2000 Chevrolet Tracker recalls and problems

IN OCTOBER 2007, GM INITIATED A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL MY 1999 THROUGH 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT-BELT STATES.THE PROGRAM EXTENDS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.GM IS ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM IN PHASES DUE TO PART AVAILABILITY.THE FIRST PHASE STARTED IN OCTOBER 2007 AND COVERS THE MY 1999 AND 2000 VEHICLES.OWNERS OF MY 2001 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE LETTERS AT A FUTURE DATE, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE REPAIRS FROM THE PROGRAM IF THE CROSSMEMBER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT.GM'S PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INSPECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS EVERY 12 MONTHS THROUGH THE TERMS OF THE POLICY ADJUSTMENT.COPIES OF THE DEALER BULLETIN AND OWNER LETTER FOR GM'S SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM ARE ATTACHED TO THE CLOSING REPORT FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. THE RATE OF CONFIRMED LCA SEPARATIONS AT 5 YEARS IN SERVICE IS LESS THAN 10 PER 100,000 VEHICLES, WHICH IS LOW RELATIVE TO OTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUES PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED BY ODI. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2006 GENERAL MOTORS (GM) SUBMITTED INFORMATION REGARDING APPROXIMATELY 128,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 -2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO GM, THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT CROSSMEMBERS DESIGNED AND MADE BY SUZUKI THAT CAN RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION.THE DESIGN OF THE CROSSMEMBER LIMITED THE COVERAGE OF PAINT ON THE INTERIOR SURFACES DURING THE PAINTING PROCESS.IN MARCH 2006 SUZUKI MADE DESIGN CHANGES TO THE CROSSMEMBER TO ENHANCE THE COVERAGE OF PAINT TO THE INSIDE OF THE PART. GM INDICATED THAT WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT USE ROAD SALT FOR DE-ICING, OVER TIME WATER AND SALT/MUD CAN ACCUMULATE INSIDE THE CROSSMEMBER AND CAUSE CREVICE CORROSIONTHAT CAN LEAD TO PERFORATION.THESE PERFORATIONS AT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BRACKETS CAN CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO BECOME PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. GM PROVIDED VEHICLE TEST DATA SHOWING THAT CROSSMEMBERS THAT FAIL IN THIS MANNER DO NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND, THEREFORE, DO NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-018) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.