THE WHEEL COULD BE MOVED APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH WHICH WAS NOT NORMAL PERFORMANCE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING BY HIMSELF BECAUSE IT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD. TAPER BEARING RETAINER WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. DEALER REFUSED TO DO 15,000 AND 30,000 BEARING REPACK. BOTH WHEELS WERE IN SAME CONDITION. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10113141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.