NHTSA Complaint #10248666 — 2001 SATURN LS

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN 2001 L200 SERIES ENGINE; WHERE IT WILL STALL THE FIRST TIME STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BECAUSE MY VIN# WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE RANGE"? I WAS TOLD THE EXCLUDED RANGE IS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND 1Y559453. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN"? I WAS TOLD THE CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE; AS LONG AS I CHANGE THE OIL ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE A FOUND THAT VEHICLES IN THE EXCLUDED RANGE HAVE HAD TIMING CHAIN FAILURES AS WELL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE SINCE THE STALLING PROBLEM; FOR FEAR THAT I MAY CAUSE DAMAGE, IF NOT ALREADY, TO THE VEHICLE. I BEEN TOLD, BY SEVERAL MECHANICS, THAT THE REPAIR COULD COST ANY WHERE FOR $2500 TO $4000; DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. HOW CAN THE MANUFACTURER GET AWAY WITH PICKING AND CHOOSING WHOSE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SUPPOSE MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON A CROWDED HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY; IN FRONT OF A CAR OR A BUS OR A TRACTOR TRAILER? WOULD THE MANUFACTURER RESPOND TO MY REQUEST, AFTER MY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S DEMISE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO LIVE UP TO THEIR ETHICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, WHEN IT COMES TO A RELIABLE AND SAFE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE 2001 AND 2002 MODEL YEARS AND CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THAT IS A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR