NHTSA Complaint #10070622 — 1997 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING INTAKE MAIFOLD GASKET ON 3.4L ENGINE. ENGINE WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED TO THAT POINT, WITH ALL SERVICE RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT FACT. NO PERVIOUS COOLANT LEAKAGE WAS NOTED BEFORE THE PROBLEM. ENGINE BEGAN MAKING SEVERE KNOCKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING IN MOUNTAINS OF WYOMING. SERVICE TECH AT LARAMIE GM AUTO CENTER SAID THAT THE ENGING WAS LOSING OIL PRESSURE AND CONSUMING (LOSING) COOLANT. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE INTAKE MAINFOLD THROUGH THE FAULTY INTAKE MAINFOLD GASKET. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE, AND NOW 28,000 INTO THE NEW ENGINE, I AM HEARING VARIOUS ENGINE NOISES AGAIN. WILL GO TO NEW LOCAL DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. GM SHOULD REPAY ME FOR THIS--THEY WILL NOT ADMIT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, ONLY OFFERING A DISCOUNT ON A NEW GM CAR. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE GONE INTO PAYMENTS WENT TOWARD THE NEW ENGINE AT 67,950 MILES. DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR HAS ALSO FAILED. $650 ESTIMATE TO REPLACE IT. NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR--MANY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THROUGH RECALLS. THE ENGINE ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS WELL, OR A CLASS ACTION SHOULD BE STARTED.