GM Reminds Full-Size Pickup Owners

[OBI WAN]

FOR RELEASE: 2004-12-02 GM Reminds Full-Size Pickup Owners To Respond To Safety Recall On Tailgate Cables







DETROIT - General Motors today reminded owners of certain 2000-2004 full-size pickup trucks to have their tailgate cables replaced at their dealers as soon as possible.

GM is conducting a safety recall of 4.1 million trucks because on some of these vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open horizontal position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. Owners of the trucks were mailed letters about this recall in March and October and will receive reminder post cards every two months until repairs are completed.

If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper. Anyone sitting or standing on the tailgate could be injured in a fall.

Regardless of the condition of the tailgate cables, the GM owner's manual cautions against standing or sitting on the tailgate when the truck is moving.

Involved in the recall are certain 2000 Chevrolet CK, 2000-2004 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, and 2002-2004 model year Cadillac Escalade EXT and Chevrolet Avalanche trucks. GM dealers have stainless steel cables available as free replacements, and owners are urged to contact their dealer to make a repair appointment.

[ZR1-S10]

Thats wierd, my driver's side tailgate cable just broke. Do you think their replace it for free even though it's an S10?

[OBI WAN]

Dont quote me on this, but I have been told it does apply to also the 00 and up S10's. Your 96 will be called due to age!!

[inprogress10]

shaving your tailgate....its not just to look cool anymore.

[OBI WAN]

Despite recalls, many cars not repaired by owners

By Dee-Ann Durbin Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Timothy Michaud died last May after falling from the tailgate of a Chevrolet pickup and suffering severe head injuries.
The 19-year-old from Maine never knew that General Motors Corp. had recalled the pickup two months earlier because the tailgate cables could corrode and snap. At the time of the accident, Michaud's employer -- who owned the used 2000 pickup -- hadn't received a recall notice, said Stephen Schwarz, an attorney for the Michaud family.

The pickup was one of the millions of recalled vehicles that go unrepaired each year. Sometimes, vehicle owners are at fault for not getting repairs. But some safety experts say automakers and federal regulators share the blame because they haven't developed a better system to track whether a vehicle has in fact been repaired.