NHTSA Complaint #10289754 — 2006 SATURN ION

WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE 2006 SATURN ION 2 WITH 61K MILES, IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON 10/15/2009 TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN THE ONLY MECHANIC TO PERFORM ANY SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 01/24/2006 FROM THE SAME SATURN OF BAKERSFIELD DEALERSHIP. WE TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND HAVE THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OF THE VEHICLE. WE ALSO HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO ONSTAR, WHICH SENDS MONTHLY "DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS" OF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, EMISSIONS, AIR BAG SYSTEM, REMAINING OIL LIFE ECT. AFTER THIS OIL CHECK I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR, BUT MOSTLY INSIDE THE CAB. THE FUMES ARE FLAMMABLE. WHEN SATURN SERVICE TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, HE STATED ON INVOICE: "CUST STATES STRONG FUEL ODOR CAN BE SMELLED IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN FOR LOF ON 10/21/09. INSPECT VEHICLE FOUND FUEL PUMP LEAKING FROM CRACK IN FUEL PUMP AT HOSE FITTING, NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE FOUND. NORMAL MOVEMENT AND ROUGH ROADS MAY HAVE LED TO FAILURE. RECOMMENDED REPLACING FUEL PUMP ESTIMATE TO REPLACE PART 19168894 565.00 PARTS 304.35 PLUS TAX 25.11 PLUS LABOR 235.00 EQUALS 564.46 " I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SIMILAR ISSUE AS THE 2004 IONS. HOW CAN A VEHICLE DRIVEN BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, THAT IS MAINTAINED, BE FAILING IN THIS MANNER? THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ON ROUGH ROADS MAINLY A FREEWAY CA HWY 99.HOW COULD A 3 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR BE "FALLING APART" AND FAILING DUE TO "NORMAL MOVEMENT"? WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, THEREFORE WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED. WE DO HAVE A POLICY IN OUR INSURANCE THAT WILL COVER, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE. SATURN COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, WE ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, THEY STATED KEEP THE WINDOWS CRACKED AND DON'T PARK IN THE GARAGE DUE TO VAPORS ARE FLAMMABLE. IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED 10/26/09. SATURN'S THE COMPANY, DEFECTIVE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS UNSAFE. A ROCKET ON WHEELS AS MY WIFE SAYS. *TR