2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VANS EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE THAT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FLUID FLOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY.

Driving around 45 mph on an open road, driver's rear tire thread separated from tire, damaged rear bumper and frame, the detached thread COULD have damaged other cars behind me (thankfully it did not), there were no warning lamps and tires were in good shape before the drive, replaced with a spare and drove back home, the car is a 2000 GMC Chevy Express Van (purchased in 2000), tires were included with the vehicle when purchased, car was not driven much, present odometer 8,000 miles, tire is Firestone LT 24575R16

GENERAL GRABBER HTS BELT SLIPPED WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON AUG 23, 2020. THIS IS THE 5TH TIRE FAILURE (SLIPPED BELT) OR THIS EXACT TIRE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS TIRE HAD 6,721 MILES ON IT. GENERAL HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR 10 PLY TIRES. WERE IT NOT FOR MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DETECT A SLIPPED BELT, A SEVERE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED! NHSTA SHOULD PERFORM A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION; AS AN ENGINEER WITH EXCELLENT DOCUMENTATION, I COULD CONTRIBUTE VALUABLE DATA.

PURCHASED 4 NEW AUTOGUARD (BCT) LT 225-75R16 TIRES, ON CLEARANCE FROM WM IN JULY 2017. INSTALLED ALL 4 ON REAR OF A 29' 2000 FOREST RIVER SUNSEEKER A WEEK LATER, PRIOR TO OUR FAMILY SUMMER ROAD TRIP IN JULY 2017. AFTER APPROX. ONLY 5000 MILES OF USAGE, THE RIGHT REAR INT. TIRE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON JULY 31 2019 WHILE TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 55MPH, UP AN INCLINE, JUST BEFORE EXIT 145 ON INTERSTATE 81 SOUTH, NEAR HAZELTON PENNSILVANIA 18249. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER RR TIRE, RV WHEELWELL, RV HOLDING TANKS AND RV ELECTRICAL. REPLACED BOTH RR TIRES AT A LOCAL SHOP, INFLATED ALL 4 TO 75PSI. BELIEVING IT WAS A ONE OFF, COUNTED OUR BLESSINGS CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-81 ON OUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP TO THE OBX. ON OUR RETURN, APPROX 1000 MILES LATER, I NOTICED AN INCREASING ROUGH VIBRATION FROM THE LEFT REAR SIDE THIS TIME. VIBRATIONS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OVER 50MPH. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE OF ALL 4 REAR TIRES SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE ALL STILL AT 75PSI (MAX 80 PSI DUAL)

1 OF MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VAN. 62000 MILES. REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW, LUCKILY IN MY DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION ALL THE LINES IN THE REAR NEED REPLACED. FUNNY THING IS THE BOTTOMSIDE OF THE VAN IS AS CLEAN AS CAN BE. I BOUGHT THIS VAN 2 YEARS OLD WITH 24000 MILES, I'M EXTREMELY PICKY ABOUT MY VEHICLES AND AM A MAINTENANCE NUT. ALWAYS GARAGED, WAXED NUMEROUS TIME A YEAR, SYNTHETIC FLUIDS..... HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT I REMEMBER HAS GONE WRONG WITH THIS VAN. INTAKE GASKETS, TWICE. FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT ROTTED OUT 40,000 MILES, REAR CHROME BUMPER ROTTED 40,000 MILES, AC LINE CORRODED THRU, TRANSMISSION GRENADED AT 42,000 MILE(SUN SHIELD FAILURE?), LEFT WINDOW MOTOR HAS DEAD SPOT IN IT FROM DAY 1. REMEMBER THIS IS A VERY WELL MAINTAINED, ALWAYS GARAGED, MAINLY DRIVEN FOR VACATIONS. GM IS WELL AWARE OF ALL THESE ISSUES AND WOULDN'T HELP ON ANY. *TR

Mileage: 62,700

I OWN 2000 CHEVY EXPRESS 2500 PASSENGER VAN. I BOUGHT THE VAN NEW FROM THE DEALER AND WITHIN TWO YEARS THE SIDE DOOR HINGES HAD SEIZED UP. THIS RESULTED IN THE INSIDE DOOR TRIM PANELS BREAKING AS THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOORS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR WAY OF CORRECTING THE PROBLEM WAS TO HAMMER OUT THE HINGE PINS AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ONES. WITHIN ONE YEAR THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND HAS PERSISTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO LUBRICATE THE HINGES TO ALLOW FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN AND CLOSE EASILY. I RECENTLY TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE NEW WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO CUT OFF THE OLD HINGES AND WELD NEW ONES ON. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EVEN HAS "HINGE REPLACEMENT" PACKAGES SET UP BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. THE NEW FIX IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,700.00. THIS DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE INSIDE DOOR TRIM PANELS THAT ARE STILL BROKEN. (IF THE DOOR IS CLOSED TOO HARD THE DOOR PANELS OVERLAP AND STICK MAKING IT IMPOS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES FAILED ON THE CARGO SIDE DOOR. IT IS A DOUBLE DOOR AND ONLY ONE HINGE IS SUPPORTING THE DOOR. HE STATED THAT THE OTHER HALF OF THE DOOR COULD LOOSEN AND FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT; THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE HINGES. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE LED TO THE FAILURE AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ULTRA METRIC BST RADIAL TIRES (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS DEFECTIVE AND REFUSED TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE. CURRENTLY, TWO MORE TIRES HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE POWERTRAIN AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,738 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

I WAS DRIVING ALONG IN MY 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN AT THE LEGAL SPEED OF 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE VAN BEGAN VIBRATING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF IT. I IMMEDIATELY REDUCED MY SPEED-TO ABOUT 10 MPH UNTIL I COULD FIND A SAFE PLACE TO EXAMINE THE TIRES. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A LARGE SWOLLEN PLACE ON IT SO I REPLACED IT WITH MY SPARE TIRE. ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS A 2000 MODEL THESE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL ONES AND ONLY HAVE 21,950 MILES ON THEM AND I AM AFRAID TO TRUST THE REMAINING FOUR. THE FIVE TIRES ARE MICHELIN XW4. WHEN THE FAILED TIRE,WHICH WAS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS LATER EXAMINED IT SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE PLY SEPARATIONS AND OUTER RUBBER CRACKING. *JB

Mileage: 21,900

2000 CHEVROLET 12 PASSENGER EXPRESS VAN: ONE OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION BY LOCKING IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION. THIS HAS CAUSED ONE PASSENGER TO RIDE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT ON A RETURN TRIP. CHEVROLET NO LONGER WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THIS SAFETY RELATED PART. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WHEN STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WAS REPLACED. THIS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

Mileage: 99,064

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. THE DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN. TWO DAYS AGO I REALIZED THAT THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEAT IN BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO MAKE THE BRACKET BIGGER SO THAT THE SEAT DOES NOT PUSH BACK OR FORWARD. *AK

Mileage: 95,500

THE GROUND WIRE ON THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET COMES LOOSE. WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE OFF THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHT TO VERY DIM. WHEN THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON THERE ARE NO BREAK LIIGHTS. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON MANY VANS ON THE STREET.

2000 CHEVORLET VAN W/28128 MILES HAD POWER STEARING COLUMN BREAK CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE TOWED BECAUSE OF BEING UNABLE TO STEER IT. COST TO US $733.78. GM WAS NOTIFIED WITH NO SATISFACTION. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL . WANT TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. GM SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS.

Mileage: 28,128

DT: RECENTLY PURCHASED 2000, CHEVROLET EXPRESS WHICH EXHIBITED A DOOR PROBLEM. THE DOOR IS LOOSE. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE SIDE DOOR THERE IS EVIDENCE OF POOR WELDING. THE WELD IS STILL PARTLY INTACT , AND THE OTHER HALF IS LOOSE. THE TWO DOOR ASSEMBLIES ARE VERY LOOSE DUE TO THE POOR WELDING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

Mileage: 318,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS. RECALL 00V085000 CONCERNING POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS WAS ISSUED. SOME VEHICLES WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. HE CALLED CHEVROLET, AND WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE SEPARATED FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FLUID FLOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE PART WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Mileage: 36,908

ON A RECENT TRIP TO THE NC MOUNTAINS, I WAS NEGOTIATING A CURVE AND HAD A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO OFF THE ROAD IN A NEAR WRECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO HAVING A BROKEN SHAFT. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ON OTHER SERIES OF THE SAME MODEL, BUT NOT ON MY VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. *JB

Mileage: 56,750

FAILURE OF DRIVER SEAT POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT MECHANISM. TWO REAR PIVOTS ARE FAILING. THE STEEL OF THE UPPER PIVOT LINK IS FATIGUING UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. SEAT CAN MOVE DURING RAPID TURNING OR HARD BTEAKING. SEAT ROTATES ABOUT FRONT PIVIT POINTS. WE HAVE HAD VEHICLE ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT ADJUST MECHANISM TWICE.*AK

NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN INTERMITTENT DECELERATION PROBLEM. AT TIMES, THERE WAS NO ENGINE HOLD BACK WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, AT OTHER TIMES, THE DECELERATION WAS GOOD WHEN THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THERE WAS A GOOD HOLD BACK WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, BUT IF IT WAS NOT SET, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE IN FREE WHEELING MODE, WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO PICK UP AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SPEED. THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE HAPPENS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND SOMETIMES THE MODE LASTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS . THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED THE CHANGE AS THE COAST MODE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

GAS GAUGES FLUCTUATE BADLY. WHEN TANK IS EMPTY, GAUGE READS ANYTHING FROM 1/4 TO 3/4 FULL. RESULTED IN RUNNING OUT OF GAS OCCURRED. *BF CONSUMERS FAMILY STRANDED AT 2AM ON A DESERTED ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE GAS GAUGE PROBLEM. *TC