NHTSA Complaint #10269400 — 2007 SATURN RELAY

ON MAY 1, 2009 THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF MY 2007 SATURN RELAY. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND TO THIS DAY HAS YET TO BE FIXED. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NONE OF OUR 5 CHILDREN WERE HURT BUT THEY WERE TRAUMATIZED BY THIS INCIDENT AND ARE AFRAID TO RIDE BY ANY SLIDING VAN DOOR. NOT ONLY HAS THIS HAPPENED BUT BACK IN FEBRUARY WE HAD A INCIDENT WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE FOR NO REASON. I DO NOT FEEL THAT SATURN/GM IS TAKING THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO INSURE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE TO DRIVE OR SAFE FOR PASSENGERS. THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY TOLD MY HUSBAND TODAY THAT WE COULD NO LONGER HAVE RENTAL AND MUST DRIVE OUR VAN EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT FIXED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY VIOLATION I HAVE A SET OF TWINS AND A SET OF TRIPLETS EVERY SEAT IN MY VAN IS OCCUPIED SO I CAN NOT JUST PUT SOMEONE IN A DIFFERENT SEAT TO AVOID A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR FALLING OFF. I REALIZE THAT GETTING PARTS IS SLOW BECAUSE OF THE CUT BACKS BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE IN DANGER BECAUSE A AUTO MAKER CAN NOT PRODUCE THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLES THEY MAKE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN, BACK IN JANUARY 2009 IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A PROBLEM WITH HE STEERING COLUMN. APPARENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN HAD A BREAK IN IT AND WE ARE LUCKY THE STEERING DID NOT GO OUT ON THE VAN. THIS VAN IS BEGINNING TO LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE A LEMON EVERY DAY. *TR