NHTSA Complaint #746638 — 2001 SATURN SL

THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. WE ARE PRIOR YEAR (1993, 1997 (2), AND 1998) SATURN OWNERS. FOR THE PRIOR YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE HORN BUTTONS WERE LOCATED ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLAINTS FROM MANY OWNERS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT THE STANDARD LOCATION FOR HORNS ON GM OR OTHER MODELS. IN 1999 OR 2000, SATURN MOVED THE HORN TO THE TYPICAL LOCATION (CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL OVER THE AIRBAG). THEY REPLACED THE HORN BUTTONS WITH THE CURISE CONTROLS. 4-6 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED, THE 2001 SATURN, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WITH A YOUNG LADY HAVING A 'ROAD RAGE DAY'. DURING ONE FRANTIC MOMENT, I TRIED TO LOCATE THE HORN. OF COURSE IT WASN'T IN THE 'CUSTOMARY LOCATION'. I FOUND IT BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I HAD ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONCENTRATING ON THE OTHER DRIVER'S ACTIONS, I WAS UNAWARE THAT 'CRUISE WAS ENGAGED'. IN THE NEXT MOMENT, THIS DRIVER SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (FOR WHICH SHE WAS TICKETED AND FINED). I TRIED TO STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THE CAR SPED UP. I HIT HER CAR WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERENED THAT ANOTHER DRIVER (PARTICULARILY OWNERS OF OLDER MODEL SATURNS WHO PURCHASE NEW SATURNS) WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME SITUATION BUT WITH MORE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICES AND WRITTEN THEM A NOTE (WITHOUT RESPONSE). THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON SAID THEY WOULD DO EACTLY WHAT I DID. SHE OWNS AND DRIVE THE PRIOR YEAR SATURN. SHE SAID THE LOCATION OF THE HORN IS AUTOMATIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT TOOK ME 3-6 MONTHS TO NEVER ENGAGE THE CRUISE IN MY SEARCH FOR THE HORN. THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE LOGGED WELL OVER 200,000 MILES IN THE OLDER MODELS. THANKS.*AK