An open letter to the H3 Brand Quality Manager.

Dear Sir,

I am formally making a request that all H3 front differentials, be changed from the Cast Aluminum Housing, to the Cast Iron Housing.

Why, for a $90 difference, would you continue to ignore and brush aside an issue that puts your most loyal and dedicated users of your off-road product at such incredible risk of harm?

Twice now, in two years, I have been stranded in very remote areas, due to my Front Differential failure or others. We don’t leave our people behind on a trail. We will go to great lengths to make sure all are off the trail safely. It is and inconvenience to us and the other off-roaders we ride with.

I know of many others who have experienced the same problem all across this Country.

Is that a risk we take? Yes. Do we fully understand that risk? Yes.

However:

H2’s don’t have this issue.
H1’s don’t have this issue.

The known weaknesses in both the above-mentioned Hummer vehicles allow for a trail repair. You can carry a spare tie-rod for the H2; you can carry spare tie-rods and half shafts for the H1.

You cannot carry a spare Front Differential on the trail for the H3.

Leaving this component as is, for those of us that off-road regularly is becoming an increased liability for Hummer. When it breaks out on the trail, or on the road for that matter, the vehicle is COMPLETELY disabled.

There is no temporary repair, no way to disable the full-time 4-wheel drive, so that the vehicle can be driven in two wheel drive off the trail.

It may not be the highest complaint on your warranty reports, but it is certainly one of the more dangerous.

My friends and I have been caught in snowstorms, high deserts in the heat etc, having to strap and winch, for the better part of a full day, to get one or more COMPLETELY disabled H3’s off the trail. I wouldn’t shrug your shoulders at my request until you have done this yourself.

You and I both know, that it does not take abuse to destroy the ring and pinion gear, or crack the housing. It can be done quite easily. To the point, the claim of being able to scale 16” vertical wall should be removed, that is a recipe for disaster, especially if you try it one wheel at a time.

Quotes from your AD copy:

[/align][align=center]“It delivers all of H3’s renowned off-road capability”, “real-world testing on off-road trails in Moab, Utah, the Rubicon Trail and other challenging off-road venues”,” The H3 lineup also delivers exceptional rock crawling and climbing performance”, and [/align]
[/align][align=center]“A HUMMER by any measure”[/align]
Source; http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2008-Hummer-H3-Alpha.htm

I respectfully disagree; this HUMMER falls a bit short in reliability compared to it’s predecessors. And, because we have to be very careful about the front differential, we require far more strapping and winching up obstacles than that of our predecessors.

[font="times new roman"]This is an easily solved, quickly remedied problem. I am confident that I and my other Hummer

 

I've been through 2 front differentials on my 06'. I certainly hope GM recognizes your concern and acts upon it. you certainly have a valid argument and the aluminum housing needs to be addressed. It's not a good feeling when it happens and you have to be extracted from a trail and then towed to a dealer. It turns a fun day into a nightmare. Actually, it is the primary reason I upgraded to the Alpha.

 

even a hell of a discount on the new ones would be a nice deal...

 

Hello HummBebe! Welcome to our forum.

This is a great letter. Did you personally write this, or is it a letter someone else wrote?

Whichever it may be, I don't think anybody could have done a better job. Unfortunately, you know how difficult and hard-headed they are. It took one of our members over 6 months just to get an extended warranty from the infamous Head and Gasket issue that was promised to her.

Keep us updated if you hear response from it.

 

Thank you for the welcome HG.

I wrote it. And I think if we can at least get GM/Hummers attention, and just not take it anymore, the people who DO care about Brand Quality and who care those of us who have invested a ton of money into modifying our off road H3's, it may just work.

Customer complained about the power, and they complained about the window switchs, sin cabin storage etc. All which were addressed is subsequent models.

This is a biggie. I may not get one in my current truck, but at least we won't be strapping all the newbie off roaders off the trial. If we can save someone else from having to go through it, then that will work.


But I really would like to keep wheeling, WITH a CI housing.

 

thats a great document,lets all hope something happens

 

The best answer is , Just buy a ALPHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The Alpha front diff swaps in to the I5 H3. [sm=smiley20.gif]I like jdrew's idea, give us a credit and a hellava deal on a new iron diff, and have the dealers swap em out for anybody that wants to do the upgrade. Grocery getting pavement pounders may find this a nonproblem no issue thing. Ah, if it were only that easy.[:@]

 

That is a fantastic letter.But what kinda wheeling are you doing to destroy your front diffs? I do mainly mild wheeling, on dirt-roads, hills, ect.I'm not really intorock crawling, i'm afraid todestroy my vehicle. Is myHUMMER safe in doing this mild stuff? And is thiscoveredunder warranty?

 

Moab, Rubicon, Fordyce....the west coast trifecta

Yes the diff will be covered to the end of your warranty, as long as you are not "abusing" it.