NHTSA Complaint #10145252 — 2001 SATURN SC

I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 SC1. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES. THE REPAIRMAN AT SATURN SAID HE HAD NEVER REPLACED A HEAD GASKET ON A SATURN IN 14 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THEY ALSO FOUND CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE MOTOR THAT THE REPAIRMAN WAS SUPRISED TO SEE. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEIR FINDINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE IN DETERMINING IF THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR WAS ADVERTISED USING TWO EMPLOYEES DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SEE HOW MANY DEPENDABLE MILES THEY COULD GET ON THE CAR WITHOUT AN UNSCHEDULED REPAIR. I THINK AT ONE TIME THEY WERE AT TWO MILLION MILES. IF THEY REALLY FEEL THEIR CAR IS THAT DEPENDABLE I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THIS UNSCHEDULED REPAIR AT 73000 MILES. THE ADVERTISING, WHICH LEAD ME TO PURCHASE THE CAR WAS VERY MISLEADING. I HAD EXPECTED TO DRIVE A LOT MORE THAN THIS BEFORE HAVING TO CONSIDER A REPAIR THIS COSTLY. MY EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME TO LOOK PAST THE ADVERTISING LIES AND HIPE THEY USE TO INSTILL FALSE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE SATURN TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE REPAIRMEN LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS CONDITION WAS VERY UNUSUAL. *NM