NHTSA Complaint #717674 — 1992 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA

THIS VENICLE HAS STARTED TO OVERHEAT AFTER GOING SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED TWICE WITH IN THE LAST FOUR (4) MONTHS. THE FISRT TIME 8/24/99 AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING. I HAD THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND TIMING COVER REPLACED FRO A TOTAL COST OF $692.10. THE SECOND OCCURENCE WAS DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AS WELL. ON THIS OCASSION THE HEAD HAD TO REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK ON THE ALU. HEAD. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A REPLACEMENT HEAD BECAUSE ALL OF THE ONES HE COULD FIND ALL HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA. I PURCHASED A NE W UNIT DIRECTLY FROM GM AND THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AFTER 2 1/2 WEEKS AND $856 LATER. MY OPINION IS THAT THE ALUMINUM HEAD IN QUESTION HAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE AREA WHERE THE CRACK OCCURED. I HAVE NOTED OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME STORY ANF TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL/ENGINE TYPE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THERE IS SOME SOME KIND OF CONSIDERATION BACK TO THE CONSMER FOR CASH OUT OF POCKET FOR THE LISTED HEAD FAILURES. VICTOR M. MARRUFO *AK