NHTSA Complaint #10029315 — 1996 GMC JIMMY

WE OWN A 1996 GMC JIMMY 4X4.THE CONNECTING ROD IN THE ENGINE BROKE CAUSING EXTREME DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE MAKING IT INOPERABLETTHIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME OR BEFORE NEEDED WHICH IS EVERY 3000 TO 3500 MILE.THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A GM BUY BACK OR AS A LEMON VEHICLE IN 1998 WITH ALMOST 15000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT.THE SALESMAN RECOMMENDED THAT I PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I DID FOR AN ADDITIONAL 72 MONTHS OR 75000 MILES FOR $905.00.I WAS TOLD,ALONG WITH MY WIFE,THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COVERED TILL 90000 MILES OR UNTIL 2004. WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED TO ARISE THAT WERE GOING TO BE COSTLY WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT BACK TO THE FIRST IN SERVICE DATE-1996.WE HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS THAT SEEM TO NICKEL DIME US HOWEVER WE HAVE HAD IT IN FOR LEAKY OIL LINES,LEAKY TRANSMISSON,NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,HEATER PROBLEMS,AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY COSTLY.THIS ENGINE,THE 4.3 V-6 WHICH ACCORDING TO MANY MECHANICS UNDER NOMAL CARE AND DRIVING,SHOULD LAST 150000 MILES.THIS VEHICLE NOW HAS 87000 MILES.WE,MY WIFE AND I DON'T FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO ALSO PAY THIS REPAIR OF NEARLY $1880.00.WE ARE IN OUR 50S AND ARE VERY SAFE,CAUTIOUS DRIVERS.MY WIFE IS THE THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY DOES NOT OVER WORK THIS SUV.IT WAS A COLD SHOULDER I RECIEVED WHEN I ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS COST.IT SEEMS THAT GM WOULD TAKE CARE OF THERE LONG TIME LOYAL CUSTOMERS BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE HOWEVER.*AK