NHTSA Complaint #10100967 — 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA

MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA SUFFERED A BREAKDOWN OF THE ANTIFREEZE THAT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN SUBSTANCE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND GM DID HAVE THE COOLANT FLUSHED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LIFTER BEGAN TO RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT A SEAL WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. I WAS ASSURRED THAT THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND WAS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIRS WILL COST OVER 760.00. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER WAITING ALL DAY, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT THERE, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FIRST PROBLEM. THE COOLANT TURNED INTO A THICK BROWN GRITTY SUBSTANCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE SANDPAPER GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SEAL TO FAIL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR OBVIOUS FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THEY REFUSE TO STAND UP FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS COOLANT ACCORDING TO GM IS SUPPOSED TO LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AND IT DOES HOLD UP AS THEY STATE. THEY SHOULD ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND MAKE THE PROPER REPAIRS TO CUSTOMERS VEHICLES.