NHTSA Complaint #10069766 — 1997 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

THE ISSUE WE RAN INTO LAST YEAR IS WHERE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. WE TOOK IT INTO OUR LOCAL DEALER, PEARSON PONTIAC, GMS, OLDS IN SUNNYVALE, ON MARCH 21 2002. AROUND THAT TIME BOTH MYSELF AND THE DEALER, AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD, CALLED OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VAN WAS AT 41788 MILES, 5K MILES OUT OF MILEAGE WARRANTY, AND THE BELIEF ON MY PART THAT A MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR WAS NOT REASONABLE FOR A VAN WITH ONLY 41K MILES. WHY SAY THE COOLANT CAN LAST 150K MILES WHEN IT ALL LEAKS OUT AT 41K MILES? I WAS TURNED DOWN FOR ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE I TALKED WITH JUSTIN AND THE CASE NUMBER WAS C06614725. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AT THE SAME TIME HE DETERMINED THE LIFTERS SHOULD BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A LEAKING WATER PUMP. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1,709.72. BREAKDOWN WAS $1,130.84 FOR LABOR AND THE REST FOR PARTS AND SALES TAX. THE DEALER REPAIR ORDER NUMBER IS 56819. I'VE NEVER OWNED OR HEARD OF A VEHICLE WHICH HAD A INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK, WATER PUMP AND LIFTERS FAIL AT 41K MILES. MY WIFE AND I ARE NOT HARD ON OUR CARS. THIS COST WAS HIGH (OVER 5% OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE) AND SOMETHING WE DID NOT EXPECT TO INCUR.