NHTSA Complaint #10246553 — 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO

I DRIVE A 2005 CHEVY AVEO, YESTERDAY 10-22-08, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY ENGINE TEMP SHOT UP TO MAX. LUCKILY I WAS JUST COMING UP ON MY EXIT SO I GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OFFRAMP AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT THE HOOD OF MY CAR. IT TURNS OUT THE PLASTIC HOUSING THERMOSTAT HOUSING CRACKED IN HALF AND ALL THE COOLANT IN MY CAR POURED OUT. WHILE I WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO GET OVERHEATED. I REPLACED MY WATER PUMP HOUSING MYSELF CHEVY HAS AN UPDATED THERMOSTAT HOUSING MADE OF METAL NOW, BUT NOW I HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF AIR BLOWING THROUGH MY COOLANT RESERVOIR. MY HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND POSSIBLY THE HEAD IS WARPED. I WAS LOOKING ON LINE FOR INFO AND IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. NOW BECAUSE CHEVY DIDN'T RECALL A KNOWN PROBLEM THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING TO PAY $1,000+ TO HAVE MAJOR ENGINE WORK PERFORMED. NOT TO MENTION ALL THOSE PEOPLE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR TOW TRUCKS. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS QUALIFIES AS SOMETHING YOUR ASSOCIATION DEALS WITH BUT I JUST THINK SOMEONE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR