NHTSA Complaint #10242685 — 1997 SATURN SL

ON 13SEP2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400HRS I WAS OPERATING MY 1997 SATURN SL2 (MANUAL) AT LOW SPEED IN MY DRIVEWAY; WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN GEAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT MY SHIFTING CABLE LINKAGE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED (SPECIFICALLY THE SHIFTING ROD AND THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER). AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THE PART VIA LOCAL AUTO PART MERCHANTS I CONTACTED A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHIFTING ROD ASSEMBLY, AND CONCURRENT DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH IT WAS TO BUY THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST $195.00; BECAUSE ONE HAS TO BUY THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND NOT JUST THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. *TR