NHTSA Complaint #10209764 — 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

CURRENTLY MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TSB ON THE COOLING SYSTEM TO HAVE THE SYSTEM FLUSHED AND NEW HOSES AND COOLANT REPLACED. A FOUL ODOR WAS BEING RELEASED FROM THE VEHICLE AND A SLUDGE AND DISCOLORATION WAS BUILDING UP IN THE RESERVE TANK. I RECENTLY STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT (NEAR RED LINE AT STOP LIGHTS). UPON CHECKING MY COOLANT LEVEL IT WAS VERY LOW. IT IS A CLOSED COOLING SYSTEM AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON A SERVICE WRITER OPENING THE HOOD THE VEHICLE WAS SIZZLING AND BOILING. HE QUICKLY POINTED OUT THE SLUDGE AND DISCOLORATION AGAIN IN MY RESERVE TANK AND HE TOLD ME THIS WAS INDICATIVE OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON LINE AND SEEN THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH NUMEROUS OTHER 2005 EQUINOX OWNERS RESULTING IN MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. EVERYTHING FROM GASKETS AND HEADS TO WATER PUMPS AND ENTIRE ENGINES HAVING TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED IS ON RECORD. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER IN THE EVENT THAT PROBLEMS SHOULD CONTINUE AFTER THIS MAJOR REPAIR? MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I STILL OWE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL BALANCE. I CANNOT AFFORD CONTINUING MAJOR REPAIR COSTS IN ADDITION TO MY MONTHLY PAYMENTS WHEN IT APPEARS THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT/PROBLEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. DONNA HUFF-BOLEK SHADY SIDE, MARYLAND *TR