1999 Saturn Sl

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY ON THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V307000 (COMMUNICATIONS:HORN ASSEMBLY), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE HAS REPLACED THE FUSE AND BOLTS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SHORTAGES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SL2 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND PULLED OUT THE INJECTION CIRCUIT SO FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE YEARS. ALSO, THE JACK DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 95000.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE USED UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE DRIVEWAY, HOWEVER THE RESERVOIR HAD TO BE REFILLED EVERY 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE, UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS MOISTURE AROUND THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR TANK, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR TANK HAD LEAKED FROM THE TOP.

LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURN AUTOMOBILES WITH FIVE-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I HAD THE BUSHING ON THE SHIFT CABLE BREAK. THE REPAIR SET ME BACK $400. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML) AND OTHER WEBSITES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE A 1999 SATURN SL. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM MANY PEOPLE, THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED OVER MANY MODEL YEARS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: WHY HAS SATURN BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? A SHIFT CABLE BREAKING (RATHER THE CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHING WHICH ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT LEVER BREAKING) WHEN THE DRIVER IS IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM COULD CAUSE HAVOC AT THE VERY LEAST. A DRIVER UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS OF HIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS THIS DESIGN FAULT HAS CAUSED. AGAIN I ASK, WHY HAS THIS MANUFACTURER BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A FAULTY PRODUCT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? WITH THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM CAN DISCOVER JUST HOW LARGE THE MAGNITUDE OF ANY PROBLEM CAN BE. I WONDER IF THE EXECUTIVES OF SATURN EXPECT TO "SWEEP THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE CARPET" LIKE THE EXECUTIVES OF FORD DURING THE "FLAMING PINTO" ERA. LEE IACOCCA WAS EVEN ABLE TO GET A LARGE LOAN FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS TO HELP OUT CHRYSLER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, LEE (THEN AT FORD) AND OTHER FORD EXECUTIVES DECIDED THAT PAYING INJURY LAWSUIT AWARDS WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM. WELL, THEY WERE WRONG -- THEY HAD TO DO BOTH. AGAIN I WONDER, WHY DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ALLOW ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER (SATURN) TO PRODUCE ANOTHER FAULTY PRODUCT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*JB