NHTSA Complaint #11173193 — 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN HER CAR BROKE DOWN ON A VERY VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. JUST BEFORE THE BROADWAY BRIDGE CROSSING THE MISSOURI RIVER ENTERING DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY MO LITERALLY RIGHT BEFORE THE BRIDGE ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE OF 169 HIGHWAY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS IN THE NEGATIVES. SHE CALLED ME AND I PICKED HER UP. MIND YOU I WORK NIGHTS SO I WAS IN BED. SHE HAD TO WAIT IN A FREEZER BASICALLY UNTIL I GOT THERE. WHICH WAS ABOUT 35 MINS. HYPOTHERMIA CAN TAKE AFFECT IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME. LUCKILY SHE HAD A BLANKET AND AN EXTRA COAT TO COVER UP WITH. I DROPPED HER OFF AND WENT BACK TO THE CAR TO WAIT ON THE TOW TRUCK. THERE IS VERY LITTLE ROOM TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHERE IT BROKE DOWN AT. ANOTHER 10 YARDS AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN BLOCKING A LANE OF TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE. THE TOW TRUCK GETS THERE AND IS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY REAR ENDED BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER. HE GETS BACKED UP STARTS TO GET OUT AND IS ALMOST SIDESWIPED BY ANOTHER DRIVER. HE CALLS ANOTHER TOW TRUCK TO THE SCENE TO BLOCK TRAFFIC SO HE DOSEN'T GET HIT. FINALLY AT THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC LOOKS IT OVER AND TELLS ME THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL HAS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE DUE TO A FROZEN PCV VALVE. AND THE ENGINE IS TOAST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS ON THE DIPSTICK. AND DUE TO THE KNOCKING THAT THE ENGINE IS MAKING. $7000 FOR A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED IS THE QUOTE HE GAVE ME. A USED ENGINE WOULD BE CHEAPER BUT WE'D RUN THE RISK OF GETTING ONE THAT CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL. SO THAT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION. THEN COME TO FIND OUT THEY KNOW THIS A PROBLEM?! BUT ARE ONLY COVERING CERTAIN VEHICLES. I'M BEYOND IRRITATED AT THIS POINT. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY ENDANGERED MY WIFE. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY ENDANGERED MYSELF. BUT THEY HAVE ALSO ENDANGERED THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. ALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THIS TYPE OF STUFF HAS GONE ON FOR FAR TOO LONG WITH AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS.