Suspension Problems of Chevrolet Tracker - part 1

I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.

See all problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

Subframe rusted out upon research it appears this was an ongoing complaint about this model car pulled to right when braking lots of shaking too . Why have there been no recalls ?.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

Front suspension cross member rusted through.

See all problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

Feont suspension crossmember broke on right side.

My mother and I was driving on the expressway and it seemed as if the car just lunged forward sharply and made us swerve a little. I pulled over and seen that the car was sitting "off" a little. We towed it home and my step dad looked at it and said the car had rusted through the subframe. The subspension subframe crossmember part could of killed us. She bought this car at 29 miles from dave white cheverolt in 2001. Nothing was sent to us from the manufacture or the dealership about this part being a dangerous part. It was to be replaced I heard if the car reached 150,000 miles or 10 plus years. She had this car for both and was not notified. The dealership will not replace the part. We had it towed this weekend and the dealership will not replace the part for free.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Tracker. While driving approximately 55 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle veered to the left and the front driver side wheel began to shake. While inspecting under the vehicle, the contact discovered that the a-arm suspension fractured due to rust and corrosion. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.

While driving approximately 35 miles per hour on a rural road, there was a loud bang from the front of the car, immediately followed by shaking, rattling and a swerve to the right. The car was driven to a local auto shop where an inspection revealed that the front suspension cross member had snapped in half, due to extensive corrosion damage. The mechanic then told me that chevy had instituted an internal campaign #06186 in 2007 to address a known issue with cross members that were not correctly protected against corrosion effecting model years 1999-2004. The cross member needs to be replaced.

Front suspension crossmember for chevy Trackeris nothing but rust. It won't pass inspection and the garage said there must have not been a coating put on it for it to be rusted through and falling apart.

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Tracker. While driving at an unknown speed, the front end of the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. After inspecting the vehicle, the technician diagnosed that the front passenger side cross member was rusted and fractured. As a result, the cross member needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle started to shake violently. The contact had to merge to the side of the road in order to regain control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the front suspension was severely corroded causing the front lower frame to separate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that the vehicle cross member was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,941.

Frame has rusted through serious safety issue where tire is about to sink in.

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that the brake dust shield on the rear brakes became corroded. The contact wanted to repair the vehicle however the manufacturer informed him that the part was obsolete and not available. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.

I was driving home from work when my car started to violent shake at about forty five miles hr so I pull over my Tracker over saw not problem so I drop my spd and was able to make it home with min shaking and the next day I had a mechanic look it and was told the whole front crossmember bar had rust away. I look up the problem online and found a extended warranty or as been called a "silent recall. " on this part,but it has expired the problem is I was never informed of this now expire warranty. I called chevy helpline expanded it to them and they told me they sent letter to the dealer I should contact them and I did and they had me bring my car in to them and informed I never received anything about the warranty they told they did not send letter out that if I bought in for service they would have notice the rust and I now have 2 option one my car is in very good shape and they could replace the front end for 1500 if they could get the parts,but they do not recommend that or option 2 they junk it for 500 which I though was strange since they told me it was in otherwise good shape. They also inform my was no longer safe to drive and now it sits in my drive as use to me as a boat anchor.

I was driving on a two-way residential street, just picked up our two youngest grandson's from school, when the passenger side tire jammed, very unexpectedly, up in the area between the engine and frame of the Tracker. The Tracker went mid air, and then rolled. Consumer handwriting is illegible. . Updated 07/02/14.

While driving the car the wheel started pulling to the right. After that the steering wheel began to go back and forth a bit and felt shaking. . We have owned this car since it was new. There was no previous warning of a problem. I looked under the car and the cross member was rotted out.

Purchased a 2002 chevy Tracker on 4/30/2002. We've had some minor and some major repairs made, it's never been in any accidents and has been up-kept. Coming home from work my husband noticed the year old brakes were not working properly, was pulling, and started vibrating and shaking at about 40 mph. We later noticed the back brake line was leaking. Two weeks to fix by our mechanic. On the test drive noticed vibration much worse- violent-abrupt shaking! later our mechanic noticed the front suspension cross member is almost rusted out! it has not been repaired yet. I am going to notify manufacturer. Approximate mileage was110,000. Were notifications sent out? don't remember one- I'm pretty adament about safety! always loved this vehicle, now tons of junk medal sitting in the driveway and down a vehicle!.

After stopping at gas station, backed out of parking space and heard a load pop at the front of Tracker. After looking for obvious damage, continued driving and noticed the vehicle pulled hard to the right while braking. After thorough inspection of front crossmember found that it had completely rusted on the drivers side of vehicle and welds had broken away from suspension parts. Very dangerous condition!.

The front suspension crossmember is highly corroded (rusty) and as I have read it is a very serious problem with the Tracker model and I would like to know if anyone could help with the problem.

My 2003 chevy Tracker has a rust issue with brake lines and also rust on front crossmember. Crossmember has hole in the metal from the rust and the brake line has a hole in it also causing brake light to loose fluid. . I understand from reading blogs there was a recall but now it has expired for the crossmember.

2001 chevy Tracker with rusted front cross member. The cross member rusted and broke leaving the lower a arm disconnect from the frame on one end. This causes an uncontrollable shake and totally out of control. This is extremely dangerous, especially at highway speeds. I contacted a chevy dealer and also general motors and was told that there is nothing that can be done because the special coverage offer had expired. The special coverage was for 10 years or 150,000 miles. My Tracker has 59,450 miles but was rejected because of a time limit. I was never sent a notice because I was not the original owner and didn't buy it from a gm dealer. Gm could have queried each state's registration databases for ownership. I was told by gm that I could have brought it in and had it inspected. How would I have known to bring it in for inspection if I am unaware that a potential structural problem exist. This is a structural item that should outlast the drive line and body . . . To limit it by time or mileage is absurd and shrugging responsibility. The very last thing that should fail is the structure. I argued that it is a factory defect and should have no time limit because it is a structural item which when failed could cause an accident and possible death and property damage. And I feel that the factory should be liable for the entire life of the vehicle. If it is otherwise road worthy and meets state inspection then the special coverage should apply. It is the factory's responsibility to provide safe vehicles. With a computer model, knowing the grade of steel, the thickness of the steel one can calculate the approximate time it would take to rust through. This is why there should be no time limit for responsibility.

See all problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed, she was advised that all of the cross members were corroded. The technician stated that the bushings, and the front and center cross members needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, who stated that the statute of limitations for their voluntary program mentioned in NHTSA action number: ea06018 (suspension) had passed and the vehicle was no longer eligible for repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 84,849. Updated 12/23/lj.

I did not receive a recall or letter in the mail. Now I have to pay all kinds of money to get this fixed.

I recently had my 2000 chevy Tracker 4dr in for pennsylvanias state inspection and at that time my mechanic told me the suspension bar is rotting away from the frame. I have looked online and have seen many complaints and which states that gm had extended a special warranty program for this issue in the snow/salt states. I bought this vehicle used and feel this problem is a manufacturers defect and which gm seems to admit. My vehicle has 114000 miles on it and cannot afford this repair on my own. I called the local dealership and asked for a recall search, at that time I was told there are none and when I mentioned the special warranty they stated they have never heard of this. I have never received any recall notices for this problem that exists and would like some help with this issue. Thank you.

Front suspension crossmember rusted through , with out worning all most causing me to lose control of the vehicle. Thank goodness I wasn't going 60 mph , this is a very dangerous defect !!.

My chevy Tracker has a broken crossmember/subframe/k-frame. Front suspension arms are mounted to this piece, it is the most important mounting point. It completely broke while driving, luckily at a very slow speed, no maj. Injury. Gm knows the bad part was in every Tracker/vitara -they say it wasn't treated properly, had no drain holes. There is a bulletin to replace this part (#06186),10 years or 150k miles -which specifies the repair is covoured if "displays the condition of" having the defect within that period. Fuller gm dealer agrees "clearly had the problem within the period based upon condition now". I've suffered the run-around between sr rep on the phone, and the local gm dealer. All say "would repair it if the other would". Gm by phone says it's up to the local, local says gm has to authorise repair. They all univ. Agreed with facts: had the problem within the bulletin's definition, yet insist there's no way for them to help, "the period is up" -which is a contradiction! this is an extremely dangerous failure, far worse than the ignition switch recall. In those cases, the car can still function with an aware driver. The Tracker failure is catastrophic. Gm says bulletin notice mailed out told owners to check for the "signs" every year, but only sent out one notice -not to the next owners (most manufs send notices for new owners)! owner of my car who maybe saw the notice died, so we had no warning to check for "signs". Every gm rep says that's their "regrettable policy". Gm and local fuller gm have wasted many hours/weeks of time, directing respons. To all others, saying will help and call back, not one has. Gm says "there's no recall because it wasn't a popular vehicle"*! I offered to pay for part, or work, meet halfway, they did not even consider. I want mine repaired +gm to admit responsibility. Please help, thanks! quotes actually said by gm.

I was driving to work one night when my right front tire felt like its was going to fall off I slowed down and pulled off on the side of the road could not find out why it was doing this when the tire was fine. So I drove very slowly with my caution lights on to and from work because as long as you did under 40 it didn't feel like that. The next day I had a mechanic take a look at it and he couldn't figure out what was wrong with it until he drove the car and it got up to about 50mph then he pulled over and found the problem which was that the crossmember and lca attachment bracket had rusted so bad it broke free and there was nothing holding the lower arm and tire in place this made me upset because I just had the car inspected four months earlier. And they did not catch this, so we brought it back to the mechanic that inspected it and he bought a new part for it and it was good but it was starting to rusting out on bottom part below the doors and around the tires then just a week or so ago the timing belt broke and that's how I found out about this recall and I want to know why I was not informed of this and as of date 5/28/13 I only have 137,003 mileage on my Tracker.

Front suspension cross member rusted completely through on passenger side. Suspension a arm completely disconnected from cross member. Handling severely degraded.

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle started to shake and wobble from side to side without warning. The brakes were applied and the contact was able to pull over. The vehicle was then taken to an automotive shop where it was diagnosed that the suspension cross member was rusted completely. The dealer was contacted and they did not acknowledge the failure due to the age and mileage of the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired with a new suspension cross member and control bushing. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 113,925.

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.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Tracker 🔎.

Front suspension crossmember corrosion service bulletin #06186 10/17/2007 not being honored by gm. States out of age parameters. Purchased new still owned by original owner. Barnes Chevrolet where purchased, went out of business in 2007 - owner never notified of crossbar issue. Garage kept since new. Now being used by 19 year old college student working her way through college. Gm case number 71-1021471764. Oscar at gm states this vehicle was not one of the VIN numbers included in the special bulletin (not a recall). Escallated to cathleen, his supervisor. She stated not included but offered a $1000. Voucher to buy a new car (duh - a college student cannot afford a new car if she cannot afford the $2000. Repair bill - mom & dad cannot help) tried to go above cathleen but her district manager does not speak to regular customers. (???). All I want of got gm to pay the repair bill and for new brakes that were replaced 1 year ago but ruined by this fault. Good mechanic found the issue before she was injured in an accident!.

In June 2011, car was almost 10 yrs. Old and had 99,919 miles on it. Brought it to dealer for 100,000 mile tune-up and other work. Asked them to check out entire car, and saw banners for 24 point inspection if I added tire rotation. . . So I did. In sept. 2014 (cars 13 years old and has 113, 000 miles on it) I'm told that front suspension crossmember will need to be replaced (soon). When I went online to find the part, first site I see tells me about gm's "special warranty" on that part. I check my dealer receipt and realize the rusted part should've been replaced, for free, back in 2011. Now, it's actually busted through and can not be driven safely. Contacted gm/dealer, car was towed to dealer and back home. Gm/dealer will not pay for replacement because all that rust happened in the last 3 (ish) years, not in the close to 10 years it was driven for close to 100,000 miles on chicago area streets which are heavily salted. The streets up here are sanded and in the last 3 (ish) years I've only put another 13,000 miles on the car. Never seen the inside of a garage so 'parked' conditions are the same in both areas. I have filed a complaint w/the bbb so we'll see how far that gets me. Filing this complaint because gm's answer to my question of why it wasn't replaced in 2011 was that "dealers are not required to tell customers about special warranty parts". Seriously???.

There is no incident so far. But according to my mechanic, one hit on a pothole could cause it to break/crack. From service campaign bulletin given to me by my mechanic-front suspension crossover corrosion on 2000 chevy Tracker. I am less than 2 months past the coverage, 10 yrs or 150,000 miles. My truck was from 12. 15. 99 chevy will not honor recall, says it's not a recall even though there are several complaints of damage & serious accidents occurring because of this defect.

Front suspension cross-member of my 2000 Chevrolet Tracker has corroded through the heavy gauge metal adjacent to a support bolt and risks affecting the structural integrity of the vehicle. This is a heavy gauge structural member that should not have rusted through. Severe rust-through is the result of improper metal surface treatment by the manufacturer and needs to be recalled. Please force the manufacturer to address this safety-of-life issue on these vehicles as a catastrophic collapse of this component, if it occurs during driving, results in wheel collapse because this member supports the wheels a-frame. I estimate this rusting has been ongoing since 2009 even though I just saw it in 2012. I base this on the fact that in 2012 there was a hole rusted through the cross member that I could fit my thumb through however, holes of this size usually take a few years to develop and I never noticed it previously. This means that sub-surface rusting was occurring for a few years with surface rust obscuring this, which explains why the hole was not visible until just recently (when the surface rust collapsed, it exposed the hole beneath it).

On Wednesday 9-5-07 I was driving on the interstate when my Tracker started making a cluncking sound and started veering to the left. When I would stop and begin to accelerate again it would grab and then drive normally. Today 9-11-07 while driving at a rate of 45mph my car began to shake all over. I lowered my dring speed to 35 and when I stopped at a light the vehicle now vibrating and grabbing to the right. As if my brakes were going out. I had to drive no faster than 20 mph to the auto mechanics shop. He looked under my vehicle and at that point my front cross member fell off. He said he was shocked and never saw anything like this. The entire cross member was completely rusted and I was in serious danger driving this car. Now that I have had this problem I am without a vehicle for 3days due to the time frame needed for ordering this part. It will cost $350 for the part only not to mention whatever labor will be so my question who is responsible for this -wouldn't it be gm. I drive my granddaughter in this vehicle everyday. So nothing will be done to recall this car part until a serious accident occurs and results in death. Is that what I'm understanding? how many of us have to be effected by this problem-can we ban together for help? my car is garaged, not driven alot of miles per year and taken very good car of and my front cross member rusts and just falls off. I would like this looked into by someone. Does anyone else want to discuss this with me? please respond as soon as possible. Thank you.