NHTSA Complaint #10567953 — 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 EQUINOX LX WITH MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY NOTICED A SMELL OF EXHAUST GASES IN THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS WAS WITH THE HEATING SYSTEM ON AND IN ITS NORMAL CONFIGURATION. AFTER STOPPING I CHECKED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR LEAKS AND COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY IMMEDIATELY WITH A VISUAL INSPECTION. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE PIPE CONNECTING THE EGR VALVE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS DISCONNECTED AND EMITTING EXHAUST GAS INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTAKE AREA. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD ON THE PIPE BOSS WAS CRACKED. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED PREMATURELY. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP FOR A NEW PIPE I WAS TOLD BY THE PARTS DEPARTMENT THE PIPE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO OBTAIN A KIT WHICH INCLUDED THE PIPE AND A NEW EGR VALVE. MY QUESTION WAS THIS EVER CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL ITEM AS THE KIT IS $360.00. *TR