NHTSA Complaint #10212519 — 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK

WE OWN A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, OUR CAR WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT BE JUMPED BY AAA. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE AAA-APPROVED SERVICE STATION WE USE FOR ALL REPAIRS. AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER, THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK WITH THE FUEL INLET SEAL. IT BEING THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THAT DAY. AFTER GOING ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THE PRICE OF THE PART, WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON. WE CALLED THE PONTIAC NUMBER LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON LOOKED UP THE RECALL (AFTER I GAVE HER THE NUMBER AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING) AND SAID THAT IT DID APPEAR OUR VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A PONTIAC/GM DEALER. WE LOCATED ONE NEARBY AND SHE PUT ME ON HOLD TO CALL THEM. WHEN SHE CAME BACK ON SHE SAID AFTER FURTHER REVIEW THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BECAUSE IT ONLY AFFECTED CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THE 2001-2004 YEARS WHOSE VINS ENDED WITH 2S549384 THROUGH 2S608951. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT MY VEHICLE FIT THOSE PARAMETERS, SHE SAID IT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL BASED ON GM PARAMETERS, BUT WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT GIVE ME WHAT THE EXCLUSION PARAMETERS WERE. *TR