STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WITH MY PICK UP. MY WIFE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME IN HER GMC JIMMY. AFTER CHECKING FOR TRAFFIC, I PROCEEDED AND MY WIFE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION. AT THIS TIME, I HEARD SOMETHING IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND LANDED IN THE ROAD. AS I LOOKED THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR, MY WIFE PROCEEDED AND RAN OVER THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED HER VEHICLE TO GO AIR-BORNE. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. AFTER CHECKING THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT, I FOUND THAT THE TIRE IS ONLY SECURED BY A SMALL CABLE. THIS CABLE BROKE CLEAN, AND THE TIRE FELL TO THE ROAD. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AT PH#800-222-1020. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED BUCK ON 6-4-01. HE STATED THAT I SHOULD CHECK MY SPARE TIRE BETTER. HE WASN'T VERY HELPFUL AND I BECAME VERY UPSET AND CALLED ON 6-5-01. THIS TIME I SPOKE WITH A PERSON NAMED AMBER. SHE ALSO SAID I SHOULD CHECK THE VEHICLE EQUIPMENT BETTER. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY AND THAT SOMETHINGT SIMILAR COULD HAPPEN AT GREATER SPEEDS, RESULTING IN DEATH. I WANTED TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING HOW THE PROBLEM WAS GOING TO BE HANDLED BUT SHE SAID NO ONE WOULD CALL ME. I THEN SPOKE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LAW SUIT AND THEN SHE STATED I WAS ACCUSING THEM OF WRONG DOING. I ALSO EXPLAINED NEW YORK STATE DIDN'T REQUIRE SPARE TIRE CHECKS ON INSPECTIONS AND THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CHECK EVERY PART OF A VEHICLE, TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS GOING TO BREAK. SHE THEN TOLD ME T