Wheels Come Off Hummers H2
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/wheels-come-off-hummers-h2/2002/

Quite Literally.

Some would say the wheels have come off at GM. With the infamous
multi-billion dollar loss posted last year, sequential multi-billion
dollar losses after each quarter of 2006, and a potential Delphi strike
looming large on the horizon, the euphemism certainly seems
appropriate, and with recent news of Hummer H2s abandoning their front
wheels as a result of failed steering knuckles, its now downright
literal.

Marketed as the tough, rugged, and yet strangely friendly smaller
alternative to the massive Hummer H1, the H2 debuted amid a media
circus. Based on the Chevy Suburban/Avalanche platform, the "baby
Hummer" was designed to be a compromise between its bigger brothers
off-road capability and the suburban SUVs more economical and practical
nature. But now, according to an investigation by the Sacramento Bee
newspaper and the NHTSA, the behemoths seem to have an Achilles heel:
their steering knuckles.

The cast suspension piece that mounts the wheel to the control arms,
its an integral part of the suspension, and those H2s that have
suffered steering knuckle failures have all done so with catastrophic
results. U.S. federal highway safety investigators are looking into the
case, which has seen 25 complainants have one of their front wheels
literally fall off.

GM is denying the allegations that they may have produced a faulty
part; instead citing the lower-ball joint fractures as a result, rather
than a cause, of an accident. And while some of the complainants admit
to hitting curbs and bumping poles with the H2s ultra-wide front tires
while maneuvering at slow speeds through parking lots and drive-through
restaurants before their wheels fell off, others deny any incidents,
with one customers wheel falling off after less than 300 kilometers.

Also supporting the NHTSAs investigation is the fact that investigators
have unearthed an additional 61 claims made by owners of Suburbans and
Avalanches that have experienced similiar failures, as well as GMs own
admission that they changed the parts design in 2003 to "improve
[their] products." In their defence, GM claims the H2s exposed wide
tires, necessary for the SUVs off-road performance, are to blame,
placing a greater load on the knuckle due to the added leverage the
wider tire can exert.

Thus far, no one has been killed by the catastrophic failures, but four
have suffered minor injuries. Six more have been hurt by similiar
failures in Suburbans and Avalanches. And although GM denies any
wrongdoing, lawyers feel otherwise. Marketed and advertised as a tough,
go-anywhere vehicle, the H2 should be able to traverse everything the
paved road can throw at it as a result of its off-road pedigree.

As such, the mere threat of a lawsuit was enough to convince GM to take
one unhappy victims three-wheeled H2 back for a full refund (minus the
insurance claim coverage), as well as refund the full purchase price of
a second H2 the owner also bought. But still they insist the vehicles
not to blame, and GM Product Safety Spokesman Alan Adler maintains that
while the H2 may bear the Hummer name, "we have never claimed it is
invincible."
, no one has been killed by the catastrophic failures, but four have
suffered minor injuries. Six more have been hurt by similiar failures
in Suburbans and Avalanches. And although GM denies any wrongdoing,
lawyers feel otherwise. Marketed and advertised as a tough, go-anywhere
vehicle, the H2 should be able to traverse everything the paved road
can throw at it as a result of its off-road pedigree.

As such, the mere threat of a lawsuit was enough to convince GM to take
one unhappy victims three-wheeled H2 back for a full refund (minus the
insurance claim coverage), as well as refund the full purchase price of
a second H2 the owner also bought. But still they insist the vehicles
not to blame, and GM Product Safety Spokesman Alan Adler maintains that
while the H2 may bear the Hummer name, "we have never claimed it is
invincible."