NHTSA Complaint #10049064 — 2000 SATURN LS

TRANSMISSION FAILURE/REPLACEMENT AT 50,000 ODOMETER READING ON 2000 SATURN LW2, ENGINE L81 3.0 LITER V-6, VIN [XXX].....ON OCTOBER 6, 2003 I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER OF SATURN OF WOODBRIDGE (VIRGINIA) THAT. *AK MY 2000 SATURN LW2 NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3,800. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDERGONE THE 51,000 SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 9, 2003 AT A COST TO ME OF $1,500. IT IS MY CONSIDERED OPINION THAT AN AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL WITHOUT EXPLAINED/ANTICIPATED REASON AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. PURCHASED NEW BY ME ON MAY 27, 2000, EVERY SCHEDULED 3000 MILE MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE. FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER 2003 THE SERVICE-ENGINE-LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE SERVICE SECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NOTHING REGISTERED ON THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED" BY RE-SETTING THE COMPUTER. ON OCTOBER 3, 2003 THE COMPUTER INDICATED "CODE P1811" WHICH LED THE TECHNICIAN TO A BULLETIN NUMBERED 02-T-84. WHAT IS THIS BULLETIN? IS IT "2002-TRANSMISSION-84TH BULLETIN"? WHEN I COMPLAINED, SATURN VOLUNTEERED TO ABSORB ALL COSTS BUT $1,500. SATURN INSTALLED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION ON OCTOBER 9, 2003 AND KEPT MY ORIGINAL (FAILED) TRANSMISSION FOR RETURN TO SATURN FOR REBUILDING. DID SATURN KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A PROPENSITY TO FAIL? DID SATURN REALLY ABSORB PART OF WHAT WAS CLAIMED TO BE A $3,800 (REBUILT TRANSMISSION) REPLACEMENT COST? I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS REPORT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO ODI NUMBER 10010259 DESCRIBED MARCH 8, 2003 REGARDING A 2000 L SERIES WAGON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR