NHTSA Complaint #10228561 — 2004 SATURN VUE

OUR 2004 SATURN FWD V6 SATURN VUE HAS DEVELOPED A "SHUDDER" IN THE DRIVE TRAIN THAT'S PREVALENT IN THE 30-35MPH RANGE UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION. IT IS AKIN TO A TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE ALTHOUGH WE'VE NEVER LOST TRACTION TO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE PRESENTLY HAS BETWEEN 50 AND 55 THOUSAND MILES. THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT BUT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AS WE PUT ON MORE MILES. WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM HOWEVER HAVE FOUND NOTHING IN THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS THAT WOULD REVEAL ANY FAILURES. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND DROVE IT NUMEROUS TIMES BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BEEN AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. OUR CONCERN IS THE ISSUE, WHICH CERTAINLY SEEMS TRANSMISSION RELATED, MAY PRESENT ITSELF AT A BAD TIME AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE LOSS OF TRACTION AT A CRUCIAL TIME AND LEAVE US (MY WIFE MAINLY DRIVES THE VEHICLE) IN A VULNERABLE POSITION. HOWEVER, UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP WITNESSES THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO DO ANYTHING. CAN THE NHTSA BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF GM AND SATURN? AGAIN IT IS A 2004 SATURN VUE WITH THE V6 FWD CONFIGURATION. *TR