NHTSA Complaint #10573489 — 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A STRANGE, LOUD RUBBING/ CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. MY BOYFRIEND, WHO IS A MECHANIC, LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID THE TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR 4 CYLINDER GM VEHICLE. THIS ENGINE IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. THIS MEANS THAT THE ONLY THING PREVENTING THE VALVES FROM STRIKING THE PISTONS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IS THE TIMING BELT. IF/ WHEN IT BREAKS, IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE, OFTEN REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ONE OR MORE OF THE TIMING BELT PULLEYS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. WHEN THE TIMING BELT PULLEY BREAKS, SHARDS OF PLASTIC SNAP OFF AND BECOME LODGED INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, RENDERING THE ENGINE USELESS. ALSO, AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE VALVES BECOME BENT WHEN THE BELT/ PULLEY(S) MALFUNCTIONS. THIS IS BOTH COSTLY AND DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE MADE ALL PULLEYS AND MOVING PARTS ON THE ENGINE OUT OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *TR