1994 Saturn SC1

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY SATURN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BEGAN TO FALL REARWARD WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST IT WOULD ONLY SLIP WHAT FELT LIKE A FEW "NOTCHES" AND I WOULD RIGHT IT AND GO ON. HOWEVER, SOON IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE AND FINALLY IT WOULD HARDLY STAY UPRIGHT AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HUMBLE, TEXAS. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE THEY HAD HAD A RECALL ON THESE SEATS. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TELLING ME THIS, THEY RETURNED AND TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE MODEL OF MY CAR THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME ALMOST $200.00. IN ORDER TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP I HAD TO PLACE A LAWN CHAIR FROM MY TRUNK IN THE BACKSEAT OF MY CAR (WEDGING IT IN AND PROPING OTHER ITEMS UNDER IT) TO KEEP MY SEAT FROM FALLING BACK UNTIL I COULD GET HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME MY HUSBAND USED A BIG BOLT AND RIGGED THE SEAT WHERE IT NOW STAYS UPRIGHT. HOWEVER, NOW THE SEAT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED AND, IN ORDER FOR US BOTH TO SIT IN IT, IT HAS TO STAY LEANED BACK TO AN UNCOMFORTALBE ANGLE FOR ME. AT FIRST I JUST LET THIS GO AS I DID NOT THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT I COULD DO. HOWEVER, A FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I WRITE TO YOU REGARDING THIS SITUATION. ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED (PARTICULARLY BY MY ACHING BACK). *AK

REAR-END COLLISION, I WAS STOPPED, PERSON HIT ME GOING 30-40 M.P.H. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T HOLD ME IN MY SEAT. THE SEAT BELT TRACK WAS INOP. AND I HAD ALREADY TAKEN IT IN TO SATURN AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $450 REPAIR. ALSO, IN THE CRASH, BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE FORCED REARWARD AND LANDED ON THE BACK SEATS. FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR, BUT THEY SAY THAT THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO DO THAT IN A COLLISION. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS IN MOST CARS. I'M GREATLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHO OWN SATURNS AND PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS AND DON'T KNOW THAT THIS HAPPENS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION AT THIS POINT BUT I DO FEEL THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. SATURN CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH ME ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING SEATS IN COLLISIONS IN VEHICLES, SATURNS ESPECIALLY? I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO OFFER.