NHTSA complaint: 2000 SATURN SL — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER WITH AN AS-IS NO WARRANTY BACK IN AUGUST 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD A LITTLE OVER 88,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND ALL MAJOR ITEMS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE CAR CAME DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007, THE ENGINE WENT BANG. THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH AND THERE WAS NO KNOCKING HEARD PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 TO REPORT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN ON FIRE, BUT THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASKED ABOUT KNOCKING PRIOR AND I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NONE. IN FACT, A MECHANIC HAD JUST LOOKED AT IT THE DAY BEFORE. I RECALL THAT THE CHANGE OIL SOON LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT NEVER STEADY. THE OIL LIGHT ALSO KEPT FLICKERING BUT WAS NEVER STEADY. THE RPM'S INCREASED FROM 2500 TO 3000 AND RETURNED TO 2500. NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS REPORTED BY DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN EAST GRAND FORKS. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID IT IS TOTALED. CURRENTLY IN THE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation