NHTSA Complaint #10886156 — 2003 SATURN ION

ON SAT., JULY 2, 2016 I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. BEING A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, I HAD TO WAIT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUES., JULY 5, 2016. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC THAT DAY AFTER A RUNAROUND AT THE DEALERSHIP AND FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW HOW I MADE IT TO HIS SHOP. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND TENSIONER HAD BROKE OFF INSIDE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF BOLTS. LOOKING AT THE OIL NOZZLER IT WAS BLOCKED WHICH COULD BE CAUSING LACK OF OIL GOING TO THE TENSIONER/CHAIN. I HAVE READ POSTS THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE ON CERTAIN SATURN CARS AS WELL AS TIMING CHAIN. I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN JUNE 2003 AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT VERY WELL, BARELY DRIVING 5,000 MI./YR. KEEPING THE OIL CHANGED WHEN REQUIRED. I AM NOT CERTAIN IF THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED OR IF IT HAPPENED AT START UP. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEE HOW I COULD HAVE MADE IT THERE DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE PARTS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FWY. AT 65 MPH AND MADE IT THERE SAFELY.