NHTSA Complaint #10164485 — 2001 DAEWOO PUERTO RICO LANOS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXHIBITING SERIOUS PROBLEMS, THERE WAS NO NEED TO BE CONCERNED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED AT 60,000 MILES; HOWEVER THE TIMING BELT FAILED BEFORE THE 60,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ASSURING THE CONTACT THE NEW ENGINE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TIMING BELT AND THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY 2006. ON AUGUST 2, 2006 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE. AFTER PULLING OFF OF THE ROAD, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V357000; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM