NHTSA Complaint #10204097 — 2002 SATURN VUE

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED (APP 47K MILES ON IT) IN MARCH 2006. DURING SUMMER OF 2006 THERE STARTED TO BE A PROBLEM WHEREIN THE CAR, WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD SUDDENLY SWITCH, WITHOUT WARNING, INTO A "REDUCED POWER MODE". A SMALL LIGHT WOULD COME ON INDICATING THIS, BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS THAT ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER THIS LIGHT COMES ON, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BREAK DOWN TO 30 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTORE POWER WAS TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 30-60 SECONDS. ***I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR CENTER THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WITHIN SATURN FOR THIS DEFECT, SO THEY KNOW IT EXISTS. *** HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE COST OF THE REPAIR (TO CONSUMERS) IS OVER $1300, THEY HAVE NOT MADE A RECALL OF WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY DEFECT. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED SEVERAL SHORTCUTS IN THE PAST YEAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EACH TIME WITH ONLY TEMPORARY SUCCESS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO BOTH THE SATURN REPAIR CENTER AND SATURN CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, NEITHER WILL OFFER ANY CONCESSIONS OTHER THAN COVERING A $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AFTER I HAD ALREADY PAID SUCH FEE TWICE. A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO FORCEFULLY SLOW DOWN TO 30 MPH IS RISKING THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY, SINCE WE OFTEN TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE GOING. CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR HIGHWAY TRAVEL AND ARE FORCED TO USE OUR OTHER CAR. *JB