SATURN Complaints

WHILE ON A TRIP DRIVING FROM CENTRAL ARKANSAS TO WISCONSIN, THE WIPER MOTOR WENT OUT AND CAUSED THE FRONT WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AND OF COURSE THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THE WIPERS TO GO BACK DOWN TO THEIR PROPER POSITION. WHILE IN WISCONSIN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHILE THE LOCAL CERTIFIED SATURN DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OVER A WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD GET ME IN. WE HAD TO DRIVE ALL OF THE WAY BACK TO ARKANSAS WITH THE WIPERS NOT WORKING AND STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW. THE COST TO HAVE IT FIXED WAS OVER $500 AND HAD TO DRIVE 1 HR AWAY TO GET THE CAR TO THE CERTIFIED SATURN DEALERSHIP. *TR

POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE IT HAPPENS YOU CANNOT TURN THE VEHICLE. MUST POWER DOWN THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. IT CAN HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES IN A 5 MILES STRETCH, INCONSISTENT. WARNING - HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE - I ALMOST CRASHED. HAD TO STOP AUTO IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION - VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NEAR THE END OF MAY 2012, I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHICH SLOPES SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD, AND SUDDENLY WATER STARTED COMING OUT OF THE REAR OVERHEAD LIGHTS. WHEN THE CAR REACHED LEVEL GROUND THE WATER THEN CAME OUT OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR AND THE SUNROOF AS WELL. I BROUGHT IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES WERE CLOGGED. IT COST ME $90.00 TO HAVE THEM CLEAN IT OUT. THE CAR IS NORMALLY GARAGED, HOWEVER WE HAD DRIVEN IT DURING A RAINSTORM THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AFTERWARDS WE STARTED NOTICING SOME CRAZY THINGS HAPPENING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE RADIO WOULD STAY ON EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND OPENING THE DOORS (WHICH NORMALLY WOULD SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.) SOMETIMES THE FRONT DOOR PANEL SPEAKERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, OR ONE WOULD WORK OR BOTH WOULD WORK. RIGHT NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT WORKING. THEN THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT IN A TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM SOMETIME NEAR THE END OF FEBRUARY 2014, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND I HAD TO CALL AAA TO GET IT STARTED. THE AAA GUY SAID TO CHECK THIS CAR OUT ONLINE FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH I DID AND FOUND VOLUMES OF COMPLAINTS STEMMING FROM THIS ISSUE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR TSB'S AS THEY ARE REFERRED TO. I ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHICH KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REPAIRED IT AT A COST TO ME OF $810.39. GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY, NOR HAS COMPENSATED ANY OF THE CONSUMERS WHO OWN THE VEHICLES THAT ALL HAVE THIS PROBLEM, NAMELY SATURN OUTLOOK, GMC ACADIA AND BUICK ENCLAVE FROM 2008 - 2010. I FEEL THAT IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNETHICAL FOR THEM TO PASS THIS PROBLEM OFF TO THE CONSUMER. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED, AND I'D LIKE THEM TO INSPECT AND REPAIR FOR FREE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL FOR OTHER DAMAGE. *TR

WE HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE MARCH 30, THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SADLY, THE DEALER NEVER TOLD US WE WOULD BE STIFFED WITH TIME IN CERTIFIED GM PRE-OWNED WARRANTY NOR ANY OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD. GOT CAR MAY 2011 AND HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOPS SINCE APPROXIMATELY SEPTEMBER OF 2011. WE HAVE REPLACED SWAY BAR LINKS 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 1 1/2 YEARS. TIRES, BATTERY, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE,ELECTRICAL ISSUES, REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. THE KICKER WAS THE TRANSMISSION ON MARCH 30 2013 WHILE HUSBAND WAS DEPLOYED. HAD BOTH OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN IT JUST STOPPED- ON THE ROAD. HAD IT TOWED TO DAVIDSON IN WATERTOWN NY. DIAGNOSTIC DONE 4/1/13 REVEALED 4 CODES FROM TRANNY, HAD TO REMOVE IT TO TEST FURTHER. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFO AT ANY PINT SINCE 2011; MOST OF THEM SEEM TO BE LISTED UNDER 2008; WE HAVE NO IDEA HAOW WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THEM, OR IF THE ISSUES HAVE EVER BEEN FIXED. THE TRANNY WENT RIGHT AFTER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY CONVENIENTLY EXPIRED- IT WAS THE 3-5 WAVE PLATE , WHICH I JUST READ ON INTERNET WAS A RECALL. GM CASE MANAGER , [XXX],WAS SUPPOSEDLY TRYING TO ASSIST ME. HE ALSO WAS IN CONTACT WITH [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER @ DAVIDSON. AS SOON AS THEY KNEW I HAD A LOAN SECURED FOR 4000.00 , NO ONE COULD HELP ALL OF THE SUDDEN! I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT I WOULD GET HELP WITH COST; EITHER CERTIFICATE WITH SMALLER AMOUNT FOR TRADE IN, OR 30% OF REPAIR COST. I SAID REPAIR COST TO LOWER MY LOAN. THEN NEITHER WOULD HELP ME AND BOTH BECAME UNPROFESSIONAL. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO GM WITH NO RESPONSE. ALSO, I HAD TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR. IT IS NOTED THAT CLUTCH SPRING AND PISTON ALSO DAMAGED. I FEEL THAT WE WERE GIVEN THIS CAR UNDER FALSE PRETENSES AS FAR AS SAFETY AND BEING GM CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO KNOW THESE ISSUES, PRIOR TO SCAMMING US, TO MAKE THIS CAR CERTIFIED GM ADVERTISED!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED.THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE DRIVER DROVE AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THAT SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT CAUSED A WHINING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ONLY A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE CAR BUCKING WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. TWO DAYS AFTER THE LOWER GEAR SHIFTING ISSUES, I NOTICED THE CAR STUTTERED AND BUCKED WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND ATTEMPTED TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR THREW A CODE - P0018 - WHICH MEANS "CRANK TO CAM INTAKE", ALONG WITH SAYING THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AND COULD BE FIXED AT A COST OF $1700. AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND THEY RECOMMENDED BRINGING TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO GET THE BEST COST/SERVICE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WILL COST. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT. OUR 5 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2013. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. NOW IT APPEARS THE REPAIRS WILL COST A THIRD OF WHAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WORTH. THOSE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FIVE TIME OVER A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE TBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

IN DECEMBER, 2012 WE PURCHASED A 2007 SATURN ION FROM A LOCAL DEALER. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE WE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE IGNITION KEY WHICH WE CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT AND WERE REASSURED THAT IT WAS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN, SUBSEQUENTLY WE ALLOWED MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER'S DAUGHTER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO COLLEGE WITH HER AS SHE NEEDED A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AT SCHOOL. ON BLACK FRIDAY, 2013 SHE ENCOUNTERED A MINOR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT WHERE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND REQUESTED A COURTESY VEHICLE FOR HER WHICH THEY HAD AGREED TO PROVIDE THROUGH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S WEB SITE AND THEY STATE ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER WHY THEY CANNOT DO THIS. GENERAL MOTORS HAS EXHIBITED A COMPLETE LACK OF ANY CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER'S SAFETY AND THEY ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE THEY WANT MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER TO DRIVE 500 MILES ACROSS STATE PICK UP HER VEHICLE, TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND PICK UP A RENTAL CAR, WHICH WILL COST HER A $50 DEPOSIT AND WHEN THE REPAIR, WHICH IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, IS FINALLY COMPLETED SHE SHOULD DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION FROM GM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND IN COMPLETE CONFLICT WITH WHAT GM HAS TOLD THE NHTSA THEY WOULD DO. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND PROPOSE AN AGREEABLE RESOLUTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE MID APRIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175. THE MILEAGE OF 175 WAS REAFFIRMED BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES 2 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WOULDNT START, IT HAD HIGH IDLING PROBLEMS, AND MOST RECENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE BATTERY AND THROTTLE WERE BOTH REPLACED. UPDATED 05/29/2014* JS