NHTSA Complaint #10243400 — 1998 BUICK REGAL

MY SISTER BOUGHT NEW THE 1998 BUICK REGAL; IN 2002 SHE DIED AND WILLED HER CAR TO ME. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR EXCEPT: IN SEPT. 2007, AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED THE CAR IN OPEN DRIVEWAY, AND WALKED TO HOUSE; MINUTES LATER MY HUSBAND, NEARBY, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED IT AND POURED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE VISIBLE FIRE ON THE MANIFOLD. IT TOOK OVER A MONTH FOR THE NEAREST MECHANIC - WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AN HOUR FROM THE NEAREST REPUTABLE BUICK DEALER - TO REPAIR. HE HAD TO TRY EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT APPARENT WHY THE FIRE STARTED (REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES THAT WERE BURNED, CHANGED COOLANT JUST IN CASE, CHECKED EVERYTHING, ETC). THEN IN APRIL I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FROM BUICK STATING EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. I DID WHAT THEY SAID: SENT IN ALL RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT, ASKING FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS ONLY TOTALING $677. MEANWHILE, I ALSO WENT TO THE DEALER 1 HOUR AWAY AND THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY GASKET. NOW THEY SAY THEY WILL GIVE ME $300 MAX (SAYING THAT SOME STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN OUT AND THEY ARE ONLY DOING THIS AS A COURTESY, NOT AN OBLIGATION). I AM WONDERING IF I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE TO GETTING THE FULL COMPENSATION, AS THEY HAD PROMISED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. AS I SEE FROM OTHERS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THE FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE, AND IT ALSO COULD HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN. DOESN'T GM TAKE A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S LIVES, THAN A MERE $300? AWAITING YOUR REPLY. GLORIA MCLEAN, ANDES, NY. *TR