1999 Chevrolet Tracker

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVY TRACKER. SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL BINDING AND IGNITION KEY ISSUES. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A SQUEALING NOISE THAT IS LOUD AND CONSTANT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES WITH THE SAME OLD RECOMMENDATION OF WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST KEEP DRIVING IT. OR, THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. THE SQUEALING IS LOUDER AND FROM READING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CHEVY TRACKER, IT SEEMS IS FROM THE PULLEY AND BELT AREA THAT IS CAUSING THE NOISE THAT A DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. ALSO, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT TAKE THE KEY SMOOTHLY. MEANING, ITS HARD TO INSERT AND HARD TO REMOVE WITH OUT FORCE. I HAVE A 2008 HHR THAT WAS ON RECALL DUE TO THIS SAME IGNITION PROBLEM AND THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE 98,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND DO NOT WANT TO GET HURT OR JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE FROM OWNING ONLY CHEVROLETS, THAT YOUR IGNITION CYLINDER PROBLEM DATES WAY BACK, THEN WHAT YOUR WILLING TO ADMIT. SO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, BEFORE YOU HAVE MORE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. MAKE THAT RECALL ON THE OLDER CARS, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM LIKE MINE ARE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. *TR

BOTH OF MY FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE LOCKED UP, MY DRIVER SIDE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND CAN'T BE USED, THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL WORK AT TIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS. I LOOKED IT UP ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED MISLABELED SEAT BELTS THAT WERE MEANT FOR THE TWO DOOR TRACKERS INTO THE FOUR DOOR TRACKERS. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY DENIED THAT MY PROBLEM WAS CONNECTED, INSTEAD CHALKED IT UP TO A COINCIDENCE AND TOLD ME I COULD GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND GET IT CHECKED OUT BUT THE COST WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET AND THEY SAID SINCE THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER LIABLE BECAUSE OF THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH A WARRANTY, I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING AROUND ILLEGALLY BECAUSE I CAN'T USE MY SEAT BELT, AND IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT I WOULD LIKELY DIE AS A RESULT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. *TR

CAR KEEPS HAVING ITS BATTERY DRAINED AFTER REPAIRS. REPLACED TWO ALTERNATORS AND A CAR COMPUTER. SEEMS TO WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS AFTER GETTING FIXED AND THEN BURNS UP AN ALTERNATOR. THREE TIMES TO THE MECHANIC; CURRENTLY SHOP. PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER NEW BATTERY WAS INSERTED. CAR HAS WORKED GREAT FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN THIS REQUIRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; BATTERY IS DEAD (THIS WITH A NEW BATTERY). *TR

CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND HEART A POP. TRACKER WOULD THEN PULL ROUGHLY TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CROSSMEMBER BROKE WHERE THE INNER SUSPENSION ATTACHES. CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT COVERED ON A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR VEHICLE. FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS THAT COMPLAIN OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS YEARS FOR THE CHEVY TRACKER. THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE SINCE I AM QUITE FOND OF MY TRACKER AND RELY ON IT FOR WORK AND TRAVEL WITH MY CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN WINTER MONTHS. I AM GLAD THIS WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE IT CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

FRONT FRAME CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE AREAS AND HAS MADE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR TURNING SHARPLY. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. APPLYING BRAKES CAUSED VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT FRONT CONTROL ARM MOUNT HAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE CROSSMEMBER DUE TO CORROSION. CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IN CAREFULLY PARSED WORDS THAT ACCORDING TO MY VIN THERE WAS NO COVERAGE OR RECALL DESPITE WHAT I HAVE FOUND ON LIN: SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT - FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION #06186 - (10/17/2007) 1999-2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. *TR

MY MOTHER SAID TO ME THAT HER CAR WAS PULLING TO THE CENTER LINE WHEN SHE PUT HER BRAKES ON. SHE AND I NATURALLY THOUGHT SHE HAD A STUCK CALIPER OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. SHE DROVE IT TO MY HOUSE THE NEXT MORNING, AND SAID IT WAS PULLING BADLY TO THE CENTER LINE. I JACKED UP THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE [SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER] SUBFRAME WHERE IT HOLDS THE FRONT MOUNT FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE CAR, WAS CORRODED AND HAD ACTUALLY BROKE, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO JUST MOVE AROUND MAKING THE CAR PULL HARD TO THE LEFT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 70K MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED IN FACT, IT JUST PASSED VEHICLE INSPECTION THE PREVIOUS MONTH. THIS PART IN MY OPINION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED THIS WAY. HER CAR IS NOW OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP HER IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. SHE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN TRAGIC. THANK YOU *TR

1999 CHEVY TRACKER FRONT CROSSMEMBER RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL VERY HARD WHEN BRAKING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN VIN #'S FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT MINE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DID DEVELOP THE PROBLEM THOUGH. THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE AND IS JUST ABOUT TO BREAK OFF. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED TO GM AND THEY SAID THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO HELP. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE RUST ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE YET THIS PART COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE STEERING HAD STARTED TO FEEL A LITTLE LOOSE REQUIRING A LOT OF CORRECTION WHEN DRIVING, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING SERIOUS. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED AND AS SOON AS THEY RAISED IT UP ON THE LIFT THEY NOTICED THAT THE "DRIVERS SIDE CRADLE/CROSSMEMBER TO SUSPENSION CORRODED AND RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED". THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS - COULD ALLOW COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING OR IF ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MORE SPEED COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE CRADLE/CROSSMEMBER WAS REPLACED AND ALL NEW BOLTS WERE USED. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED - I WAS LUCKY. *TR

1999 CHEVY TRACKER SUB FRAME ROTTED OUT. ON DRIVER SIDE. VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND PULLED VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED. DID NOT FIND ANY RECALLS. CHEVY SAID THE SELL MANY OF THESE PARTS BUT NO RECALLS FOR PROBLEMS. *TR

RECENTLY HAD SERVICE BULLETIN #06186, NHTSA # 10023633 PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, REGARDING RUSTED AND CORRODED FRONT CROSSMEMBER. WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND WAS INSPECTING THE WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PAN IS ALSO VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED TO WHERE OIL IS SEEPING THOUGH THE METAL. *TR

'99 CHEVY TRACKER. RUST FROM INSIDE THE METAL TO INNER& OUTER SURFACES. THE DOORS, ROCKERS PANELS & INTO THE FLOOR PLATE, WINDOW FRAMES & DOOR EDGES. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED,3WEKS AGO, BUT LOOKING ALMOST NEW INSIDE & OUT. THERE WAS TO THE EYE ONLY SOME SLIGHTLY BUBBLED PAINT IN 8 SPOTS DECIDE TO GET RIGHT ON IT STARTED TO EMEORY CLOTH IT & FOUND THAT A LITTLE PUSH ,PARTICULARLY THE ROCKER PANELS, WOULD GO COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE INNER SURFACE. BOTH ROCKER PANELS FRONT TO REAR WERE THE SAME. SO I USED MY GRINDER TO CUT THEM OPEN TO SEE HOW FAR I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO GET PAST THE RUST. ONCE I GOT THE PANELS OPEN I COULD SEE THAT THE CORROSION WENT CLEAR INTO THE FLOOR PANELS. I THEN DECIDED 2 HIT THE SPOTS ON THE DOORS FOUND BASICALLY THE SAME THING. THEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOUND OUT G>M> WAS REPAIRING AND REIMBURSING OWNERS FOR IMPROPERLY TREATED TREATING FRAME & CROSS MEMBERS WHICH ARE RUSTING THROUGH. ALSO REPLACING CORRODED HARDWARE EVERYWHERE IT IS FOUND ON THESE VEHICLES FROM '99 TO 2004. THIS BODY RUST SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THING. DANGEROUS? IF THE SERIOUSLY WEAKEND ROCKERS & FLOOR PLATE WERE STRUCK AT EVEN A LOW SPEED I DO NOT DOUBT THAT ANY PERSON IN THIS VEHICLE WOULD SUFFER CRUSH INJURIES. THIS IS REMINISCENT OF THE 70'S & 80'S WHEN GM WAS USING HEAVILY CORRODED METAL TO BUILD VEHICLES. & CREATED UNSAFE & EXPENSIVE CONDITIONS FOR THE CONSUMERS & LOST A GOOD PORTION OF THE CAR MARKET TO FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES I CAN SEND YOU. PLEASE ADVISE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE AIR CONDITIONER IN HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR, CONDENSER, AND THE VACUUM HOWEVER; THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT WORK. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS $6,000. SHE WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS $700. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE AUGUST 2005. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VEHICLE DATE OF PURCHASE AND DEALER ADDRESS INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NO ACCIDENT RESULTING. VEHICLE HANDLING AFFECTED AS WELL AS BRAKING, CAR WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER, RIGHT SIDE, WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS SECURED RUSTED AND BROKE IN 2 PIECES. CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DERIVED FROM CORROSION OF THE CROSS MEMBERS. HE STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION CORRODED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO SWITCH LANES AND VEER OFF THE ROAD AT 40 MPH. HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. *AK

RUSTED THROUGH FRONT CROSSMEMBER RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL. *JB

SERPENTINE BELT FRAYED AND BREAKING. DIFFICULT TO KEEP PROPERLY TENSIONED. FOLLOWING ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF THIS PROBLEM THE FACTORY BOLT HOLDING THE MOUNTING FRAME FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR BROKE OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING THE AC COMPRESSOR TO FALL FROM ITS MOUNT DUE TO THE TOP BOLT HAVING WORKED LOOSE. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE COMPRESSOR BOUNCED AROUND ON THE HOSES FREELY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD BE DETERMINED. THIS BOLT BROKE OFF DUE TO THE TOP MOUNTING BOLT BACKING OUT OF THE MOUNT ON THE ENGINE HEAD. NEITHER OF THESE BOLTS NEED TO BE LOOSENED TO ADJUST BELT TENSION AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE OFF OR BACKED OUT. BELT ALIGNMENT AND FRAYING PROBLEM IS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE DEFORMATION OF THE LOWER BOLT PRIOR TO IT BREAKING. *NM

WIRING HARNESS IN STEERING COLUMN REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING CAR NEW IN 1999. THIS PAST SUMMER PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. REPLACE RELAY. FALL PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AGAIN. 1 MONTH LATER WOKE TO FIND LIGHTS ON AGAIN REPLACED RELAY. 2/4/06 WOKE TO FIND PARKING LIGHTS ON AGAIN. REMOVED RELAY. WALKED BACK INSIDE, LOOKED OUT TO SEE HEADLIGHTS ON. HAD TO UNHOOK BATTERY. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.........MECHANICS AT A LOSS. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS A GUESS. *JB

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *SC *JB

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER, VIN [XXX], INTO MY LOCAL GM DEALER FOR A PROBLEM I WAS HAVING WITH THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. IT WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT. THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND CALLED ME BACK TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. HE FOUND THIS OUT ONLY AFTER RESEARCHING SEVERAL OTHER POSSIBILITIES (AT $61.00 PER HOUR) BY CALLING GM'S TECH SUPPORT. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH GM HAS HAD TO MODIFY THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE. IN ORDER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTED, THE FRONT AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE, ACTUATOR AND SIDE BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1380.68. AT THE TIME THIS PROBLEM STARTED, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN A SNOWSTORM THAT DUMPED 12" IN 8 HOURS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS PRETTY MUCH A NECESSITY. UNFORTUNATELY, I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO GO HANDLE PROPERLY, BECAUSE THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. I PARKED IT AND CALLED FOR A RIDE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH GM HAS ADMITTED TO A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE, AND HAS MODIFIED IT FOR REPAIR OF A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)