NHTSA Complaint #10197422 — 2002 SATURN SL

I HAVE A 2002 SATURN SL2 AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP IN MANCHESTER, NH KNOWINGLY SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD BROUGHT UP A VERY SLIGHT SPEED UP EFFECT THE CAR HAD TO THE CAR SALES WOMAN, AND SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD A SLIGHTLY MORE POWERFUL ENGINE THAN THE 4.0 I WAS USED TO (IT HAD A 4.6) AND THE JUMP WAS JUST THE "EXTRA POWER". I HAVEN'T EVEN OWNED THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS YET. IT'S A PIECE OF CRAP AND I HAVE A PRETTY BITTER TASTE IN MY MOUTH FROM DEALING WITH THE CAR DEALERSHIPS IN NH AND IN MD. THE DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY, MD WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED (AFTER THE FACT) THAT THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE BEGINNING IN ALL '02 S-SERIES, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IF THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. IT HAS ALREADY COST ME ABOUT $5000 ON TOP OF THE 9,000 THAT I HAVE ALREADY SPENT TO PURCHASE IT (COST OF CAR PLUS BANK INTEREST FOR LOAN). THE CAR IS HARDLY WORTH $14,000 BUT I'M STILL UPSIDE-DOWN ON MY LOAN SO I CAN'T GET RID OF THE THING. I'VE LOOKED INTO THE RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IN HOPES THAT IT WILL GIVE SOME INSIGHT ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY (MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN) BUT SATURN SHOULD REALLY BE REPRIMANDED OR MADE TO REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMERS SOMEHOW. CARS ARE REALLY TOO BIG OF A PURCHASE FOR THINGS TO GO THIS WRONG. *TR