NHTSA Complaint #10082944 — 1999 JAGUAR XK8

1999 XK8 CONVERTIBLE WITH @37000 MILES. I LEASE THIS VEHICLE AND KEEP IT IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED AT THE JAGUAR SERVICE DEPT. IN THE PAST YEAR ONCE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE STOPPED/STALLED AT HIGH SPEED AND ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 3 TIMES. I NOTIFIED OUR JAGUAR SERVICE PERSON WHO CHECKED OUT THE CAR AT NEXT SERVICE AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING: FAN AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED. ON SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2004 AFTER DRIVING 7 MILES TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ETC. CAME HOME AND AN HOUR LATER ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT SOUNDED AT FIRST LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER AND SIMPLY MADE LOUD ALMOST FLOODING TYPE SOUND AND DIED. I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SNAPPED AND WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. SINCE THE MILEAGE IS SO LOW AND OUTSIDE INITIAL WARRANTY WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE NATURE OF THE PRODUCT DEFECT WITH JAGUAR AND HAVE NOW LEARNED ON LINE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE PRIOR COMPLAINTS AND NEED FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. FURTHER, DESPITE DIRECTIVES ETC IT APPEARS JAGUAR IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM AS A PRODUCT DEFECT ETC. OUR CAR IS AT THE HORNBURG JAGUAR DEALER AND WE ARE WAITING FOR JAGUAR TO RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST THAT THEY PAY TO REPAIR AND OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS TYPE OF SUDDEN TIMING CHAIN RUPTURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AND OR DEATH IF CAR OWNERS AND OR LESSEES ARE NOT TOLD TO HAVE THEIR CARS CHECKED AND OR RECALLED. PLEASE ASSIST US IF POSSIBLE.*AK