This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 35 mph hauling a trailer, the front and rear brake hydraulic lines failed. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by using the brakes on the trailer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact, an experienced mechanic, diagnosed and replaced the brake lines. On a separate occasion while driving 50 mph, a plastic component of the driver's seat fractured and caused the seat to slide back and forth into the steering wheel. The failure was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was not available.
The seat locking device broke while braking allowing the seat to rush forward. My knees hit the bottom of the dash. If I were in a high traffic area, a wreck may have occured.
While attempting to adjust the driver's seat in my 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, I found the seat would not lock in place. Moving the seat back and forth in an effort to lock it, something appeared to break causing the seat to move quickly forward, pinning me against the steering wheel. I later found a small plastic fragment on the floor and assumed it was part of the track locking system. The seat now was completely free in its movement forward and backward, extending to the limit in each direction. I took the broken piece to a local dealer who explained that it was, indeed, part of the "seat adjustment" mechanism, and, when broken, the seat would move without restriction forward or backward. When I questioned why such a critical piece of equipment was not made of metal (instead of plastic), I was told that "yes, it should have been." Had this failure occurred while driving, it could have caused serious, if not fatal, consequences. Once the part breaks, any application of the brakes will immediately slam the driver forward into the steering wheel with considerable force. The opposite effect is also felt when accelerating. I was very fortunate that the part broke before I had left the curb. This is a very dangerous design and system. These parts should be manufactured from hardened steel instead of plastic material (even nylon.) at best the surprised driver is immediately and totally distracted; at worst, he is totally incapable of maintaining control of his vehicle, being slammed forward and backward as he applies braking or acceleration. The cost of repair of this condition is approximately $400. And should not be borne by the consumer. General Motors should address the type of material used in the manufacture of these parts for future vehicles, and recall and replace them on older models. Note: My vehicle has less than 56K miles.
Inferior white plastic part in driver's seat track of 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500 failed, causing driver's seat to slam into steering wheel after quick stop at low speed. GM svc. Says there are no other reported failures, I find this hard to believe.
Emergency brake failed three times. The consumer contacted the manufacturer. While driving consumer tried to down shift and the vehicle would not go into gear. The brakes locked up and the anti-lock braking system did not work. The emergency brakes also failed to work causing the driver to hit a tree. The driver or passenger side air bag did deployed. The driver's seat ejected off of the floor with the driver strapped into the seat. The vehicle had caught on fire upon the side impact. Consumer has had trouble shifting threes times previously and the transmission along with the clutch had been replaced once before.
- Torrington, CT, USA
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Dirivers side seat failed to stay locked in position and slid forward when brake was applied. This cause me to be thrown foreward with all my weight on the brake petal. If not for the seat belt and no one following close behind it could have been very serious.
Adjusting front driver seat when adjusting lock broke sending seat sliding forward. Seat will not lock just slides back and forth when driving. Since safety belt restraint is in the seat and not bolted to the actually frame of truck seat slides back and forth during braking and acceleration. Not safe to drive until fixed. The broken piece is a three inch piece of plastic. I really don't feel safe now in knowing that the only thing restraining me from crashing into the steering wheel and into a inflating airbag during a front crash is a piece of plastic that could and will at any time break for no apparent reason except for the fact that Chevrolet has a design flaw and still does not feel they should issue a recall to have this replaced with something that would provide more security than a piece of plastic. And the kicker is the tech at the dealer claims it takes 2.5 hours to replace the locking adjuster at the rate (my bill was $230 just for the labor) and the part cost ranges from $150 to $200 depending on where you get it. Outrageous if you ask me. I called Chevrolet customer service and was able to get my part for free but still had to pay labor to have it installed. I have a 1999 Silverado but it only has 11,000 on it so the part definitely did not break due to wear and tear. So I guess after a few people are seriously injured or killed maybe someone will actually do something about safety issues such as this and make the manufacturers of these vehicles with safety issue responsible.
Seat position mechanism on manual adjust 60/40 bench seat failed causing seat to unexpectably move forward during a panic stop. The seat moved from rear most position to front most position. During this event the seat belt also failed to restrain the driver. No injuries were present.
The driver's seat track is broken. It is very difficult after accessing the rear seat to get it to lock in place. Somtimes slides forward or backward without warning. Seat tilt adjuster also broken, just flops on floor. Dealers are not very helpful. Huge safetly issue.
Plastic seat-locking device on driver side seat broke in half inside rail causing the seat to slide back and forth without any restriction thereby preventing the seat from locking into position. Had noticed several times that the chair had difficulty lokcing when seat was adjusted to gain access to back seat.
While driving home in my 1999 Silverado with manual control seats, I had an uncommanded release of the driver seat while braking. Upon investigation a part of the seat was found broken off and laying in the seat track. There was no adjustments performed to the seat prior to the failure occurring.
Driver's seat is no longer working properly. When the gas pedal is depressed seat slides backwards. When the brakes are depressed, the seat would slide forward. Consumer has made an appointment with the dealer to examine the problem. This problem has happened numerous times in the past six months.
Inner seat adjuster on driver's side broke on my '99 chev Silverado extended cab truck, having 34,000 miles, allowing seat to move forward and backward on rails without restriction. Seat belt is part of seat thereby resulting in the driver to be moving forward and backward on seat rails without restriction. Seat of course does stop in the further most backward and forward ends of seat rail. Chev dealer lists part as "inner adjuster" part #14691. The part is sold as a whole according to the dealer and retails at about $149. What appeared to break was a plastic piece that fits in the rail and which would seem to be the part that halts the seat in the position chosen by the occupant. I still have the broken piece as recovered from my floor board. I had been having problems for a week or so with the seat not moving forward and backward when attempted by adjustment lever. I assumed I had something under the seat impeding movement, but was actually due to the aforementioned problem.
The drivers side seat "adjuster" that retains the front seat position when the rear seat has been accessed, failed, resulting in the inability of the drivers seat to remain in a fixed position. This condition allows the drivers seat to slide back and forth depending on accelerating or braking. The part is a white plastic (most likely polypropylene based), and is not of sufficient strength for it's job. Plastics tend to get brittle with age and this may be part of the problem. Even though this failure occurred while I was stationary, accessing the rear seat area, when I did attempt to park the vehicle in my driveway, knowing full well the seat was not secure, the very slightest touch on the brake pedal sent me flying forward and I banged my knee on the dashboard! this is most definitely a "safety issue" as there are 16 complaints already on the NHTSA web site for 1999 sliverado's with this same problem! I have contacted Chevrolet's customer service department and they advised me to take my truck to the dealer. I told them it is unsafe to drive and would they pay for a tow" they told me I am responsible to get the vehicle to the dealer for "inspection" and then they will evaluate the problem. I said, "there is no more evaluation needed than the fact the part broke and it is unsafe" this is a safety defect and I have seen recalls issued for less serious issues. I feel NHTSA should look into this problem and mandate a recall on this problem. Some owners have had this happen more than once! will NHTSA wait until someone is seriously hurt or killed before they act"
Drivers seat locking mechanism broke. When brakes were applied, driver was thrust against steering wheel. Seatbelts do not help as they are attached to the seat. Seat slides forward and backward freely. I feel this is a severe safety concern due to the fact that you cannot control the vehicle when you are unable to stop the seat from flying you forward. The locking mechanism should never break. The Chevrolet dealer calls this a seat adjuster, but is a piece of plastic that has the locking pin in it. A piece of plastic to hold a seat in its place is totally stupid.
Front drivers seat will not slide all the way back after you have tilted it forward and put it back. It seems to hang and not move backward until you play around with it. Then the seat will not lock in place when you make an adjustment, then you have to kind of force it into a locked position. Also the seat rail has looseness in it. It fails every time you make a seat adjustment.
The front driver's side seat slide forward while stopping at a stop sign. I stopped and could not get it to latch back in place which is difficult since I am some what tall and had to use my left leg to brace my self so I would not slide forwrad the rest of the way. The ABS light came on while driving home upon arriving home I got out and heard a noise which seemed to be coming from under the driver's side door. I let it go for a while about two days and it ran the battery down causing me to have it jump started since then I have pulled the fuse to the ABS in the fuse box to turn whatever was running off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chillicothe, OH, USA