NHTSA Complaint #10069851 — 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS 45000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW $5000 ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWS CORROSIVE DEXCOOL COOLANT TO LEACH INTO THE ENGINE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER VICTIMS OF THIS FLAW, AND DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/231.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/GM_INTAKE/ HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/ WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD BY KOONS CHEVROLOET IN VIENNA, VA THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR ENGINE BECAUSE OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WHEN WE FURNISHED THEM WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE DEFECT, A SERVICE REP THEN TOLD US THAT THE'D WORK WITH GM TO SEE WHAT THE COULD DO FOR US. THEY CAME BACK WITH "WE'LL REPLACE YOUR ENGINE". WE AGREED TO THAT REMEDY AND WHEN WE CALLED TO SEE IF THE WORK ON OUR CAR WAS COMPLETED, THE SERVICE REP, SAID "BY THE WAY, WE DIDN'T REPLACE THE ENGINE WE REBUILT IT." WE WERE VERY DISMAYED BY THE FACT THAT THEY MISREPRESENTED WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AND PROCEEDED TO DO THE WORK WITHOUT OUR AUTHORIZATION. WE WERE ABOUT TO PULL THE CAR FROM THAT DEALER TO GO GET A SECOND OPINION. ANY WAY THE WORK WAS DONE WITH NO CHARGE TO US.WE COMPLAINED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ENTIRE ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WE TOOK THE CAR TO FARRISH OF FAIRFAX IN FAIRFAX, VA TO INSPECT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AT KOONS. THEY SAID IT LOOKED OK. WELL, SINCE THEN, AS RECENT AS THIS WEEK THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT HAS LIT UP ON THE DASH. THIS WAS THE PRECURSOR TO OUR PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. WE NOW HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO FARRISH. IT SEEMS THAT THE FIX WAS NOT ADEQUATE, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.