36 of the
587 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Tracker
are about the steering —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
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.
INSIDE TIE ROD END DO NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH OUTSIDE TIE ROD ENDS ARE FINE AND IN A SHARP TURN IT CAUSE THE FRONT TO SHAKE VERY BAD I CAN LIFT 300 LB AND IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD TO CONTROL IT FROM ROLLING OVER. MECHANIC SAID I MUSCLED THE METAL IN TO PLACE AND DAMAGE BOTH INSIDE TIE RODS ENDS ONLY. I HAVE NO REPLACED THEM YET NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I IF I HAD NOT BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO BEND THE MEDAL THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WRECK. I BEEN KNOW BREAK AND BEND PARTS LIKE THIS BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #11291437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS A KNOWN AND SERIOUS SAFETY MANUFACTURING DEFECT PREVIOUSLY COVERED UNDER A "SPECIAL COVERAGE - #06186" FOR CORROSION AND RUST PROOFING CAUSING THE SUBFRAME AND CONTROL ARMS CORRODE AND DETACH. GM REFUSES TO HONOR PREVIOUSLY EXPIRED SPECIAL COVERAGE AND CONSIDERS THIS AN "OUT OF POCKET" EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10960362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MOTHER AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR JUST LUNGED FORWARD SHARPLY AND MADE US SWERVE A LITTLE. I PULLED OVER AND SEEN THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING "OFF" A LITTLE. WE TOWED IT HOME AND MY STEP DAD LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBSPENSION SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER PART COULD OF KILLED US. SHE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 29 MILES FROM DAVE WHITE CHEVEROLT IN 2001. NOTHING WAS SENT TO US FROM THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PART BEING A DANGEROUS PART. IT WAS TO BE REPLACED I HEARD IF THE CAR REACHED 150,000 MILES OR 10 PLUS YEARS. SHE HAD THIS CAR FOR BOTH AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART. WE HAD IT TOWED THIS WEEKEND AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10959512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVY TRACKER. SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL BINDING AND IGNITION KEY ISSUES. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A SQUEALING NOISE THAT IS LOUD AND CONSTANT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES WITH THE SAME OLD RECOMMENDATION OF WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST KEEP DRIVING IT. OR, THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. THE SQUEALING IS LOUDER AND FROM READING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CHEVY TRACKER, IT SEEMS IS FROM THE PULLEY AND BELT AREA THAT IS CAUSING THE NOISE THAT A DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. ALSO, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT TAKE THE KEY SMOOTHLY. MEANING, ITS HARD TO INSERT AND HARD TO REMOVE WITH OUT FORCE. I HAVE A 2008 HHR THAT WAS ON RECALL DUE TO THIS SAME IGNITION PROBLEM AND THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE 98,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND DO NOT WANT TO GET HURT OR JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE FROM OWNING ONLY CHEVROLETS, THAT YOUR IGNITION CYLINDER PROBLEM DATES WAY BACK, THEN WHAT YOUR WILLING TO ADMIT. SO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, BEFORE YOU HAVE MORE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. MAKE THAT RECALL ON THE OLDER CARS, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM LIKE MINE ARE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10667827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE WHEEL STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT.AFTER THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO GO BACK AND FORTH A BIT AND FELT SHAKING..WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW.THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF A PROBLEM.I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE CROSS MEMBER WAS ROTTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10572671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER IS HIGHLY CORRODED (RUSTY) AND AS I HAVE READ IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRACKER MODEL AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE COULD HELP WITH THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10560040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 CHEVY TRACKER WITH RUSTED FRONT CROSS MEMBER. THE CROSS MEMBER RUSTED AND BROKE LEAVING THE LOWER A ARM DISCONNECT FROM THE FRAME ON ONE END. THIS CAUSES AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE AND TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I CONTACTED A CHEVY DEALER AND ALSO GENERAL MOTORS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE SPECIAL COVERAGE OFFER HAD EXPIRED. THE SPECIAL COVERAGE WAS FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. MY TRACKER HAS 59,450 MILES BUT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE OF A TIME LIMIT. I WAS NEVER SENT A NOTICE BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND DIDN'T BUY IT FROM A GM DEALER. GM COULD HAVE QUERIED EACH STATE'S REGISTRATION DATABASES FOR OWNERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT I COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN AND HAD IT INSPECTED. HOW WOULD I HAVE KNOWN TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION IF I AM UNAWARE THAT A POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEM EXIST. THIS IS A STRUCTURAL ITEM THAT SHOULD OUTLAST THE DRIVE LINE AND BODY ... TO LIMIT IT BY TIME OR MILEAGE IS ABSURD AND SHRUGGING RESPONSIBILITY. THE VERY LAST THING THAT SHOULD FAIL IS THE STRUCTURE. I ARGUED THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE NO TIME LIMIT BECAUSE IT IS A STRUCTURAL ITEM WHICH WHEN FAILED COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE DEATH AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. AND I FEEL THAT THE FACTORY SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IF IT IS OTHERWISE ROAD WORTHY AND MEETS STATE INSPECTION THEN THE SPECIAL COVERAGE SHOULD APPLY. IT IS THE FACTORY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SAFE VEHICLES. WITH A COMPUTER MODEL, KNOWING THE GRADE OF STEEL, THE THICKNESS OF THE STEEL ONE CAN CALCULATE THE APPROXIMATE TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO RUST THROUGH. THIS IS WHY THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME LIMIT FOR RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10552986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS-MEMBER OF MY 2000 CHEVROLET TRACKER HAS CORRODED THROUGH THE HEAVY GAUGE METAL ADJACENT TO A SUPPORT BOLT AND RISKS AFFECTING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A HEAVY GAUGE STRUCTURAL MEMBER THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. SEVERE RUST-THROUGH IS THE RESULT OF IMPROPER METAL SURFACE TREATMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. PLEASE FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY-OF-LIFE ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES AS A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE OF THIS COMPONENT, IF IT OCCURS DURING DRIVING, RESULTS IN WHEEL COLLAPSE BECAUSE THIS MEMBER SUPPORTS THE WHEELS A-FRAME. I ESTIMATE THIS RUSTING HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2009 EVEN THOUGH I JUST SAW IT IN 2012. I BASE THIS ON THE FACT THAT IN 2012 THERE WAS A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE CROSS MEMBER THAT I COULD FIT MY THUMB THROUGH HOWEVER, HOLES OF THIS SIZE USUALLY TAKE A FEW YEARS TO DEVELOP AND I NEVER NOTICED IT PREVIOUSLY. THIS MEANS THAT SUB-SURFACE RUSTING WAS OCCURRING FOR A FEW YEARS WITH SURFACE RUST OBSCURING THIS, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THE HOLE WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY (WHEN THE SURFACE RUST COLLAPSED, IT EXPOSED THE HOLE BENEATH IT).
NHTSA complaint #10461324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND HEART A POP. TRACKER WOULD THEN PULL ROUGHLY TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CROSSMEMBER BROKE WHERE THE INNER SUSPENSION ATTACHES. CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT COVERED ON A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR VEHICLE. FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS THAT COMPLAIN OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS YEARS FOR THE CHEVY TRACKER. THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE SINCE I AM QUITE FOND OF MY TRACKER AND RELY ON IT FOR WORK AND TRAVEL WITH MY CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN WINTER MONTHS. I AM GLAD THIS WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE IT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10442661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, WHEN HE LOST POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE REPAIR THE CROSS MEMBER; HOWEVER, THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE PROCEDURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,004.
NHTSA complaint #10375586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVY DEALER TO REPLACE RUSTED CROSSMEMBER ON STEERING SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN MAY 2010. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED A LONG TIME AGO AND THE COST OF REPLACEMENT WOULD BE ABOUT $800. THE RECALL, WHICH THE DEALER KEPT, CLEARLY STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS VALID FOR TEN YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2000. THE DEALER REFUSED ON TWO ADDITION DATES TO HONOR THE RECALL OR GM'S AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THEIR WARRANTY TO A FULL TEN YEARS OR 150,000 MILES AS YOUR WEBSITE INDICATES. HELP US IF YOU CAN.
NHTSA complaint #10370001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PAINT ON MY 2001 CHEVY TRACKER IS FORMING WHITE SPOTS ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. IS THIS A PAINT DEFECT? I WAX MY CAR FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND WASH IT WEEKLY, SO POOR CARE FOR THE VEHICLE ISN'T A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE'S CLICKING A COMPUTER MOUSE AT A 100MPH. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. WHEN MY CAR IS IDLING AFTER STARTUP, IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR RECENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND I WAS ONLY GOING 70MPH. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER TURNS BACK EITHER, WHILE PARKING. MY CAR IS A 2001 CHEVY TRACKER WITH ONLY 54,700 MILES ON IT. I AM THINKING ABOUT WRITING A LETTER TO GM TO HAVE ALL MY PROBLEMS RESOLVED AT NO COST TO ME.
NHTSA complaint #10215720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN BRAKING, CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATED CLOCKWISE AS FOR A RIGHT-HAND TURN. *JB I CALLED MR. DOWNER OCT.16, FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS REPLACED.CNL
NHTSA complaint #10167546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERPENTINE BELT FRAYED AND BREAKING. DIFFICULT TO KEEP PROPERLY TENSIONED. FOLLOWING ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF THIS PROBLEM THE FACTORY BOLT HOLDING THE MOUNTING FRAME FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR BROKE OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING THE AC COMPRESSOR TO FALL FROM ITS MOUNT DUE TO THE TOP BOLT HAVING WORKED LOOSE. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE COMPRESSOR BOUNCED AROUND ON THE HOSES FREELY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD BE DETERMINED. THIS BOLT BROKE OFF DUE TO THE TOP MOUNTING BOLT BACKING OUT OF THE MOUNT ON THE ENGINE HEAD. NEITHER OF THESE BOLTS NEED TO BE LOOSENED TO ADJUST BELT TENSION AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE OFF OR BACKED OUT. BELT ALIGNMENT AND FRAYING PROBLEM IS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE DEFORMATION OF THE LOWER BOLT PRIOR TO IT BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10164533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND FELT STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE. STOPPED AT DEALER BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED. DEALER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SO DECIDED TO GO HOME BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL HAD NOT COME OFF COMPLETELY AT THAT POINT. WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. LAID STEERING WHEEL ASIDE AND USED STEERING COLUMN TO MAKE IT HOME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10122583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TURNING RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10094133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.