NHTSA Complaint #11099182 — 2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO

THE GM 6.2L LS ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE VALVE TRAIN THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO DROP VALVES INTO THE CYLINDER, AND LOCK UP THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE ENGINE OPERATE ON LESS CYLINDERS WHILE AT CRUISING SPEEDS, CAUSES THE LIFTERS TO STICK. THIS RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE VALVE AND ROCKER ARM, AND THE BEATING ACTION KNOCKS THE KEEPERS OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VALVE DROPS INTO THE CYLINDER, AND THE ENGINE LOCKS UP. THIS PRIMARILY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES, AND IN CASES LIKE MINE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, WHEN THE ENGINE LOCKS UP, THE REAR WHEELS ALSO LOCK UP, AND THE VEHICLE SLIDES OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS RAINING, ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF DIVIDED 4 LANE, AT 55MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD, AND ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND THERE WAS VERY LIMITED TRAFFIC, WE WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED. I SPECIAL ORDERED THIS VEHICLE FROM GM, IT WAS SERVICED ONLY AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED, AND WAS TREATED WITH EXTREME CARE FROM DAY ONE. BEING THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE DEALERSHIP MADE AN ESTIMATE THAT IT WILL TAKE $8,200 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND IT ONLY HAD 51,000 MILES AT THE TIME. AFTER THIS HAPPENED TO MINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SITUATION IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 6.2L LS ENGINES. GM HAS DONE NOTHING BUT TURN THEIR BACKS TO MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS WHO ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT CAN LOSE STEERING, BRAKES, AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60+MPH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO NOT JUST THE PEOPLE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES, BUT ANYONE WHO IS DRIVING NEAR ONE OF THESE VEHICLES WHEN THIS OCCURS. GM NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.