NHTSA Complaint #10241998 — 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVEROLET SILVERADO 3500. ON APRIL 20, 2008,WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH UP HILL, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD AND HE NOTICED OIL AND DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. THE MECHANIC TESTED THE CYLINDER BY BLOWING AIR INTO IT AND THE AIR TRAVELED TO THE CRANK CASE. AFTER THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THIS TEST, HE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PISTON WAS CRACKED AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE CYLINDER TO FILL UP WITH AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,800.