NHTSA Complaint #10267228 — 2005 SATURN VUE

PURCHASED 2005 SATURN VUE 02/20/08 WITH 13,000 MILES. ON 03/19/09 MY SATURN VUE BROKE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SATURN HONOLULU AND SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE DAMPER PULLEY. THE SATURN MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE DAMPER PULLEY HAD WALKED AWAY FROM THE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED. THE SHREDDED PIECES GOT INTO THE TIMING BELT COVER CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP AND BENDING ALL OF THE VALVES. THE SATURN MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND HAD AGREED THAT THE PART (DAMPER PULLEY) WAS DEFECTIVE. BECAUSE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I THOUGHT THAT SATURN WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER GENERAL MOTORS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. ESTIMATE COST FOR REPAIR ($7,000) DOLLARS. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER THAT SATURN WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGES. I ALSO WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANT ON IT PURCHASED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT CHANGED TO ME FOR THE $25. DOLLAR FEE, I COULD NOT USE THE WARRANTY. I REALLY NEED SOME HELP. THANKS. *TR