NHTSA Complaint #10614677 — 2008 SATURN AURA

FROM THE OWNER'S MANUAL: "THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SYSTEM. THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE IS DESIGNED TO: (1) PREVENT IGNITION KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN PARK (P) WITH THE SHIFT LEVER BUTTON FULLY RELEASED, AND (2) PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK (P), UNLESS THE IGNITION IS IN ON/RUN OR ACC/ACCESSORY AND THE REGULAR BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE IS ALWAYS FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF AN UNCHARGED OR LOW VOLTAGE (LESS THAN 9 VOLT) BATTERY. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS AN UNCHARGED BATTERY OR A BATTERY WITH LOW VOLTAGE, TRY CHARGING OR JUMP STARTING THE BATTERY. SEE JUMP STARTING ON PAGE 5-43 FOR MORE INFORMATION." THE CAR HAS A V6 ENGINE AND FROM PARK, WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BEFORE ANY PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE OCCURRED. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND DOES NOT HAVE LOW VOLTAGE. WHILE I'VE BEEN LUCK THERE HAS BEEN NO PERSONAL OR PROPERTY DAMAGE SUSTAINED, IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN. ESPECIALLY IF AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN BE LEFT IN GEAR, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR OCTOBER 10, 2007 AND THE DOOR LABEL INDICATES IT WAS BUILT IN OCTOBER 2007, SO THE BUILD DATE FOR THIS CAR WAS BETWEEN 10/1 AND 10/10/2007. *TR