NHTSA Complaint #10617071 — 2006 SATURN ION

IN 2012 MY CAR KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY AFTER 450.00+ THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. A FEW MONTHS LATER BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON & STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG & SAFETY THERE WOULD NOT BE A CHARGE FOR THE DIANOSTIC; WHEN I ARRIVED I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE A 75.00 CHARGE. I LEFT THE DEARSHIP WITHOUT THE TESTING. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE OIL WAS CHANGED & I ASKED FOR A TEST TO CHECK THE AIRBAG LIGHT. WHEN FINISHED THE TECH SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG & I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WE ARE A ONE CAR HOUSEHOLD SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL BEING WITHOUT A CAR WOULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL I WAITED & HAD THE DEALERSHIP DUE A TEST IN CASE IT WAS SOMETHING AFFECTED BY THE IGNITION CYLINDER. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP & ASKED THEY CHECK THE AIRBAG LIGHT. LATER I RECEIVED A CALL ADVISING THE AIRBAG SENSOR HAD SHORTED OUT & A NEW SENSOR WOULD COST 900.00+. I MENTIONED DISABLING THE AIRBAG & WAS TOLD IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAW TO DO SO. THE SERVICE TECH SAID IN KS SEAT BELTS ON CARS PURCHASED IN KS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 10 YRS & 3 YRS FOR AIRBAGS. I SUGGEST THAT CAR CO.'S CONSIDER A LIFETIME OR LIFE OF CAR OWNERSHIP WARRANTY FOR BOTH SEAT BELTS & AIRBAGS. FEW HAVE CLOSE TO 1K TO SPEND ON REPAIRING/REPLACING AN AIRBAG SENSOR & IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A LAW STATING THE AIRBAG CAN'T BE DISABLED BUT ITS OKAY TO KNOWINGLY PUT A CAR ON THE STREETS WITH A NON/POTENTIAL NON-WORKING AIRBAG. THE SEATBELTS & AIRBAGS WORK IN TANDAM TO PROTECT SHOULDN'T THEIR WARRANTIES ALSO BE TOGETHER? HAVING SEATBELTS & AIRBAGS COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR WILL SHOW THE PUBLIC IN LIGHT OF RECENT RECALLS CAR COMPANIES WILL DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO SHOW CONSUMERS THEIR & THEIR PASSENGERS SAFETY ARE A PRIORITY. *JS