NHTSA Complaint #10186454 — 2004 SATURN ION

SINCE I PURCHASED 2004 SATURN ION III QUAD COUPE IN NOVEMBER 2004 I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE WORST IT DRIFTED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ONE MUST CONSTANTLY STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE DEALER MAINTAINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE, AND THAT THE PULL WAS THE RESULT OF RADIAL TIRE DRIFT . NOT SATISFIED , I PAID TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. THEY CORRECTED A MINOR PROBLEM THAT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE DRIFTING PROBLEM. SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT WEARING ODDLY I PUT UP WITH THE DRIFT UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES, BUT THE DRIFTING CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT VERY SLIGHTLY. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED THE CAR STILL DRIFTED. I COMPLAINED, AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE DEALER ACCOMPANY ME ON A TEST DRIVE, AND THEY ADMITTED THE VEHICLE STILL DRIFTED. THE REGIONAL ENGINEER FOR SATURN EXAMINED THE CAR, AND RESPONDED AT THIS TIME THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR. BY DESIGN THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT THEY COULD MAKE TO THE CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REACHED THAT LIMIT, AND DEEMED THIS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THEY TOOK SEVERAL OTHER IONS OUT FOR TEST DRIVES. EVERY ONE THEY DROVE BEHAVED IN THE SAME MANNER. SO AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED MY VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I HAVE ASKED THAT THEY PUT THIS IN WRITING WHICH THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO. I AM CONTACTING THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM TO THE VEHICLE AND ITS DESIGN, AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU BECOME DISTRACTED IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED YOU CAN VERY EASILY FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEXT LANE. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOME IS HURT OR KILLED. BY THE WAY SATURN'S SOLUTION KEEP A GOOD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK