Faulty Power Side Steps

[Bacams]

We are all sorry for your pain and suffering.
Maybe you should attempt a civil suit against GMC because to some degree they are culpable since the failures are common enough.

That being said; to blame equipment failures for your injury without employing some minor safety protocol for yourself is childish and irresponsible. You are correct it is called muscle memory and some of us make the conscious choice to include a lifestyle of safety first EVERY time!

"...but it wasn't loaded ..." is never an excuse!

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate everybody who sends me their comments, good or bad. I know I have enough meat on the bone to pursue legal. You would think I could pursue a civil case. For the first time, I recently called a well known attorney and they said it would be a product liability case. They said the equipment experts and doctors opinions would be too expensive. Attorneys want cases with big rewards and little work. This simple fall from a truck has been an ordeal and has consumed my life with all the constant doctors appointments. Besides my health, it brings on stress within the family dynamics. I want to point out that I never before had any issues with my knees and now I have daily pains and my low back pains have not subsided after 17 months. I’m 57 year old retired 24 year Air Force veteran. I do know Safety practices. I am typically cautious getting in and out of the truck due to the height before and after the fall. Your eyes immediately look down for the steps to plant your lead foot when exiting the vehicle. It was a routine motion or muscle memory when I exited the vehicle and the fall happened so quickly. The fall happened at/about 5pm and by 10pm that night my pains, stiffness, swelling got worse. I immediately (same night) received medical treatment and had my power steps repaired by the GMC Service Dept. I just feel this incident would not of occurred if the steps did not malfunction. After the fall, I shook off the public embarrassment like any person and limped it off but within hours I was in moderate pain and got so stiff. I will keep pressing forward. Thank you again for your comments.

 

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[True Bee]

My comments were not negative just a harsh truth of life. I am a disabled Army Veteran let's not get into a debate over daily pain shall we. Though my "safety first" did not begin there it was reinforced extensively. I'm sorry it comes across as offensive to you though since that is not my intent.

Just a different perspective I suppose but I never look down for the step, I hold onto the handle supporting my weight using my foot to search for the step and once found I trust it to hold me. If my step ever fails my only choice will be to slide down the side of the truck like a child but I pray I'm never so distracted as to fall out.

 

[gemarsh]

My comments were not negative just a harsh truth of life. I am a disabled Army Veteran let's not get into a debate over daily pain shall we. Though my "safety first" did not begin there it was reinforced extensively. I'm sorry it comes across as offensive to you though since that is not my intent.

Just a different perspective I suppose but I never look down for the step, I hold onto the handle supporting my weight using my foot to search for the step and once found I trust it to hold me. If my step ever fails my only choice will be to slide down the side of the truck like a child but I pray I'm never so distracted as to fall out.

Thank you for Service.

 

[True Bee]

Thank you for Service.

You're welcome my friend but it was never my intent to throw that out there. I guess now I'm failing right and left. When people choose to employ a victim mentality and refuse to learn I can no longer help them.
I will unsubscribe from this thread so I do not continue to hijack it nor cause further offense with my thoughts.

 

[Bacams]

My comments were not negative just a harsh truth of life. I am a disabled Army Veteran let's not get into a debate over daily pain shall we. Though my "safety first" did not begin there it was reinforced extensively. I'm sorry it comes across as offensive to you though since that is not my intent.

Just a different perspective I suppose but I never look down for the step, I hold onto the handle supporting my weight using my foot to search for the step and once found I trust it to hold me. If my step ever fails my only choice will be to slide down the side of the truck like a child but I pray I'm never so distracted as to fall out.

Thank you. I didn’t take your comments negative. After re-reading my response, I just get wrapped into replying. My apologies on my part. Before I forget, Thank you for your Service. My mother passed away without a Will 1 month before this truck incident and I’ve been going thru a contested Probate case along with my health at the same time. Judge appt a 30 year old granddaughter (deceased sisters child) vrs the Next of Kin (me) as Executor so I have these 2 important issues on my plate at the same time. We all have personal hurdles we experience with our life journey. I understand Safety First EVERYTIME. The incident just happened so quickly before I knew it I was out of the truck. Thank you for your follow-up & enjoy your upcoming holidays with your family!

 

[Whaler27]

I think your best bet would be to continue to seek a civil attorney that will handle the case. I would think they would be the ones who would have to subpoena the video. I'm not sure how it works in NM, but in PA the Police would not be able to help you at all in this case. Your incident was not criminal in nature, therefore the Police would have no jurisdiction in it. Police in PA do not handle civil incidents and therefore would not be granted a subpoena to obtain the video from the business. I would act quickly though before that video gets deleted.
I wish you luck.

This ^^

Not a police matter, and I’d be surprised if the video still exists. Video consumes a lot of memory, so most systems overwrite video in 30 days or less unless there’s an incident and they affirmatively act to save the video.

I’m sorry for the OP’s misfortune and discomfort. Back and neck injuries are particularly vexing and miserable.

Life is dangerous. None of us will make it out alive.

 

[nabatron]

My passenger OEM power step LED light is out. Took it to the dealer which is an hour away from my house. Had set up an oil change to get done. They took almost 2.5 hours to do an oil change and couldn’t get to the power step because I had to go home and pick up the kids from school. The tech was 99% sure it was the module that controls the light. He said he could set up a time next Monday to get everything done but would have to order the part. I left and he called me shortly saying they would have to do a full diagnostic on the step and then order then part since it will be warrantied and it cost a lot for the module. So tomorrow I’ll drive to the dealership so they can make sure it’s the module that they have to order.

 

[Bacams]

My passenger OEM power step LED light is out. Took it to the dealer which is an hour away from my house. Had set up an oil change to get done. They took almost 2.5 hours to do an oil change and couldn’t get to the power step because I had to go home and pick up the kids from school. The tech was 99% sure it was the module that controls the light. He said he could set up a time next Monday to get everything done but would have to order the part. I left and he called me shortly saying they would have to do a full diagnostic on the step and then order then part since it will be warrantied and it cost a lot for the module. So tomorrow I’ll drive to the dealership so they can make sure it’s the module that they have to order.

Hello. It took me 3 trips to the Service Dept. There’s a National Recall on the Power Steps. The dealership needs to run an update to the module. Uncertain if it controls the LED lights but I assume it does. My issue was my steps would not deploy and at other times it would go in & out while driving. The dealership replaced my module on the 2nd visit. 1st visit they could not duplicate the issue. GM has been having issues with these power steps ever since they been using them. My truck is a 23’ Sierra 2500HD AT4 Diesel. Push them to run the update to the module. I would ask them to replace the module if possible. Good luck.

 

[nabatron]

Hello. It took me 3 trips to the Service Dept. There’s a National Recall on the Power Steps. The dealership needs to run an update to the module. Uncertain if it controls the LED lights but I assume it does. My issue was my steps would not deploy and at other times it would go in & out while driving. The dealership replaced my module on the 2nd visit. 1st visit they could not duplicate the issue. GM has been having issues with these power steps ever since they been using them. My truck is a 23’ Sierra 2500HD AT4 Diesel. Push them to run the update to the module. I would ask them to replace the module if possible. Good luck.

Yeah today they are going to run a test to see what’s up with the LED not turning on. The steps deploy and retract as intended. It’s just the lights on them that aren’t turning on. I also had them chance my wife’s drivers side running board (Yukon) due to the paint rubbing off completely on top of the step.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

Sorry to hear about your mishap and injury. Reality though you wouldn't drive with your eyes closed, neither should you get out of your truck/vehicle without being aware of what's below especially if there is a step presumably supposed to be there.

 

[Bacams]

Sorry to hear about your mishap and injury. Reality though you wouldn't drive with your eyes closed, neither should you get out of your truck/vehicle without being aware of what's below especially if there is a step presumably supposed to be there.

I do get your point. I did look 99% of the time but now 100% when exiting. It was the 1% time that the power steps did not deploy. Since the accident I had issues with the power steps going in and out while driving down the road several times. It went on for months until the module was replaced. No issues since the repair was completed.

 

[Koolbreezeya]

Be extra observant and careful brother, hopefully you won't have anymore problem with the steps. GOD BLESS.

 

[Bacams]

GMs answer: “it’s up to the owner/ individual to go “online” to look at the owners manual” since they don’t issue paper book owner’s manuals anymore. They said it’s stated in their owner’s manual to look down before placing my foot.

It’s definitely a mishap with serious injuries (3 knee surgeries & several injections in my back, 36+ medical appts within 18 months). We all have had our share of… if I was in my 20’s vs 57, I possibly would have healed right away.

 

[Bacams]

Be extra observant and careful brother, hopefully you won't have anymore problem with the steps. GOD BLESS.

Thank you…appreciate the kind words! Enjoy your holidays!