NHTSA Complaint #10142499 — 2001 SATURN LS

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES PASSENGER VEHICLE WITH A 2.2 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS 69K MILES AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE TROUBLE (BENT VALVES), WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $2400. IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO ANY OF THE PISTONS THEN THE COST WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THE MECHANIC THAT I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO USED TO TEACH AUTO MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL UNTIL THEY ELIMINATED THE PROGRAM. AS MY MECHANIC WAS EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM TO ME HE TELLS ME THAT ONE OF HIS FORMER STUDENTS NOW WORKS AS A MECHANIC FOR SATURN. MY MECHANIC HAD TROUBLE DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AND SO HE CALLED HIS FORMER STUDENT WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. HE GOES ON TO TELL ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS OILED BY SPRAYING OIL ON TO THE CHAIN THROUGH AN ORIFICE THAT IS NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN A PIN HOLE. THIS TINY HOLE WHERE THE OIL SPRAYS FROM IS AT THE END OF A PLASTIC PIECE ABOUT A HALF INCH LONG. IF SOMETHING SHOULD BLOCK THIS HOLE THE CHAIN BECOMES DRY AND EVENTUALLY BREAKS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THEIR ORIGINAL DESIGN HAD A FATAL DESIGN FLAW, WHICH SATURN CAME TO RECOGNIZE, I CAN ONLY ASSUME DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING, PROBABLY WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE UNDER WARRANTY, FORCING THEM TO COME UP WITH THE REDESIGN. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES A SATURN WITH THE ORIGINAL OILIER. IT IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. SHOULD SOMEONE BE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND HAVE THEIR TIMING CHAIN BREAK FOR IT WOULD BE LIKE SOMEONE PUTTING ON THE BRAKES BUT WITHOUT THE SIGNAL THUS PLACING THEM AS WELL AS ANYONE BEHIND THEM IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I SENT THE FULL STORY TO YOUR WEBMASTER. YOU NEED TO ALLOW MORE SPACE. *NM *SC