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FaultScore report

2004 Chevrolet Tracker problems

Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker with NHTSA between 2004 and 2024. The largest single group is the suspension. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 8 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Tracker All 2004 cars
C

FaultScore 54/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Tracker.

How this is worked out

The numbers

22

Complaints

6

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

41,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

47%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 15 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 80 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 15
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Tracker. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
36.4% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 80
47% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2004 compares with every other Chevrolet Tracker

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2004 Chevrolet Tracker

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 6 27.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 21,950 mi

Airbags 4 18.2%

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 69,000 mi

Body & Structure 3 13.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 45,932 mi

Steering 3 13.6%

Median failure at 142,347 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 9.1%

Median failure at 5,800 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 4.5%
Equipment & Accessories 1 4.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 4.5%

Median failure at 13,000 miles

Brakes 1 4.5%

Median failure at 41,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 2 13.3%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 3 20.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 13.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 20.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 6.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 4 26.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 2004 peak 3 Apr 2024

NHTSA investigations into the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA06018 Opened 30 Oct 2006 Closed 3 Dec 2007 SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION

IN OCTOBER 2007, GM INITIATED A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL MY 1999 THROUGH 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT-BELT STATES.THE PROGRAM EXTENDS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.GM IS ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM IN PHASES DUE TO PART AVAILABILITY.THE FIRST PHASE STARTED IN OCTOBER 2007 AND COVERS THE MY 1999 AND 2000 VEHICLES.OWNERS OF MY 2001 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE LETTERS AT A FUTURE DATE, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE REPAIRS FROM THE PROGRAM IF THE CROSSMEM...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 100,000 miles Lima, OH Crash

AIR BAGS

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL DID NOT INFLATE ON IMPACT

NHTSA complaint #11085134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Ketchikan, AK Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. HOW EVEN ON DEC 19, 2016 THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END CRASH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10950218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fitzwilliam, NH Crash

SUSPENSION

MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE I STORE IT RIGHT AND WASH ALL THE SALT OFF DURING WINTER THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE COME TO FIND OUT MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS EXTRREMEMLY CORRODED BUT THE METAL RIGHT NEXT TO IT WAS NOT CORRODED AT ALL SO THEY USED INFERIOR METAL THE ACCIDENT DAMAGED THE FENDERS BUMPER AND LIGHTS IT ALSO DESTROYED MY SWAY BAR LINKS STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THE TOLD ME THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND THAT THE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10593777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fitzwilliam, NH Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE I STORE IT RIGHT AND WASH ALL THE SALT OFF DURING WINTER THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE COME TO FIND OUT MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS EXTRREMEMLY CORRODED BUT THE METAL RIGHT NEXT TO IT WAS NOT CORRODED AT ALL SO THEY USED INFERIOR METAL THE ACCIDENT DAMAGED THE FENDERS BUMPER AND LIGHTS IT ALSO DESTROYED MY SWAY BAR LINKS STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THE TOLD ME THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND THAT THE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10593777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Spokane, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED THE FRONT OF END INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CONTUSIONS AND BRUISING TO THE TORSO REGION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. UPDATED 04/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HIT A PATCH OF ICE WHILE DRIVING, SHE VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. UPDATE 04/24/14

NHTSA complaint #10567426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gadsden, AL Crash

AIR BAGS

MYSELF AND 2 DAUGHTERS WERE IN A HEAD ON WRECK 2/04/2010 WHEN A GUY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US, NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH. THE PREGNANT ONE WAS THANKFULLY IN THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10314549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

South Daytona, FL

STEERING

I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.

NHTSA complaint #11584191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Daytona, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.

NHTSA complaint #11584191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Daytona, FL

SUSPENSION

I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.

NHTSA complaint #11584191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Lima, OH Crash

AIR BAGS

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL DID NOT INFLATE ON IMPACT

NHTSA complaint #11085134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Ketchikan, AK Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. HOW EVEN ON DEC 19, 2016 THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END CRASH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10950218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,932 miles NEW Kensington, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY THE CONTACT OF A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR RUST AND CORROSION ON THE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER BAR HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE STATUTE HAD EXPIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CROSS MEMBER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF EITHER A DEALER OR A MECHANIC WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE TO PASS AN INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,932.

NHTSA complaint #10896414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,347 miles Indian River, MI

STEERING

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE SEVERELY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, EXPERIENCING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. I PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND UPON INVESTIGATION NOTICED THE CROSS BEAM WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD BROKE FREE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS THREE MONTHS PAST THE EXTENDED COVERAGE. I HAD THE TRACKER CHECKED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET ABOUT A POSSIBLE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR. REALLY! IF CHEVROLET KNEW THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TO BEGIN WITH.

NHTSA complaint #10626441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,347 miles Indian River, MI

SUSPENSION

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE SEVERELY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, EXPERIENCING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. I PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND UPON INVESTIGATION NOTICED THE CROSS BEAM WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD BROKE FREE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS THREE MONTHS PAST THE EXTENDED COVERAGE. I HAD THE TRACKER CHECKED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET ABOUT A POSSIBLE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR. REALLY! IF CHEVROLET KNEW THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TO BEGIN WITH.

NHTSA complaint #10626441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 142,347 miles Indian River, MI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE SEVERELY. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, EXPERIENCING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL. I PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND UPON INVESTIGATION NOTICED THE CROSS BEAM WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEFT DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD BROKE FREE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS THREE MONTHS PAST THE EXTENDED COVERAGE. I HAD THE TRACKER CHECKED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET ABOUT A POSSIBLE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR. REALLY! IF CHEVROLET KNEW THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TO BEGIN WITH.

NHTSA complaint #10626441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Kittanning, PA

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE DUST SHIELD ON THE REAR BRAKES BECAME CORRODED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA complaint #10617895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Kittanning, PA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE DUST SHIELD ON THE REAR BRAKES BECAME CORRODED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA complaint #10617895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fitzwilliam, NH Crash

SUSPENSION

MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE I STORE IT RIGHT AND WASH ALL THE SALT OFF DURING WINTER THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE COME TO FIND OUT MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS EXTRREMEMLY CORRODED BUT THE METAL RIGHT NEXT TO IT WAS NOT CORRODED AT ALL SO THEY USED INFERIOR METAL THE ACCIDENT DAMAGED THE FENDERS BUMPER AND LIGHTS IT ALSO DESTROYED MY SWAY BAR LINKS STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THE TOLD ME THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND THAT THE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10593777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fitzwilliam, NH Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE I STORE IT RIGHT AND WASH ALL THE SALT OFF DURING WINTER THERE WAS NO CORROSION OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE COME TO FIND OUT MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS EXTRREMEMLY CORRODED BUT THE METAL RIGHT NEXT TO IT WAS NOT CORRODED AT ALL SO THEY USED INFERIOR METAL THE ACCIDENT DAMAGED THE FENDERS BUMPER AND LIGHTS IT ALSO DESTROYED MY SWAY BAR LINKS STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND WHEN I CALLED CHEVY THE TOLD ME THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND THAT THE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10593777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Spokane, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED THE FRONT OF END INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CONTUSIONS AND BRUISING TO THE TORSO REGION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. UPDATED 04/22/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HIT A PATCH OF ICE WHILE DRIVING, SHE VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. UPDATE 04/24/14

NHTSA complaint #10567426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gadsden, AL Crash

AIR BAGS

MYSELF AND 2 DAUGHTERS WERE IN A HEAD ON WRECK 2/04/2010 WHEN A GUY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US, NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH. THE PREGNANT ONE WAS THANKFULLY IN THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10314549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Christiansted, VI

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE LOWER ARM CONTROL PROBLEMS AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WITH MY VEHICLE, CHEVROLET TRACKER 2004.

NHTSA complaint #10181885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Christiansted, VI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

THE LOWER ARM CONTROL PROBLEMS AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WITH MY VEHICLE, CHEVROLET TRACKER 2004.

NHTSA complaint #10181885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Crisfield, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND IT REPRESENTED A SAFETY RISK IF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT TO DRIVE POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10166158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,600 miles Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE SALES MAN , JAM JAMISON SOLD ME THIS CAR WHICH WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I GOT IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING ME SO MANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE TRIED SO MANY TIMES TO FIX THE CAR BUT IT JUST COMES BACK TO ME THE SAME WAY. WHEN I RUN THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A REALLY LOUD NOISE. ALSO WHILE I'M DRIVING THE CAR IT JUST TURNS OFF ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HAVE TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, AND DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE THE CAR NEEDS THE CAR JUST DOES NOT FUNCTION RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10151475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,000 miles Clinton, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SQUEAK FROM FRONT AXEL/POWER TRAIN DURING COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.

NHTSA complaint #10151248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,900 miles Duck, WV

SUSPENSION

THE TIRES WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VIBRATION. VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN GOING 65-70 MPH . DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10089202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Roxana, IL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 CHEVY TRACKER. I HAD PUT 260 MILES ON IT IN SHORT TRIPS. ON MARCH 26, 2004 I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND TURN LEFT TO LEAVE A LARGE PARKING LOT IN A RURAL AREA. MY ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE WHEELS FAILED. WHILE TURNING THE STERRING WHEEL THE TIRES MOVED ON AN INCH OR SO. THE STERRING WHEEL "CHEVY LOGO" WAS UPSIDE DOWN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT "FOUR PINS HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE STERRING MECHANISM." I WAS LIVID. I HAD BEEN DRIVING ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN ALONG AND IF I HAD BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE BESIDE THIS RURAL LOCATION WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED. I REFUSED TO LEAVE WITH THE CAR AND INSISTED ON A NEW ONE. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DEBATE A SALES MANAGER TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS AND TOLD ME THAT GM WOULD BUY THE CAR BACK. IT TOOK TWO WEEKS TO GET ALL OF THE PAPERWORK COMPLETE BUT THE NEW ONE IS MINE. I HOPE THIS WAS A FLUKE AND I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10065880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.