NHTSA Complaint #10463037 — 2008 SATURN AURA

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY NOV 9TH 2009 WHEN THE DOOR LOCK BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THEY REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. TODAY THE REMAINING 3 DO NOT WORK. WHEN I START THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, IT IS MY BELIEF BASED ON NORMAL OPERATION OF THESE LOCKS, THAT MY DOORS ARE LOCKED AND PASSENGERS ARE SAFE. THE REALITY IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. NOT ONLY DOES IT BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AS DESCRIBED, BUT IT ALSO BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN YOU PARK YOUR CAR, LOCK YOUR DOORS WITH THE REMOTE, AND WALK AWAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT YOUR CAR IS LOCKED WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT DUE TO THE FAULTY CHEAP PRODUCT USED IN THIS CAR, AND OTHERS MANUFACTURED BY GM. WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH, I WAS SURPRISED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON VARIOUS BLOG SITES COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM AND THE BEST THEY OFFERED WAS TO REPLACE ALL 4 LOCKS FOR HALF PRICE. THAT IS $500 INSTEAD OF $1000. WHILE I APPRECIATE THEIR OFFER,I KNOW FOR A FACT A REPLACEMENT ACTUATOR COSTS BETWEEN $5 AND $10, AND IT'S NOT ENTIRELY ABOUT THE MONEY. IT'S A MATTER OF RIGHT AND WRONG, SAFE AND NOT SAFE. THIS ISSUE IN MY MIND IS MORE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE THINKING THEY ARE SAFELY LOCKED IN THEIR CAR BY A SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO DO EXACTLY THAT. THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT EITHER. THESE LOCKS ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT THAT I EXPECT TO WORK AND KEEP ME AND MY FAMILY SAFE MUCH IN THE SAME WAY I EXPECT MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BECAME A RECALL ON THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES LIKE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR