1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE Complaints

WE DROVE TO DAYTON OHIO TO PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER FROM COLLEGE. THE REAR TIRE TREADS CAME OFF THE TIRE. WE WERE IN THE FIRST LANE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR SO WE DID NOT HIT ANYONE ELSE OR GO DOWN THE DITCH TO OUR RIGHT. WE COULD NOT GET THE TIRE OFF THE CAR AND CALLED AAA. THEY CHANGED THE TIRE AND INFORMED US THAT THE OTHER REAR TIRE WAS ALSO COMING APART. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRE DID DAMAGE THE REAR OF THE CAR WITH THE IMPACT.WE BOUGHT 2 TIRES IN PA AND THEN WHEN WE RETURNED HOME REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH 2 NEW TIRES. WE DID NOT HAVE ROOM IN THE CAR TO BRING THE TIRES BACK TO FIRESTONE. WE OF COURSE BOUGHT A DIFFERENT BRAND AT OUT OWN EXPENSE.TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AND YOUR TIRE COMING APART WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE 100 FEET AWAY FROM A REST STOP AND WE DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

FIRESTONE FRONT TIRES SEPARATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN A YEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEPARATED FROM STEEL BELT. *AK *ML

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT SECURITY BOLTS COME OFF AND ONE SHEARED OF THE BRAKING. *AK

TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 17, 1999, I STOPPED AND PUT $10.00 WORTH OF GASOLINE IN THIS VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO WORK. AT LUNCH, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO LUNCH, PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND WENT TO LUNCH. UPON RETURNING, WE FOUND A SMALL GROUP OF ANXIOUS PEOPLE LOOKING AT MY CAR FROM A SHORT DISTANCE. GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER IT, AND HAD RUN ABOUT 15' DOWN THE PAVEMENT, FORMING A PUDDLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CALLED, AND WAS ON THEIR WAY. WE MANUALLY PUSHED THE CAR AWAY FROM THAT SPOT, ONTO LEVEL GROUND, AND THE DRIPPING FUEL STOPPED. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR ON A LIFT, IT TOOK THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO IDENTIFY A CRACK IN A MOLD SEAM. HE REMOVED THE TANK, REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE, AND I DROVE TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER, (JOHN SMITH @ 770 953 0100), WHOSE SERVICE MANAGER HAD NEVER HEARD OF A GAS TANK SPONTANEOUSLY FAILING. HOWEVER, HE COULD SEE THAT THIS TANK HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. HE REFERRED ME TO THE GM HELP LINE 800 NUMBER. (800 222 1020) THEY HAD ALSO NOT HEARD OF THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE, AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES ON HOLD, CAME BACK ON AND TOLD ME THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD NOT BE WARRANTED, AS THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, IN SPITE OF THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO OPENED FILE #990 470 854. I ASKED IF IT WAS REASONABLE FOR ME TO EXPECT MY GAS TANK TO NOT LEAK, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS. I REALIZE THAT GM IS SENSITIVE ABOUT GAS LEAKS. WELL, I HAVE, IN MY BACK YARD, A GAS TANK THAT LEAKS, AND WOULD LIKE SOMETHING MORE THAN THEIR SYMPATHY. THE NEW OEM TANK COST ME OVER $600. HAD THE GAS IGNITED, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE TANK TO EXAMINE. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO AT LEAST WANT TO SEE THE TANK, AND THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

ROOF VINYL TOP WHICH IS MADE FROM 75 POUND FIBERGLASS CAME OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION POSSIBLY DUE TO ALUMINUM RIVITS. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 12 HOURS AND A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHILE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP FROM MOVING FORWARD, THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON COLD WEATHER, ENGINE DOES NOT REV WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. *SLC

DRIVING 55MPH, DOWN HILL ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED CAM DISTRIBUTOR BROKE. IT HAD INTERFERED WITH THE ROTORS & THE SHAFT. NOT DRIVABLE & HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES STARTED TO FAIL WITHIN THE PAST 2-3 WEEKS. I TOOK THE CAR TO LOU GRUBB CHEVROLET ON 7/21/99 FOR REPAIRS AND THEY REPLASED THE RR ANTI-LOCK SENSOR THEN TURNED THE REAR DRUMS AND FRONT ROTORS. THEY SAID THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM TO THE TUNE OF $303.00. ON THE WAY HOME THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. MY WIFE DROVE IT YESTERDAY AND COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR FROM LURCHING FORWARD AT A STOP LIGHT SO SHE SLAMMED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES INDICATOR OF DIS-ENGAGEMENT CAME ON THE DASH AND SHE DROVE THE CAR HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY NOW HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP. THEY TELL ME THAT "THE BOOK" TELLS THEM THAT I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER FOR A COST OF $800-900. THE WILL PHONE ME AT WORK TOMORROW TO TELL ME WHAT THEY FOUND. MY DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER IS (602) 221-7148. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE ME. LEO J. HAUGUEL.

LUGS NUTS/BOLTS FAILED AND WHEEL CAME LOOSE THEN WEDGED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS