NHTSA Complaint #10609507 — 2008 SATURN AURA

WHILE DRIVING OUR CAR ALONG COASTAL HIGHWAY NEAR BETHANY, DE OUR TRANSMISSION BECAME DISENGAGED ( NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR). I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND PARKED THE CAR ON A SIDE ROAD. AT THAT TIME I NOTICED AN ENGINE ALERT AND WE RECEIVED AN ON-STAR ALERT MESSAGE BUT COULD NOT GET THE INFORMATION WITHOUT INTENT. WE CALLED AAA AND THEY TOWED MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN BELIN, MD. AT THIS REPAIR SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS "TOASTED AND WOULD COST AROUND $4,800 TO REPLACE. I HAD TO RENT A CAR AND MOVE OUT OF MY RENTED CONDO AND THEN RETURNED TO MY HOME NEAR BALTIMORE, MD. I DISCUSSED MY PROBLEM WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SUGGESTED THAT A TRANSMISSION COMPANY LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THE TRANSMISSION IT COULD BE REPAIRABLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FOR MY CAR (XR 6-3.6L) HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE GM 6T70 IN THE WAVE PLATES. I ARRANGED AT GREAT EXPENSE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED 150 MILES TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME. WE HAVE BEEN GM OWNERS SINCE 1985 WITH MANY GOOD EXPERIENCES BUT THE 2008 AURA HAS BEEN HAD MANY PROBLEMS (LAST YEARFOR SATURN) AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH THE GM DEALERSHIP. IF GM HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED TO BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE. MY SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE THAT MY CAR HAS SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES ( TRANSMISSION SHIFTING CABLE, STEERING POWER ASSIST SYSTEM ETC) BUT WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ALTHOUGH WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE LIVED AT THIS ADDRESS FOR THE LAST 17-YEARS. *TR