NHTSA Complaint #10060192 — 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS, 3.8L V6. BEFORE 36,000 MILES I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING POORLY AND WHEN IT WAS COLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS AND TOLD ME THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. I DECLINED THE FUEL SERVICE AT THE TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMING INTO GEAR FROM A COLD START CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM WORSENED AT 47,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND AFTER 2 DAYS I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM SERVICE. AT 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING SEVERELY. I TRIED TO GET THE CAR HOME AND IT FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I GOT THE CAR HOME TO PERFORM THE 50,000 MILE SERVICE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND A HANDFUL OF METAL IN THE PAN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. GM ONLY OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE IS NO RECOMMENDED SERVICE BEFORE 50,000 MILES AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED IT LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *AK