NHTSA Complaint #10201776 — 2003 SATURN L200

ON 9/01/2007 MY SATURN L200 SEDAN SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE EMANATING FROM THE EXHAUST AND WITHIN TWO MINUTES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RUN ANY FURTHER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY AND A SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST WAS NOTED AND SUBSEQUENT TRIES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. PRIOR TO THIS THE FAN HAD CYCLED ON INDICATING A HEAT PROBLEM. ALL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE PROBLEM MATCH EXACTLY WHAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V231000 HAD LISTED. SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED A TOW AT MY EXPENSE AND THE DRIVER REFUSED DELIVERY TO THE SATURN OF WEST LIBERTY AVENUE DEALER BUT INSTEAD TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOME AND HE WAS RATHER DISINTERESTED IN DROPPING THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER AS I HAD INSTRUCTED HIM. A CALL TO SATURN CORPORATION YIELDED A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TELLING ME THAT NO SUCH CAMPAIGN ID OR RECALL EXISTED FOR MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH MY VIN IS IN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. A CALL TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIPS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN YIELDED THE SAME COMMENT. A RETURN CALL TO SATURN CORPORATION YIELDED YET ANOTHER PERSON STATING THE SAME. THE FIRST REP FROM SATURN CONFERENCING CALLED JUSTIN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE STORY THEN CHANGED FROM NO RECALL TO A RECALL BEING FOUND AND PERFORMED BY A PLEASANT HILLS SATURN DEALER. THE RECALL IN QUESTION WAS NEVER PERFORMED SINCE NO VISIBLE STICKER WITH THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS AFFIXED BY ANY SATURN MECHANIC IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CONFIRMS THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD SUCH SERVICE PERFORMED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH NEVER HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AND TO WHICH COULD HAVE HAD A FIRE CAUSED BUT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE HAD THAT ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER STATED I NEEDED TO PAY FOR ANOTHER TOW AND THAT I WOULD BE BILLED FOR THE WORK. *TR THE CONSUMER PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THE VEHICLE FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. THE DEALER STATED FOUND NO FUEL PRESSURE AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 09/19/07 *TR