NHTSA Complaint #10379426 — 2001 SATURN LS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A VIOLENT JERK AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENGINE BLOCK HEAD, HEAD GASKET AND VALVES AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SIMILAR DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS INTERESTED IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ CONSUMER STATED RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE CONSUMERS VEHICLE VIN BECAUSE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS ARE SIMILAR. UPDATED 6/7/12 *SD