NHTSA Complaint #10558959 — 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR CHEVY AVEO 2005 ON A MAJOR 4 LANE HIGHWAY DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR. SHE IS DOING ABOUT 60MPH IN THE INNER LEFT LANE ON AN ICY TUESDAY MORNING COMMUTE.THEN SHE LOSES ALL POWER AND ACCELERATION, EVERY LIGHT IN THE CAR COMES ON AND SHE REALIZES THERE IS A PROBLEM. SHE IS MID WAY UP A HILL AND HAS TO GET OVER. THERE IS AN ON RAMP TO HER RIGHT AND MORE TRAFFIC SO SHE HAD TO GO INTO THE LEFT BERM. BY THIS TIME SHE HAS PEAKED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND IS ON THE FLAT MESA. THERE IS VERY LITTLE ROOM TO MOVE OVER AND SHE IS OVER AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. STATE AND LOCAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT COME TO HER AIDE AND ALLOW HER TO WAIT FOR ME AND A TOW TRUCK TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVED. NEARLY A DOZEN CARS ALMOST HIT THEM AFTER I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE BEFORE THE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE FOR US TO WAIT WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY TAGGED THE CAR AND WE HAD IT TOWED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE IDLER PULLEY HAS SNAPPED AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH AVEOS. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT PUT MY WIFE, TWO OFFICERS AND I IN HARMS WAY. LET ALONE THAT RECALLING THE SMALL PART WOULD HAVE SAVED EVERYONE A $1900-2500 REPAIR JOB. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY CONSIDER THIS STYLE CAR DISPOSABLE BUT I SAY IT AS AN AFFORDABLE ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMUTER VEHICLE. HOWEVER THESE FEATURES ARE NOT WORTH HUMAN LIFE... *TR