NHTSA Complaint #10521650 — 2007 SATURN ION

EARLY IN 2013, WE NOTED SOME MOISTURE IN THE TRUNK OF THIS VEHICLE. IN LATE MAY, WE HUNG A "DAMP RID" DESICCANT DEVICE IN THE TRUNK AND NOTED THAT THE "DAMP RID" DEVICE RAPIDLY SATURATED WITH MOISTURE AND ALSO FORMED CLUMPS AND/OR CRYSTALS IN THE TRUNK OF THE AUTO. (THE "DAMP RID" IN THE TRUNK WAS SATURATED WITHIN TWO WEEKS, WHEREAS IT TAKES A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN HANGING INSIDE A CLOSET IN THE HOUSE 1-888-326-7743). THIS WEEK, I INSERTED A BRAND NEW 9 VOLT BATTERY INTO A KIDDE MODEL NUMBER KN-COEG-3 CARBON MONOXIDE/EXPLOSIVE GAS MONITOR AND PLACED THE MONITOR IN THE TRUNK. WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE MONITOR WAS CHIRPING. THE PEAK LEVEL OF GAS AFTER 24 HOURS IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR WAS 10. (THIS HOUSEHOLD MONITOR CAN NOT DISCRIMINATE THE PRECISE TYPE OF GAS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE). TODAY, I OPENED THE TRUNK AND CLEANED EVERYTHING OUT. THE SOURCE OF THE MOISTURE WAS CLEARLY NOTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK BECAUSE THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUNK WAS ACTUALLY MUDDY CLOSE TO A ONE WAY FLAPPER VENT/VALVE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE ONE WAY VALVE MEASURES AROUND 4 INCHES HIGH AND 6 INCHES LONG. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE GAS TANK FILLER CAP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, 12 VOLT AC DELCO BATTERY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE TRUNK, AND AUTO EMISSIONS FROM THIS SATURN AND OTHER CARS. INHALATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THESE FUMES OR VAPORS CAN LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, DROWSINESS, ETC. OF COURSE THE RISK OF EXPLOSION AND CORROSION OF SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL AND FUEL COMPONENTS IS ACCELERATED IN DAMP CONDITIONS. *TR