NHTSA Complaint #767051 — 2001 SATURN LS

ON JUNE 11, 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW (2001) SATURN L-200 4-DOOR SEDAN AT SATURN OF CERRITOS, 18400 STUDEBAKER ROAD, CERRITOS, CA 90703. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED: ON 6-16-02, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON THE 405 FREEWAY TO WOODLAND HILLS, CA. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO FAIL. I WAS ABLE TO 'LIMP' TO MY DESTINATION AND THEREAFTER HAD MY CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY, 15421 ROSCOE BLVD. SEPULVEDA, CA 91343 818-895-3800, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND THEREAFTER REPLACED THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER ON 6-17-02. THEREAFTER, ON 7-14-02, AGAIN ON THE 405 FWY., THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH MANY, MANY TIMES AND THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY UNTIL (FOR THE 3RD TIME) ON8-3-02, UPON EXITING THE FWY., THE CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN. AFTER PUMPING THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES IT BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY AGAIN. (NOTE: MY CAR WAS SERVICED ON 8-2-02 AT SATURN OF CERRITOS AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.) THEN ON 8-25-02, WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY, I TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT GEARS, HOWEVER IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE MY CLUTCH WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL! I HAD TO GRIND THE GEARS, AFTER PUMPING THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY, IT REGAINED 'LIFE', UNTIL 9-6-02,FRIDAY, ON MY HOME FROM WORK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO CLUTCH, I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE HOME IN 3RD GEAR, I MADE IT, FROM THERE I ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CERRITOS WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS. THEY TOLD ME THEY ONLY MAKE 1 OUT OF EVERY 500 L-200'S WITH A 5PEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WILL APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU WITH REGARD TO THIS UNUSUAL AND FRUSTRATING SITUATION. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).