NHTSA complaint: 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV — WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
I PURCHASED THE USED 1995 CHEVY MINIVAN IN NOVEMBER 1997. EXACTLY 30 DAYS TO THE DATE OF THE SALE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MINIVAN ON A PARKWAY WHICH HAD NO BREAKDOWN LANE. SHE HEARD A VERY LOUD STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE GOT OFF THE PARKWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BY THE TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO PARK THE NOISE HAD STOPPED. SHE WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING OUT OF ORDER AND SAW NOTHING. SHE GOT BACK IN THE VAN AND BEGAN DRIVING, THE NOISE STILL HAD NOT RETURNED. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO GET BACK ON THE PARKWAY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE. SHE WATCHED THE TIRE GO STRAIGHT UP INTO THE AIR, "VERY HIGH" AND CAME DOWN BOUNCING ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE VAN AND THEN GOING TO THE SIDE OF A ROAD AND ROLLING UP AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT STOPPED. WHEN THE TIRE FLEW OFF THE VAN SLAMMED DOWN INTO THE STREET WITH GREAT FORCE. THE IMPACT OF THE WHEEL FLYING OFF AS WELL AS THE VAN SLAMMING INTO THE STREET CAUSED THE ENTIRE SIDE PANEL OF THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VAN FROM THE DOOR TO THE HEADLIGHT TO SHATTER ALL OVER THE STREET. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHICH IS WAS PURCHASED FROM 30 DAYS EARLIER AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE WAS A "DEFECT IN THE LUG NUTS" WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FLY OFF. EACH LUG NUT HAD MADE A CLEAN BREAK CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FLY OFF. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS TYPE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation