1991 PONTIAC SUNBIRD

AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS, CONSUMER REQUESTED HELP IN GETTING THE VEHICLE TO RUN. *PH THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND ARE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO NEED FINANCIAL HELP TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY PARTIAL REPAIRS BUT NONE THAT HAVE PERMANENTLY REPAIRED ALL THE PROBLEMS. *NM

MY WIFE AND I HAD A FIRESTONE "FIREHAWK SS WL" PASSENGER CAR TIRE COME APART WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE 5 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ON JUNE 25, 2000. WE FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE TIRE ON JULY 3, 2000 AFTER THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED AT THE LOCAL FIRESTONE STORE WHERE IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED. I WAS REFERRED TO AN "ED" AT THE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TECHNO CENTER AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO RETURN THE TIRE FOR THEIR INSPECTION. SCOTT AT SCOTT & SMITTY'S FIRESTONE, PACKAGED THE TIRE AND SENT IT TO THE TECHNO CENTER IN JUNE 2000. I THEN SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED (1) INCIDENT REPORT, (2) A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE" FROM COURTESY MOTORS (FOR DAMAGES TO THE AUTOMOBILE), (3) A COPY OF THE REPLACEMENT TIRE INVOICE FROM SCOTT & SMITTY'S FIRESTONE (CHICO, CALIFORMIN), AND (4) PHOTOS OF THE TIRE AND DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMOBILE. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM FIRESTONE AFTER JUNE 27, 2000. I SENT THEM ANOTHER LETTER ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 AND SENT THE NHTSA A LETTER ON SEPTEMBER 5

Mileage: 81,914

HAD VEHICLE IN REVERSE & BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT. THE THROTTLE STUCK & VEHICLE TOOK OFF. VEHICLE HAD FRONT WHEEL DRIVE & THE WHEELS JUST KEPT SPINNING. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM,CAUSING THE VEHCILE TO SHUTDOWN WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

HEAD GASKET CRACKED.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING THE OIL AND THE COOLANT TO MIX TOGETHER AND LEAK, MAY HAVE CAUSED FIRE OR ENGINE DAMAGES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHEN MY COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR THEY PURPOSLY PUT AN EXTRA WASHER ON ONE SIDE CAUSING THE FAN TO HIT THE RADIATOR WHICH THEN CAUSED MY HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM!! I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP IN MILLAX AND HAD A DIFFERENT USED ENGINE PLACED IN IT NOW, THIS ENGINE HAS NO ACCELERATION DUE TO A BAD CAM SHAFT, SO I AGAIN HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED.

WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED WHILE IN REVERSE AND THE CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE NOW. *AK

THE ENGINE HAS A MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT ACCELERATE VERY FAST. DEALER REPLACED FIRST ENGINE, AND NOW THE SECOND IS MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO STOP VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE AND HAD A SOFT PEDAL. IN ADDITION, WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN RECENTLY WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN REVERSE/DRIVE IT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ONCE AND THEN LURCHES INTO GEAR. *AK

BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO STOP VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE AND HAD A SOFT PEDAL. IN ADDITION, WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN RECENTLY WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN REVERSE/DRIVE IT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ONCE AND THEN LURCHES INTO GEAR. *AK

THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD FLEW OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, BEGAN AT WIRING HARNESS . *AK

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE DURING ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES.

BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES.

DOORS COME OPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THEM. *AK

SHOULDER PORTION OF SEAT/LAP BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN UPPER PORTION OF OWNER'S BODY, ALLOWING CONTACT WITH STEERING WHEEL. *AK