SOmeone hurt from Tail Gate Cables.

04Chevy2500HD · January 20, 2005

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_...t.24577872.html

There is a picture of a 02+ 3500 in the news story with broken tailgate cables.

Start of news article ----->

A Beaverton police officer and Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy were injured after they fell off a vehicle helping set up a motorcycle riding training course on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred at the Hillsboro Stadium parking lot. Officer Kevin Stich was unconscious when he was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center, according to Beaverton police officer Paul Wandell.

Stich underwent surgery and was in critical condition on Wednesday night.

"The thoughts and prayers of every member of this agency, and the city of Beaverton are with officer Stich and his family at this moment," said Beaverton police chief David G. Bishop.

The Washington County deputy was awake when medical personnel arrived, according to Lt. Chris Skinner of the Hillsboro police department.

The deputy was taken to the hospital for an evaluation as a precaution. The name of the deputy was not released by the Washington County sheriff's department.

The mishap occurred after police officers and deputies from various Washington County law enforcement agencies finished setting up several hundred traffic cones for training purposes.

Stich, the deputy and a Forest Grove police officer were riding on the open tailgate of a privately owned vehicle when the support cables failed, according to Skinner.

Stich's head hit the asphalt, and he suffered an unknown injury. The Forest Grove police officer was not hurt.

Beer Belly · January 20, 2005

GM is gonna claim that a Recall Notice stating the dangers of using your Tailgate was sent to the owner, leaving the owner to bear the brunt of any & all lawsuits. My thoughts and hopes to the officers family.

99silveradoz71 · January 20, 2005

That's garbage, if they don't want you using the gate and if there's the potential for failure, they should've come with stickers from the factory.

MCourson · January 20, 2005

That's garbage, if they don't want you using the gate and if there's the potential for failure, they should've come with stickers from the factory.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They didn't know there was a problem at the factory. Although maybe something should have crossed someones mind when you put cheap crap underload.

tmf6902 · January 20, 2005

What's ironic about the recall is that I got a recall notice about six months ago.....they told me that they did not have them in stock and they would contact me when I was to come in to get them replaced.....well last week I got another notice that said I had not been into service to have them replaced yet????? WTF they told me to wait......from what I hear the new ones are trash anyway.

Wingnut · January 20, 2005

I got that same notice.

"YOU HAVN'T REPLACED YOUR TAILGATE CABLES YET!!! YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!!! AAAARGGGHH!!!!!!LOL!!!OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!ONE!11"

Well...That's not exactly what it said, but close. Still tweaks my beak that they sent me a notice 6 months ago basically telling me not to use my tailgate until they had new cables in stock, now they're yelling at me in big red letters because I don't have ESP and didn't know the moment the new cables arrived at the dealership.

I still drive my ATV up the ramps on the original cables....I just wear a helmet, and stand ready to jump 15 feet when they break.

N900WM · January 20, 2005

I never received the notice.

elboberino · January 20, 2005

I never received the notice.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

same here but apparently my roommate with the same year as mine, got the notice....odd!

LiftedHDRado · January 20, 2005

Is the recall also for the 2005 chevy's?

Scyry · January 20, 2005

I have never gotten any kind of a notice from Chevy.

My Uncle hasn't either. He is the second owner of his truck though, but he did go to some GM website and filled out information that it was his truck and how to reach him. If someone is the second owner of a truck how are they supposed to know that their tailgate was defective?

SlamminL5s · January 20, 2005

thar recall is on all fullsize gm trucks right? because we got a recall notice for the same thing.

dogzapper · January 20, 2005

I live in the Portland area and a friend of mine was on the scene when the accident occurred. Officer Stich was horribly, horribly injured.

Interestingly, the Channel 6 (KOIN) news and website says that the recall was done on the tailgate cables. Does this mean that the "Made in China" replacement cables failed? Apparently so.

Personally, I installed V-R Straps and, when my recall card came, I simply traded my old cables for new ones. When I sell my truck, I'll take off my V-R Straps and let the new owner deal with the friggin' cables.

Shawn T · January 20, 2005

That is tragic about that officer. Even with the replacement cables GM will not be liable. Riding on the tailgate is not exactly safe and probably will not hold up in court. Remember the days when tailgates had hinged, flat, steel bars for supports instead of cables. What was wrong with those?