NHTSA Complaint #11154811 — 2007 SATURN ION

ON NOVEMBER 2, 2018, AND AFTER A TWO DAY TRAIN RIDE FROM WASHINGTON, I ARRIVED AT SMITH MOTORS TO INSPECT AND TEST DRIVE A 2007 SATURN ION 3 SEDAN THAT I HAD LOCATED ON CARGURUS.COM. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATED A CERTIFIED AUTOMOBILE INSPECTOR IN THAT AREA, AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE EXTERIOR DAMAGE, AND TEST DRIVING WITH THE DEFOGGER BLASTING CONCEALED THE DEFECT ABOUT WHICH I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE SALESMAN, CRAIG MANSKE, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED," AND HE ASSURED ME THAT THE SATURN HAD UNDERGONE A RIGOROUS INSPECTION AND SERVICING OF EQUAL QUALITY. HE LEFT ME IN THE AGGRESSIVE HANDS OF THE CLOSER, SMITH MOTORS'S BUSINESS MANAGER, ROSS KENT. MR. KENT INSISTED THAT I SIGN A FORM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT MY MODIFYING THE VEHICLE OR USING NON-GM PARTS MIGHT VOID THE WARRANTY. I REMINDED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, HAD SIXTY-NINE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WAS UNDENIABLY OUT-OF-WARRANTY. HE MADE MY SIGNATURE A DEAL-BREAKER, SO I GAVE IN BECAUSE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT I HAD EXPENDED IN GETTING MYSELF TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE TO BUY THIS VEHICLE. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO WASHINGTON, BUT THE STIFF AND SQUEAKY PEDALS ANNOYED ME ENOUGH THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST CHEVY, BUICK & GMC DEALERSHIP IN WARRENTON, OR. THAT TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO SILENCE THE SQUEAKY PEDALS WITH THE LITHIUM SPRAY DESIGNED FOR THE TASK. I ENDED UP PAYING $55 IN A SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT BY ANOTHER TECHNICIAN TO UNSTIFFEN AND SILENCE THE PEDALS, BUT IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE COST TO INSTALL A NEW CLUTCH PEDAL IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, THERE IS NO NEW BRAKE PEDAL AVAILABLE, AND THE MECHANIC DID NOT RECOMMEND USING A SALVAGE PEDAL. MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM SMITH MOTORS, INC. WAS DENIED BY CONTROLLER, CARLA SHEELEY, WHO INSISTED IT WAS SOLD "AS IS."