NHTSA Complaint #10168644 — 2002 SATURN VUE

(1) WAS TURNING RIGHT FROM DRIVEWAY ONTO STREET FROM WORK (2) WAS A LOUD METAL SNAPPING SOUND, THEN A GRINDING TYPE SOUND WHILE DRIVING HOME. THUMPS WHEN MAKING TURNS WHEN CHECKED AT HOME, DISCOVERED THAT FRONT STABILIZER BAR'S RIGHT LINK HAD SNAPPED LOOSE AT JUNCTION OF ROD AND BALL JOINT ON THE SUSPENSION STRUT. GRINDING WAS DUE TO LOOSE END OF THE LINK RUBBING INSIDE THE WHEEL. (3) LINK HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS DIFFERENT DESIGN FROM ORIGINAL. ORIGINAL WAS 3 PIECES SCREWED TOGETHER, REPLACEMENT WAS CASST SINGLE PIECE. ORIGINAL IS AVAILABLE. FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO THE BROKEN PIECE DISABLING BRAKES IF IT RUPTURED THE BRAKE HOUSE, OR DISABLING ABS HAD IT BROKEN WIRE LEADS WHICH ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. PARTS REDESIGN POINTS TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT OLD DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. *JB