NHTSA Complaint #10223488 — 2001 SATURN LS

NHTSA COMPLAINT APRIL 6, 2008 REF: 2001 SATURN L200 4-DOOR SEDAN WITH 2.2L DOHC ENGINE PURCHASE DATE: JULY 15, 2004 WITH 27,309 MILES DATE OF INCIDENT: FEB. 27, 2008 WHAT HAPPENED? MY WIFE DROVE APPROX 13 MILES, JUST PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HER WORKPLACE, AND THE VEHICLE DIED. SHE CALLED AND I DROVE TO THE LOCATION TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH I COULD NOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NATION-WIDE AUTO REPAIR CENTER WHERE I WORK AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO OF THE MASTER TECHNICIANS AS WELL AS THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SEPARATED AND THE 4 CYLINDERS HAD NO COMPRESSION DUE TO BENT VALVES. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE FROM $1,150.00 TO $3,800.00. RESULTS: I DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM FROM SATURN AFFECTING APPROX 20,000 VEHICLES. I CONTACTED A SATURN DEALER IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE CHECKED AND SAID OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD CONTACT THE ?REGIONAL MANAGER? AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. TWO DAYS LATER, HE INFORMED ME THAT SATURN WOULD INSTALL A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF OF THE TOTAL EXPENSE WHICH IS $7,200. SATURN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND OILER NOZZLE IN THESE ENGINES. AT ENG IDLE, THERE IS LACK OF LUBRICATION TO THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTING IN FAILURE. SATURN NOW HAS AN IMPROVED TIMING CHAIN AND OILIER DESIGN WHICH "INCREASES OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN AT IDLE". SEE SATURN TECHNICAL BULLETIN "TIMING CHAIN DESIGN CHANGE AND REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURES #03-06-01-017 - (JUN 9, 2003). I'VE CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER EVERY 3-4K MILES, USING ONLY SPECIFIED OIL. THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS NOR ANY NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HOPE YOU FOLKS CAN HELP! BEST REGARDS, WILLIAM MAJOR *TR