NHTSA Complaint #10224732 — 2001 SATURN LS

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2001 SATURN L200. I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE. WHEN THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES AND THE CHAIN LOOKED IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CHAIN BREAKING ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE TOTAL WAS NEARLY $2,800.00 OF DAMAGE. IN JANUARY OF 2008, SATURN LAUNCHED A RECALL OF 21,000 OF THERE 2001 L200'S. THE REASON FOR THE RECALL WAS "LINKS IN THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE". I NOTIFIED THEM OF MY OCCURRENCE 6 MONTHS PRIOR AND SUBMITTED MY INFORMATION. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT MATCH THE VIN RANGE OF THERE RECALL. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIMING CHAIN. *TR