NHTSA Complaint #767828 — 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR ENGINE CUT OUT, WITH NOINDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICE COULD FIND NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS: ENGINE PISTON CRACKED, NUMBER 1 SPARK PLUG CRACKED AND BURN, SPUN ROD IN LIFTERS CAUSING CAR NOT TO START, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $4,500. AFTER CONSULTING WITH ANOTHER MECHANIC, I REPLACED THE ENGINE ELSEWHERE. THE MECHANIC THERE COULD NOT OFFER A EXPLAINATION OTHER THAN A DEFECT FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. BOTH MECHANICS NOTED HOW WELL THE ENGINE LOOKED DESPITE THE FAILURE. REGULAR ENGINE MAINTENENCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THE CAR HAD CLEARLY BEEN DRIVEN ABUSIVELY. TS