NHTSA Complaint #10034411 — 1997 SATURN SW

CONSUMER STATED DOOR BELL WAS ACTING AS IF THE LIGHTS WERE ON, AND THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC, HE KEPT PRESSING ON THE BUTTON, AND GOT IT TO SHUT OFF. THEN HE REINSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTER MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOR THE SMOKING, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A BURNING HARNESS WIRE. IT WOULD COST FROM $800.00 TO $1000.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. SHE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS FAIR BECAUSE THE MECHANIC CAUSED THIS PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS FIXING SOMETHING ELSE. SHE WANTED TO KNOW -WHY SHE HAD TO PAY WHEN IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE REPAIR FOR THE DOOR BELL/IGNITION FALSE ALARM? *AK