NHTSA Complaint #10376089 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO

MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES A REPLACEMENT TIMING BELT MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS DETROIT AND PURCHASED ON MY BEHALF FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT OF STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET ON MARCH 29, 2010 BY KEN BLACK OF FAIRGROUND AUTO AND BODY SHOP FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT WAS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT MY AUTO FROM DAMAGE THAT MIGHT OCCUR WHEN A TIMING BELT FAILS. AT THAT TIME MY CAR MILEAGE WAS 69631. ON OCTOBER 1, 2010, THIS REPLACEMENT TIMING BELT FAILED AFTER ONLY 4327 MILES AND 6 MONTHS OF SERVICE. A SECTION OF THE TEETH WHICH ENGAGED THE TIMING BELT SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE BELT. THE DEFECTIVE BELT FLEW INTO MY ENGINE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FAIRGROUND AUTO WHERE THIS DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF $2098.30. MR. KEN BLACK ADVISED ME THAT SINCE THE BELT WAS DEFECTIVE HE BELIEVED THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. HE TOOK THE BELT BACK TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET WHERE HE SHOWED IT TO THE PARTS MANAGER MIKE STEWART WHO CONCURRED THAT THE BELT DEFINITELY HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND MADE ATTEMPTS TO GET GM IN DETROIT TO STAND BEHIND THE PART AND TAKE CARE OF MY DAMAGES. GM REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THESE DETAILS CAN BE VERIFIED WITH KEN BLACK OF FAIRGROUND AUTO AT 770 429 8473 AS WELL AS MIKE STEWART, PARTS MANAGER AT STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET, AT 770 953 0100 EXT 3047.