1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

I OWN A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA, ON 4/25/2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I PULLED OVER AND LUCKILY MY MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING AND SHE HAD EXTINGUISHER IN HER VEHICLE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY ONTO EXHAUST PIPE AND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THAT AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THAT SEAL THAT'S WHY THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. IT TURNS OUT AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THE MANUFACTURE ALLOWED TO PUT A DEFECT PART IN THE VEHICLE THAT PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK AND NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. I HAD MY 2 YR OLD SON AND MY 4 MO OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. GM WAS REQUIRED TO...

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SHORT IN HEADLIGHTS AND SEAT AND MIRROR SHORTAGE. *JB

CAR BURNS OIL. CAR SHIFT IS FALLING APART. *NM

PER DEALER DIAGNOSIS, THREADS IN BLOCK FOR HEAD BOLT(S) HAVE DETERIORATED CAUSING HEAD GASKET LEAKS (ANTIFREEZE & OIL) DUE TO POOR GM DESIGN. THIS RESULTS IN ROUGH RUNNING, OVERHEATING AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. REPAIR COST OF $4500 + TAX, ALL OF WHICH IS CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY. THIS REITERATED BY OLDSMOBILE HELP LINE ON 6/6/05.

WHILE TRAVELING THE CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL GAS, THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER STATES THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THERE IS OIL SLUDGE. *NM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THERE DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING THOUGH THE ALUMINUM CASTING OIL PAN. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB

MY AURORA OLDSMOBILE STALLS WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM ALSO LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN NO POWER IS GOING TO CAR THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.*JB

ENGINE COMPONENT FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES. HEAD BOLT INSERTS FAILING CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT LEAKAGE. GM SERVICE REQUEST #1-187589352. CAR PURCASED NEW WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRING IN APRIL, 2003. REPAIR ESTIMATE IN EXCESS OF $6,100. SERVICE BULLETIN 99086 ISSUED IN DEC 1999 DISCOVERED BY OWNER ON NHTSA DATABASE WHICH SERVICE DEALER CONFIRMS IS THE MODE OF FAILURE. GM CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ASSISTANCE. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IMMINENT.*AK