# 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE — STRUCTURE:BODY
> NHTSA complaint `984607` · 2013-06-07 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** CHEVROLET
- **Model:** AVALANCHE
- **Year:** 2008
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY
## Narrative
MY 79 YEAR OLD WIFE BADLY CUT HER FINGER WHILE OPENING THE DOOR OF OUR VEHICLE. THE DOOR HANDLE OF MY VEHICLE IS PLATED IN CHROME. THIS CHROME IS NOW COMING UNDONE, AND IS RAZOR SHARP. TODAY THE LAST OF THE 4 DOOR HANDLES BROKE DUE TO DEFECT ON THE HANDLES THEMSELVES. GM STATES THAT THESE ARE TRIM AND NOT CONSIDERED MECHANICAL (EVEN THOUGH THEY PERFORM A MECHANICAL FUNCTION) SO THEY AREN'T RECALLING THEM EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF A VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGERS INSIDE ARE UNCONSCIOUS OR UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR THEMSELVES DUE TO INJURY , THE DOOR HANDLES COULD BREAK AS A FIREFIGHTER OR OTHER PERSON FROM THE OUTSIDE TRIES TO OPEN THEM.. THIS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY ARE CHOOSING TO IGNORE IT. RECALL AND REPLACE THESE DOOR HANDLES WITH ONES THAT CAN ACTUALLY OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! I AM ON HIGH DOSES OF COUMADIN AND IF IT WERE MY FINGER I COULD HAVE BLEED TO DEATH. GET THIS RECALLED PLEASE.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*