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Pontiac Gto Suspension Front Safety Report | Nov 18, 2008
Reported on Nov 18, 2008
| WHEN REMOVING MY SUMMER TIRES, AND INSTALLING MY WINTER TIRES I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT RIGHT TIRES INNER SHOULDER WAS WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. I WAS VERY CONCERNED, AS THE CAR HAS BEEN ALIGNED BY THE MFG REGULARLY, AND THE TIRES HAD LOW MILEAGE ON THEM. THE TIRE WAS IN A CONDITION SUCH THAT IT COULD LOSE PRESSURE AT ANY MOMENT. AFTER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS AS IF THE FRONT RADIUS ROD BUSHINGS AND FRONT STRUT MOUNTS HAVE FAILED. A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS FAILURE WAS THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MADE IN AUSTRALIA AND SHIPPED TO THE US FOR DISTRIBUTION/SALES. DURING THE SHIPPING PROCESS, THE VEHICLES WERE STRAPPED DOWN SUCH THAT THEIR SUSPENSIONS WERE FULLY COMPRESSED. THIS EXTENDED LOAD ALLOWED FOR KEY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILURE IS THE FACT THAT THE TIRES MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE IN THE US ARE WIDER THAN THE TIRES INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN AUSTRALIA. THE WIDER TIRES INFRINGE UPON THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND FRONT STRUTS. THE EARLY FAILURE ALLOWS THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY, AND PERMITS THE TIRE TO CONTACT THE STRUT MOUNT DURING CORNERING, BREAKING AND ACCELERATION. COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE SEEN THE SAME ISSUE, AND THE MFG FIX IS TO ALIGN THE FRONT TIRES SUCH THAT THE CAMBER IS SO LARGE THAT IT SPACES THE TIRE AWAY FROM THE STRUT. THIS IS A BAND AID REPAIR, AS THE FRONT SUSPENSION PERFORMANCE IS NOW LIMITED, AND THE TIRES WEAR THE OUTSIDE SHOULDERS PREMATURELY. *TR | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Gto |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 2006 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | SOLON OH |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 6G2VX12U96L |
| Mileage: | 29000 miles. |
| Speed: | 0 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | |
| Vehicle fuel: | |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
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