NHTSA Complaint #10217029 — 2004 SATURN L300

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS SLAMMING US ALMOST FROM THE DAY WE GOT THE CAR. IT IS AN LW 300.1 2004 SATURN WAGON. MY SMALL GRANDDAUGHTER, AND A PASSENGER HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE DOOR. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN HIT MANY TIMES ON THE BACK, ARM, AND LEGS. THE DOORS HAVE TWO STOP POSITIONS. IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO ITS WIDEST POSITION, AND THE OTHER POSITION DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH ROOM TO ENTER AND LEAVE COMFORTABLY. THEREFORE, IF THE DOOR IS NOT PUT IN ONE OF THE TWO STOP POSITIONS, IT SLAMS IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PERSON. WE HAVE FELT PAIN AND BRUISING. WE FEEL LUCKY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT THAT COULD OCCUR THE NEXT TIME THE DOOR "ATTACKS". WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. THAT IS THE PROBLEM -- POOR DESIGN. OUR OTHER CARS HAVE AND DO STAY OPEN WHEREVER WE OPEN THEM. *TR