NHTSA Complaint #10451871 — 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA

ABOUT WEEKS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, MY CAR SEEM TO MISFIRE. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 3 DAYS. WHEN TRIED TO START IT, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND MOTOR OIL COVER AND SOME OTHER ENGINE PARTS EXPLODED OUT OF CAR. WHEN CONTACTED GM AND MENTIONED THE INCIDENT, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY GM AND THE REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION OR ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. IT APPEARS THAT SAME ENGINE HAS ISSUES WHICH CAUSED A RECALL ON APRIL 14, 2009. THE SYMPTOMS/CAUSE ARE DESCRIBED AS: "GM RECALLED 1.5 MILLION VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE ON APRIL 14, 2009 DUE TO RISK OF FIRE FROM ENGINE OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE NEARBY PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS ON THE VALVE COVER AND THEN TO THE REST OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GM FITTED THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH REDESIGNED SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS.[3] THESE ENGINES WERE NOTED FOR HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKING AROUND THE EGR PASSAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD THEN VAPOR LOCK. " I DID TAKE MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF THIS RECALL BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT STILL EXISTS AND MY CAR IS TOTALED. BUT GM HAS TOLD ME THAT ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAW IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ISSUES AFTER 4 YEARS FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. *TR