NHTSA Complaint #10227126 — 2001 SATURN LS

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER. SHE NEARLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE ENGINE AT THE SITE, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS NO ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT WE DID NOT QUALIFY. EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS FOR OUR EXACT MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE THE VIN DID NOT MATCH. SATURN DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3500-$4000. I SPOKE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE IS REPAIRING FOR $1355. I CALLED SATURN CORPORATE AND FILED A REPORT AND HAVE THAT ID#. I WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS NOT COVERED BUT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE AND REPORT IT TO THE AREA MANAGER. THE AREA MANAGER CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT. HOWEVER, I WOULD HAVE TO STOP ALL WORK, TOW IT TO SATURN, PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY COULD HELP OR NOT EVEN IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE. IF THE COULDN'T HELP I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $3500-$4000 AT THE DEALER. I INFORMED HIM THAT I CAN'T TAKE ALL THAT TIME AND SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY. I HAVE NEED FOR USE OF THE CAR. I TOLD HIM I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK OTHER ASSISTANCE WITH SATURN BEING HELD LIABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART AND HE AGREED. HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE PART BREAKING SO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND ALSO APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND I HAVE ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE DEFECTIVE CHAIN SNAPPED AND INJURED VALVES ON THE ENGINE AS WELL. THOSE ARE ALSO BEING REPAIRED. *TR