NHTSA Complaint #10192028 — 2003 SATURN L300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECENTLY RAN OUT OF WARRANTY AT 45,000 MILES. THREE SEPARATE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED MASTER ENGINE FLOW FAILURE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS SPENT ALMOST $1,200 ON REPAIRS. HE HAS CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THEY REFEREED HIM TO NHTSA. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE FAILURE RATE IS SO HIGH. THE CONTACT CALLED SATURN WHO STATED THAT HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURES LACKED MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE. SATURN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION, BUT RESPONDED BY STATING, "DIDN'T WE HELP YOU OUT BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE?" THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER BOTH REFERRED THE CONTACT TO ONE ANOTHER. HE STATED THAT SATURN DOES NOT WHAT ANY PART IN THE MATTER AND HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW FOR HIS STATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.