NHTSA Complaint #10112334 — 2005 SATURN ION

CAR PURCHASED ON 2/26/05. FIRST TIME DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, A 20" PIECE OF THE RAIN DRIP PANEL FLEW OFF. DEALER STATES CAR MUST HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCK, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER ALSO SAID THIS IS "EXPECTED BEHAVIOR" IF HIT BY DEBRIS AT OVER 35 MPH. IF HIT BY DEBRIS, WAS SMALL ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE UPON IMPACT, NOR WAS IT VISIBLE. SINCE THERE WERE NO VEHICLES TO THE SIDE OR FRONT OF VEHICLE, WE BELIEVE THIS PANEL IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND QUOTES $782 TO FIX. OTHER BODY SHOPS ARE CONSIDERABLY LESS. IF THIS BEHAVIOR IS "EXPECTED" SATURN FALSELY ADVERTISES DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, AS THEIR ADS DEPICT GOLF BALLS HITTING THE VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE. FURTHER IF THIS IS "EXPECTED" THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO OTHERS AROUND IT ON THE ROAD, IF SATURN BELIEVES IT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR 20" CHUNKS OF THE VEHICLE TO FLY OFF. *JB