NHTSA Complaint #10070947 — 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA

OIL PAN, LOWER BLOCK CASE OIL LEAKS THAT COST $2200.00 TO FIX. A DEALERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO TX SAID ALL 1995 THROUGH 1999 OLDS AURORA'S DID THIS AND THAT THE 4.0L V8 ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE GASKETS COST AROUND $35.00 DOLLORS BUT THE LABOR COST $2200. GM TOLD ME IT WAS NOT TRUE THAT ALL THE OLDS AURORA'S FROM 95 THRU 99 HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED SO THAT AN OWNER THAT HAS MECHANICAL SKILLS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR HOME WITH OUT REMOVING THE ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A BAD DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND CAR. I FEEL THAT THE GASKETS ARE NOT HOLDING UP DUE TO THE FACT THAT THESE CARS RUN AT A VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 225 DEGREES F. TO 250 DEGREES F AT ALL TIMES. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE GASKET MANUFACTURES DID NOT INTEND ON THE GASKETS INSTALLED IN THESE CARS TO BE UNDER A CONSTANT HEAT LOAD OF 225 DEGREES TO 250 DEGREES F. THE HIGH HEAT RANGE CAUSES OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. GM SAID TO PAY THE PRICE OR NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.