NHTSA Complaint #10187716 — 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

IN THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS, MY 2001 CHEVY IMPALA STARTED TO SHOW THE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS (SLUDGE ON OIL CAP, BROWN RESIDUE IN COOLANT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR, SMALL COOLANT PUDDLES ON ENGINE). AT 71,000 MILES I RECEIVED A QUOTE AT A GM DEALER FOR THE FIX...$900.00. THE DEALER SAID HE DOES ONE A DAY ON THESE GM 3.4 ENGINES. AS A SIDE, MY WIFE'S VENTURE, SISTER'S VENTURE AND FATHER IMPALA ALL HAVE THE FAULTY INTAKE MAIFOLD COOLANT/OIL LEAK. AFTER SPEAKING WITH GM, THEY AGREED ONLY TO PAY FOR THE TWO BOLTS, A GASKET AND A SMALL TUBE OF SEALANT. THIS PAST WEEK, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE NEXT PARKING LOT. IT STALLED THERE AND NEVER STARTED. AFTER A TOW, THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO FILL IT WITH OIL AND RUN IT. WITHIN SECONDS IT FLOWS OUT THE OIL FILTER AND THE FILTER AND/OR FILTER GASKET RUPTURES. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL PUMP AND OIL PUMP SENSOR, HIS DIAGNOSIS IS FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. HE CLAIMS THAT THE SLUDGE FROM THE ANTIFREEZE HAS BUILT UP, AND A CAM BEARING HAS BEEN DAMAGED, RENDERING THE ENGINE IRREPLACEABLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE ,MULTIPLE OPTIONS, THE CHEAPEST OF WHICH IS $3,500.00. WE ARE A GM FAMILY, MY FATHER RETIRED FROM GM. WHY CAN'T GM FACE THE FAULTY DESIGN FLAW OF THE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND COOLANT PROBLEMS? *TR