Air Conditioner problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Venture

Air conditioning condenser leaking. Dealer wants $1000 to repair. This is a known defect on this condenser, bad welds, yet gm takes no fault even though tens of thousands of these have failed. With asthma, I need a/c and this vehicle is no safe without it.

My 2001 chevy Venture's air conditioning condenser obtained a crack, causing the ac fluid to leak out and not function. Vehicle is at 39000 miles and barely out of warranty. Speaking with parts dept at a local dealer, apparently this is a common problem caused by normal flexing of the vehicle's framework, and a costly one to repair (abt $850. 00 parts and labor). The consumer should not need to pay for design defects like this. Ac condensers are not a component that routinely crack, especially in vehicles this new.