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Archive of posts tagged Saturn

GM Recalls Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion Due to Fire Hazard

Posted by  on 3 November 2009, 6:31 pm

General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for the following models:

  • 2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt’s
  • 2007 Pontiac G5′s
  • 2006-2007 Saturn Ion

NHTSA says in its alert: “General Motors is recalling certain model year 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona and Nevada; and model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas.

The plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly may crack. If either of these ports develops a crack, fuel will leak from the area. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may be observed dripping onto the ground and vehicle performance may be affected.”

General Motors has provided phone numbers for consumers to call if they have additional questions or concerns. Chevrolet owners can call 800-630-2438; Saturn owners can call 800-972-8876; and Pontiac owners can call 800-620-7668. Or, owners of the affected vehicles can log on to www.gmownercenter.com for additional information.

Read the full NHTSA Alert

Filed under Chevrolet, Pontiac, Recalls, Saturn. Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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Steering Defects and Water Leaks a Common Problem with General Motors Vehicles

Posted by  on 28 October 2009, 8:41 am

A concerned consumer, Art, recently asked this question:

I have just brought my 2008 Saturn Aura to the dealers for steering box “knocking” which he wrote up on the service ticket. The service person noted to me a mildew odor in the car and this turned into the “discovery” of a real serious water leak. The service person went immediately to the source; He quickly revealed standing water under the front passengers side carpet!

Now Saturn is going to locate and fix the problem? and replace all carpeting.

My concern is…CAN this type of problem really be fixed? Is this not a serious health issue?

Thank you for your inquiry. In fact, GM is having a major problem with both of the described conditions in many of it’s products. Hundreds of my clients are undergoing multiple repairs for steering defects. Repairs range from lubrication to replacement of end links, steering gears, steering shafts and steering columns. Many clients indicate the noise and sometimes looseness or binding just keeps coming back.

The same can be said for water leaks. I have hundreds of GM clients who experience repeat water leaks and resultant mold and mildew in their vehicles.

The best advice I can give you is to aggressively return your vehicle under warranty for repairs for both issues. Of course, if the conditions are successfully repaired in a “reasonable” number of attempts or in a “reasonable” number of days in the shop, GM did what it is supposed to do under the warranty.

On the other hand, if GM goes through an “unreasonable” number of repair attempts or there are an “unreasonable” number of days in the shop and the conditions remain, e-mail us back and we will put you in touch with a lawyer who may be able to help you free of charge.

Also, feel free to check out www.lemonlaw.com/breakmold.html for more information on leaking and moldy vehicles.

Bob

Filed under Defects, Questions, Saturn. Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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General Motors Shutting Down Saturn

Posted by  on 6 October 2009, 12:18 pm

General Motors announced that they are shutting down their Saturn division after a deal with Penske Automotive Group fell through. Penske Automotive Group couldn’t find a manufacturer to supply it with new cars once General Motors’ current contract runs out in 2011. PAG had been negotiating with General Motors since early June.

General Motors chief executive officer Fritz Henderson issued a statement of deep regret on September 30th, saying:

Today we learned that Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn. This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of dedicated employees and Saturn retailers who tried to make the new Saturn a reality.

Production has ceased on all Saturn vehicles and GM expects the remaining stock of about 12,000 vehicles to be sold off within four (4) months.

While there was speculation that French automaker Renault had negotiated a deal with PAG to manufacture Saturn vehicles, the deal was ultimately rejected by PAG’s board of directors, fearing U.S. competition.

General Motors issued a statement:

As a result of PAG’s decision, we will be winding down the Saturn brand and dealership network, in accordance with the wind-down agreements that Saturn dealers recently signed with GM. Pursuant to the terms of those agreements, the wind down process will be determined and communicated shortly.

What does this mean for Saturn drivers and their warranties? According to the following statement by GM, current Saturn owners will be able to get parts and service at other General Motors dealerships:

Saturn customers and owners will continue to be able to purchase and have their vehicles serviced at Saturn retailers during this process. Once the wind down is complete, Saturn owners will still be able to have their vehicles serviced at other GM dealerships. We will be communicating with our customers very soon to explain the next steps in this process.

In addition, it’s important to note that all Saturn drivers still under manufacturers warranty are entitled to consumer protection under State Lemon laws and Federal Warranty laws if their repairs cannot be fixed despite repeated repair attempts. For more information on your State’s Lemon Law, click here.

Filed under General Motors, Saturn. Tagged , , , , , , ,
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General Motors Water Leaks: Saturn Outlooks, GMC Acadias & Buick Enclaves, Oh My!

Posted by  on 24 September 2009, 10:48 am

David commented on a post about GM Water Leaks and posed the following question:

I have had my 2008 Saturn Outlook for 13 months. In that time I have taken it in twice and will be going for a third time to resolve water leaks. The first was the spare tire compartment. It was filled with water and the mat was soaked. The second was the headliner near the garage door opener was soaked and leaked into the center console destroying my cell phone. Now I have water on the passenger side floor. What can I do? Tired of the back and forth.

I have seen numerous water leaks in Saturn Outlooks, as well as in GMC Acadias and Buick Enclaves, primarily in those equipped with a power moon roof. Most leaks are due to a defect in the sunroof track and are caused by the inability of the drains to properly disperse water. The water instead comes into the passenger cabin and damages interior parts and electrical components and creates mold and mildew due to standing water. I have also seen many other water leak issues with Outlooks not equipped with the moon roof. I would take the vehicle in for the 3rd repair attempt. Thereafter, if the vehicle still leaks, smells damp or moldy, or has electrical defects due to the leak, e-mail us back and we will either guide you or refer you to someone who can (depends on the state of purchase and vehicle registration).

Filed under Buick, GMC, Questions, Saturn. Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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