NHTSA Complaint #10143174 — 2001 SATURN LS

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES, 2.2L ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING UNDER 30 MPH,ENGINE DIED. DIAGNOSIS: TIMING CHAIN BROKE, + ALL THE VALVES BENT COST TO ME $2400 (SEE ODI ID #10142499.) ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI ID #10129780, DATED 7/16/05. THIS VEHICLE WAS A 2000 SATURN L-SERIES, PASSENGER CAR. THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CALIFORNIA WHEN HIS MOTOR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. HE WAS TOLD SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND IN HIS CASE THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM SURE IN HIS CASE BECAUSE HE WAS DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND THE VALVES CONTINUED TO HIT THE PISTONS DAMAGING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. HAD HE BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF SATURN HAS ISSUED ANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, MY DEALER SAYS NO BUT I WOULD GUESS THEY HAVE SINCE THE AREA (ENGINE REBUILDERS ASSOCIATION) HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETINS DATED APRIL 2004 WHICH SAYS, "THE AREA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING CHANGES TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND OILING NOZZLE ON THE 2000-2003 SATURN 2.2L ENGINES. ALL GM TIMING CHAIN KITS AVAILABLE THROUGH GM SERVICE HAVE A REVISED NOZZLE INCLUDED IN THE KIT. THE REVISED NOZZLE HAS HIGHER FLOW RATE CHARACTERISTICS THAT WILL INCREASE OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN UNDER LOW RPM OPERATING CONDITIONS. WHENEVER REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REPLACE THE OIL NOZZLE." THIS SAME ENGINE IS IN AT LEAST THE CHEVY CAVALIER. I CONTEND THAT THE ORIGINAL TIMING CHAIN OIL IS FAULTY, IT DOES NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER OIL TO THE TIMING CHAIN UNDER LOW RPM, THUS CAUSING IT TO HEAT UP AND OVER TIME BREAK, WHICH CAUSES MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND EXPENSE TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD THIS HAPPEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AROUND ANY MAJOR CITY PUTTING INNOCENT PEOPLE'S LIVES IN JEOPARDY. GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BY INSTALLING OR IN MINE AND I AM SURE OTHERS CASES PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. *JB