NHTSA Complaint #10125382 — 2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM

2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM 6 CYLINDER WITH 31,000 MILES. ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ADDED COOLANT, BUT LIGHT COMES ON 2 WEEKS LATER. FIND A SMALL LEAK ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASGET WHERE COOLANT IS SEEPING OUT OF THE ENGINE. PONTIAC WANTS $800 TO FIX PROBLEM, PONTIAC MECHANIC TELLS ME THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS TYPE ENGINE. SEARCH AROUND AREA AND FIND SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR $500. DURING REPAIR I FIND OUT THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ENGINE. COOLANT WAS IN THE OIL. TOTAL REPAIR BILL IS $550. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY GM OR PONTIAC. A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED ON THIS VEHICLE OR COMPENSATION SHOULD BE MADE TO THOSE WHO WERE STUCK WITH A COSTLY REPAIR BILL ON A POORLY DESIGNED AND DEFECTIVE ENGINE.