NHTSA vehicle complaint form


Here's an idea that might deserve a sticky IMO... maybe not appropriate for the stray rattle, but for all those who have experience those major, re-occurring issues we've seen on various boards, such as the squeeling & failing trannys, oil-less chain tensioners and scalding hot bonnets:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission keeps a record in the US of defective equipment and reoccurring problems in automobiles. If enough complaints come in, they have the unique ability to pressure manufacturers for change. Manufacturers then issue technical service bullitins acknowledging the problem and outlining a fix... and if it's serious enough, they can force a recall itself.

It would appear this is a US-only governmental agency... but they will take complaints from owners worldwide. A TSB or recall in the US adressing technical issues would surely benifit owners worldwide. I think it might be a nice way to get some of the bigger reoccurring issues addressed (rattling on start up, clutch noise/failure etc.).

Just a thought. Here's the link:

IVOQ - File a Complaint


I believe it's at least one avenue by which to document issues with the brand and force a change for the better. So file those complaints.

Here's an example of what I reported:

(1) A deise-likel rattling noise, not in time with the engine, coming from under the hood on start-up. The noise would eventually go away as the engine warmed up. As time progressed, the noise grew louder and took longer to subside. Vehicle was eventually turned over to the dealer for evaluation.

(2) The noise was determined to be a failure of the oil-fed cam chain tensioner. The piston was determined to be starved of oil, causing the cam chain to create a rattling noise increasing in volume and duration.

(3) Parts were ordered to fix the cam chain tensioner and the piston and tensioner were replaced. There is still some rattling on start-up, but the noise has sugnificantly deminished.

Several other owners online have reported similar issues and it appears the replacement of the cam chain tensioner is a tempary fix (with the noise returning some weeks later). Failure of the cam chain tensioner will lead to additional wear on the cam chain eventually damage to the engine case, cams and valves themselves. I'm concerned that catastophic engine failure will occurr if this issue is not addressed.

What could it hurt? Probably takes as much time as posting the issue on a couple internet forums, right?