NHTSA Complaint #10153437 — 1988 PONTIAC FIERO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BECAME LOUD AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE BELT TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, STARTER (REPLACED FOUR TIMES), VALVE COVER GASKET (REPLACED TWICE), OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, HEATER HOSES, RADIATOR HOSES, AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WERE REPLACED. LAST WEEK THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE DEALER CONCERNING A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 89V232000 ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, ADDED AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD, REMOVED DUST SHIELDS FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND REPLACED A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE RECALL REMEDY AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY THE CONTACT AS A RESULT OF DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DUST SHIELD. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE PARTS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE NOTIFICATION. THE CONTACT INQUIRED PREVIOUSLY WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NEVER AN OFFICIAL RECEIPT OF THIS 1989 RECALL UNTIL LAST WEEK. *AK UPDATED 04/11/06.