NHTSA Complaint #11020674 — 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SANDS CHEVROLET (5418 GRAND AVE, GLENDALE, AZ 85301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO GET MORE FREQUENT OIL CHANGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY CHEVROLET (1233 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROLLER LIFTERS FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND THE PISTON RINGS TO COLLAPSE. THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALSO COLLAPSED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER LIFTERS FOR CYLINDERS 1, 4, 6 AND 7 FAILED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE IN THE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO COURTESY CHEVROLET WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS WERE CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SPEAK WITH NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,300.