102 of the
587 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Tracker
are about the suspension —
17% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
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.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HAD TO BRAKE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENT WENT LEFT IF ANYONE HAD OF BEEN IN OTHER LANE I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM HEAD ON. I THOUGHT THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS LOCKING UP. SO I WENT TO PART STORE BOUGHT A NW ONE($92) TOOK IT TO A GARAGE OF A MAN I KNEW. HE PUT IT ON LIFT TO CHANGE CALIPER HE NOTICED CONTROL ARM COMPLETE LY RUSTED OUT ON CROSS FRAME..THERE WAS ALSO A HOLE ABOUT 7"LONG RUSTED OUT OF FRAME.BTHIS WASN'T A SAFETY PROB. HE SAID NOT TO DRIVE IT WADS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS A SUNDAY NO ONE WORKING ON SUNDAY. WENT BACK MONDAY. HE HAD TO DO ALOT OF WELDING METAL PLATES JUST TO GET IT HOME. HOME CHECKED ON LINE FOR A CROSS MEMBER CHEAPEST$300 PLUS SHIPPING THATS NOT TO INSTALL IT. I HAVE A LIMITED INCOME SO CANT AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW. CHEVY HAS NEW THIS PROB FOR A LONG TIME ACCORDING TO INTERNET AS TOYOTO DID WITH RUSTING. OUT FRAMES. THE FRAME ON THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE REPLACE BY CHEVY THEY USED POOR METAL THAT WOULD BE UNSAFE. IVE SEEM CAR FRAMES FROM WAY BACK BETTER THAN THIS. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CARFOR A WEEK.THE BODY AND TRANSMISSION ARE EXCELLENT BUT THE REST WAS MADE CHEAP. ITS A 2000 TRACKER (148000 MI) 4CYL 2.0 4WHEEL DRIVE.. I ALSO NOTICED ONLINE THE PROB WAS RIGHT SIDE OF CROSS MEMBER. THIS PROB SAME IN 1999. CHEVY WANTS TO DELAY LONG ENOUGH SO THEY ARE A CUP FULL OF RUST. ITS SAD HOW CROOKED PEOPLE CAN BE JUST TO MAKE A BUCK. THANK YOU [XXX]. (DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PICTURES INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11399860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT UPON RESEARCH IT APPEARS THIS WAS AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS MODEL CAR PULLED TO RIGHT WHEN BRAKING LOTS OF SHAKING TOO . WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS ?
NHTSA complaint #11164172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BRACKET HAS DETACHED FROM THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER. HAPPENED TODAY MARCH 28TH 2017. VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD AND DRIVEN IN NORTH MISSOURI. DOES HAVE CONSIDERABLE RUST, BUT DIDN'T KNOW THE SUSPENSION MOUNTING POINT WOULD BREAK FREE? I WAS A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY RESIDENCE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND NO INJURIES OCCURRED. IT HAPPENED ON NORTH SIDE DR. IN FORT WORTH,TX. OVERCAST, DRY PAVEMENT ON TRAFFIC. I HIT BUMPS ON RAILROAD CROSSING AND QUITE A FEW POTHOLES.
NHTSA complaint #10969105 — 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHILE INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE A-ARM SUSPENSION FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
NHTSA complaint #10944990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
NHTSA complaint #10806579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A RURAL ROAD, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY SHAKING, RATTLING AND A SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP WHERE AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER HAD SNAPPED IN HALF, DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC THEN TOLD ME THAT CHEVY HAD INSTITUTED AN INTERNAL CAMPAIGN #06186 IN 2007 TO ADDRESS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CROSS MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT CORRECTLY PROTECTED AGAINST CORROSION EFFECTING MODEL YEARS 1999-2004. THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10787648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION ARM AND THE CROSS MEMBER FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT MOUNT ARM HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION TO THE POINT THAT THE PART DETERIORATED AND FRACTURED, INCLUDING THE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06018 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ UPDATED 11/16/2017
NHTSA complaint #10733906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THE IT WILL SNAP OFF. WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN OR GO OVER BUMPS I CAN HEAR CRACKING NOISES. CONTACTED CHEVY (GM) WAS ADVISED THAT I AM 4 YEARS TOO LATE IN CONTACTING THEM. ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SILENT RECALL. AND BECAUSE I LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS SNOW AND ICE THIS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. I ADVISED THAT IS THIS IS THE CASE THEN EVERY CAR IN THIS STATE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FOLLOWING IS FROM GM'S WEBSITE: " FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER DID NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION MAY BE MOST NOTICEABLE ON VEHICLES DRIVEN IN AREAS WHERE RUST IS MOST COMMON, SUCH AS AREAS WHERE SALT IS USED TO CONTROL SNOW AND ICE. THE CORROSION MAY ADVANCE AND CAUSE RUST-THROUGH PERFORATION OF THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS. AS THE CORROSION PROGRESSES THE CROSS MEMBER WILL BECOME THINNER AND THE ATTACHMENT BRACKETS AND THE PERFORATIONS WILL GROW IN SIZE. IF THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF PERFORATIONS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BECOME WEAKENED AND BEGIN TO FLEX. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CUSTOMER MAY NOTICE FRONT TIRE WOBBLE, STEERING LOOSENESS, VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE, FRONT END NOISES (CLUNK, BANG, RATTLE, ETC) VEHICLE SHAKING, OR STEERING WHEEL ROTATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND DRIVE TO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #10734170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FOR CHEVY TRACKERIS NOTHING BUT RUST. IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION AND THE GARAGE SAID THERE MUST HAVE NOT BEEN A COATING PUT ON IT FOR IT TO BE RUSTED THROUGH AND FALLING APART.
NHTSA complaint #10715760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #10702948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN JUNE 2011, CAR WAS ALMOST 10 YRS. OLD AND HAD 99,919 MILES ON IT. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER FOR 100,000 MILE TUNE-UP AND OTHER WORK. ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT ENTIRE CAR, AND SAW BANNERS FOR 24 POINT INSPECTION IF I ADDED TIRE ROTATION...SO I DID. IN SEPT. 2014 (CARS 13 YEARS OLD AND HAS 113, 000 MILES ON IT) I'M TOLD THAT FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED (SOON). WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO FIND THE PART, FIRST SITE I SEE TELLS ME ABOUT GM'S "SPECIAL WARRANTY" ON THAT PART. I CHECK MY DEALER RECEIPT AND REALIZE THE RUSTED PART SHOULD'VE BEEN REPLACED, FOR FREE, BACK IN 2011. NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY BUSTED THROUGH AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. CONTACTED GM/DEALER, CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND BACK HOME. GM/DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE ALL THAT RUST HAPPENED IN THE LAST 3 (ISH) YEARS, NOT IN THE CLOSE TO 10 YEARS IT WAS DRIVEN FOR CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES ON CHICAGO AREA STREETS WHICH ARE HEAVILY SALTED. THE STREETS UP HERE ARE SANDED AND IN THE LAST 3 (ISH) YEARS I'VE ONLY PUT ANOTHER 13,000 MILES ON THE CAR. NEVER SEEN THE INSIDE OF A GARAGE SO 'PARKED' CONDITIONS ARE THE SAME IN BOTH AREAS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT W/THE BBB SO WE'LL SEE HOW FAR THAT GETS ME. FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE GM'S ANSWER TO MY QUESTION OF WHY IT WASN'T REPLACED IN 2011 WAS THAT "DEALERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TELL CUSTOMERS ABOUT SPECIAL WARRANTY PARTS". SERIOUSLY???
NHTSA complaint #10690096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY CORRODED CAUSING THE FRONT LOWER FRAME TO SEPARATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ...UPDATED 04/08/15 UPDATED 04/14/15
NHTSA complaint #10689942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD AN ODD SOUND AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY MY SON TO NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL HE LOOKED AT IT. I AM 77YR AND HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIS MOTHER GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY SON SAID THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER RUSTED IN HALF AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AT 800-222-1020 BASED ON THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA06018. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PART, HOWEVER YOUR WEBSITE CONTRADICTS THAT STATEMENT. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO SPEAK WITH [XXX] REGARDING THIS MATTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10648771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CHEVY TRACKER HAS A BROKEN CROSSMEMBER/SUBFRAME/K-FRAME. FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ARE MOUNTED TO THIS PIECE, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOUNTING POINT. IT COMPLETELY BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LUCKILY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, NO MAJ. INJURY. GM KNOWS THE BAD PART WAS IN EVERY TRACKER/VITARA -THEY SAY IT WASN'T TREATED PROPERLY, HAD NO DRAIN HOLES. THERE IS A BULLETIN TO REPLACE THIS PART (#06186),10 YEARS OR 150K MILES -WHICH SPECIFIES THE REPAIR IS COVERED IF "DISPLAYS THE CONDITION OF" HAVING THE DEFECT WITHIN THAT PERIOD. FULLER GM DEALER AGREES "CLEARLY HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PERIOD BASED UPON CONDITION NOW". I'VE SUFFERED THE RUN-AROUND BETWEEN SR REP ON THE PHONE, AND THE LOCAL GM DEALER. ALL SAY "WOULD REPAIR IT IF THE OTHER WOULD". GM BY PHONE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE LOCAL, LOCAL SAYS GM HAS TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. THEY ALL UNIV. AGREED WITH FACTS: HAD THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE BULLETIN'S DEFINITION, YET INSIST THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO HELP, "THE PERIOD IS UP" -WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE, FAR WORSE THAN THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. IN THOSE CASES, THE CAR CAN STILL FUNCTION WITH AN AWARE DRIVER. THE TRACKER FAILURE IS CATASTROPHIC. GM SAYS BULLETIN NOTICE MAILED OUT TOLD OWNERS TO CHECK FOR THE "SIGNS" EVERY YEAR, BUT ONLY SENT OUT ONE NOTICE -NOT TO THE NEXT OWNERS (MOST MANUFS SEND NOTICES FOR NEW OWNERS)! OWNER OF MY CAR WHO MAYBE SAW THE NOTICE DIED, SO WE HAD NO WARNING TO CHECK FOR "SIGNS". EVERY GM REP SAYS THAT'S THEIR "REGRETTABLE POLICY". GM AND LOCAL FULLER GM HAVE WASTED MANY HOURS/WEEKS OF TIME, DIRECTING RESPONSE. TO ALL OTHERS, SAYING WILL HELP AND CALL BACK, NOT ONE HAS. GM SAYS "THERE'S NO RECALL BECAUSE IT WASN'T A POPULAR VEHICLE"*! I OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART, OR WORK, MEET HALFWAY, THEY DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER. I WANT MINE REPAIRED +GM TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP, THANKS! *ALL QUOTES ACTUALLY SAID BY GM.
NHTSA complaint #10648505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.