NHTSA Complaint #10064394 — 2000 SATURN LS

WE HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT A SATURN FROM HENDERSON SATURN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE COVERED FOR 24,000 MILES OR 2 YEARS OF ANY MECHANICAL DEFECTS. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AND WAS TOWED TO SATURN. WE WERE CALLED THIS MORNING AND TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO TEAR DOWN THE CAR BECAUSE THE HEAD IS CRACKED FROM THE WATER PUMP GOING OUT. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE RADIATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AND PUT WATER IN IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL THEM WHEN THAT LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WHEN THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON I NEVER CALL THEM AND I ASKED WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. BECAUSE I'M NOT A MECHANIC I ONLY KNEW THAT WHEN A RADIATOR LIGHT COMES ON, IT MEANS THE RADIATOR NEEDS WATER/COOLANT. THE WARRANTY COVERS THE BAD WATER PUMP BUT NOT THE RESULT OF THE CRACKED HEAD IT CAUSED FROM BEING UNFUNCTIONAL. WE ARE TOLD THIS WILL COST US UPWARDS OF $500 OUT OF OUR POCKET. WE JUST GOT THE LICENSE PLATES ON THE CAR YESTERDAY. THIS IS SO UNJUST OF SATURN TO SELL US A BILL OF GOODS THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED TO PAY FOR AND THEM NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS A RESULT OF A BAD WATER PUMP, THEY AGREE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY WILL REPLACE, THAT SLIPPED BY THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO PAY AN AMPLE AMOUNT ABOVE WHAT THE CAR SELLS FOR IN ORDER TO FINANCE THIS VEHICLE. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS? *JB