NHTSA Complaint #10574027 — 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK

NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THAT SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT CAUSED A WHINING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ONLY A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE CAR BUCKING WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. TWO DAYS AFTER THE LOWER GEAR SHIFTING ISSUES, I NOTICED THE CAR STUTTERED AND BUCKED WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND ATTEMPTED TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR THREW A CODE - P0018 - WHICH MEANS "CRANK TO CAM INTAKE", ALONG WITH SAYING THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING AND COULD BE FIXED AT A COST OF $1700. AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND THEY RECOMMENDED BRINGING TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO GET THE BEST COST/SERVICE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WILL COST. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT. OUR 5 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2013. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. NOW IT APPEARS THE REPAIRS WILL COST A THIRD OF WHAT THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WORTH. THOSE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR