NHTSA Complaint #10572617 — 2002 SATURN LS

WITH THE RECALL OF SATURN ION IN THE NEWS, I'VE BEEN INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT MY 2002 SATURN LW200. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE MODEL OR YEAR IN THE CURRENT RECALL, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING AROUND FOR YEARS. I DON'T RECALL WHEN I DISCOVERED THE IGNITION PROBLEM, BUT WHAT I RECALL IS THAT IT WAS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE REPAIRED. MY KNEE ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED MY KEYCHAIN WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND IT FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IDLING. THE IGNITION REMAINED IN THE RUN POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER MY KEYS AND RE-INSERT THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF MY KEYS, AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO NOT TOUCH THEM WHILE DRIVING. ALSO SINCE FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT DISPLAYS WHEN I RESTART MY CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, BUT KEEPING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SLOT. THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AS I TURN THE ENGINE OFF FOR FREIGHT TRAIN CROSSINGS AND WHILE WAITING FOR MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL PICK UP. I THOUGHT THE ERROR WAS JUST A QUIRK THAT NEEDED RESETTING BY REMOVING THE KEY. SO, AS A WORKAROUND, WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE OFF, I REMOVE THE KEY COMPLETELY AND REINSERT IT TO AVOID THE AIRBAG ERROR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BUT CONTACT YOU IN THE HOPES THAT OTHER SATURN OWNERS WILL COME FORWARD AS NEWS OF THE RECALL IS RELEASED. *TR