NHTSA Complaint #10547449 — 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK

OUR SATURN OUTLOOK HAS HAD PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED MORE RECENTLY THAT INCLUDE THE STEERING BOX FAILING (AUDIBLE POPPING WHEN NEAR NEUTRAL STEERING POSITION), THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKE SIMULTANEOUS LIGHTS WITH FEEDBACK IN THE BRAKE PEDALS (EVEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIVE), AND A VERY ANNOYING WEATHER/WATER LEAK FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE THAT IS SOAKING THE PASSENGER CARPET AFTER EVERY SINGLE RAIN. NONE OF THESE ITEMS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I'M RETURNING THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME TOMORROW TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE LEAK (AGAIN) AND THE STABILITY CONTROL. I ALREADY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, OUT OF POCKET, FOR OVER $1000. WE JUST PAID THE CAR OFF AND BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. IT BARELY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THIS IS NOT A QUALITY PRODUCT. THE RIDE, HANDLING, INTERIOR FEATURES/SPACE ARE OUTSTANDING, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY FAULTS FOR SUCH A NEW(ER) CAR. I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT THAT WAS AT THE TAIL END OF MY WARRANTY (NOW EXPIRED). AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS AND 50,000 MILES, I'M LOOKING AT EXPENSIVE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR A NEW VEHICLE TO REPLACE WHAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 YEARS COMFORTABLY WITHOUT MAJOR DEFECTS. IT'S NO WONDER SATURN WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT GM HAS NEARLY FAILED SO MANY TIMES... *TR