2008 Saturn Vue

I PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW 2008 SATURN VUE FROM THE DEALER SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2007. UPON DRIVING IT TO MY OFFICE I NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO WHICH THE SALES PERSON ADVISED IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD STORED THE CARS IN DOORS. KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT CARS I TOOK THE CAR AND LEFT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE NOISE UPON STARTING THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 3 TIMES SINCE PICKING IT UP FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT SATURN DESIGNED THE CAR THIS WAY WHICH DOES NOT SEEM LOGICAL TO ME. NOW I AM AT ABOUT 1,200 MILES (IT HAD 300 ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT WHICH SEEMS NOW SUSPECT TO ME) AND THE SQUEAKING ISSUES HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. MOST RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS DIMMED. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER BODY SENSOR. AFTER THE LAST FAILURE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENTAL GAUGE CLUSTER AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,719 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,070. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START

WHILE I AM NOT REPORTING ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO YOUR ATTENTION IN HOPES OF PREVENTING UNNECESSARY DEATHS OR INJURIES. THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY NOTED IN THEIR VEHICLE RATINGS THAT 'TWO TESTS OF THE VUE WERE CONDUCTED. IN THE FIRST TEST, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DUMMY'S HEAD WAS HIT BY THE WINDOW SILL OF THE REAR DOOR. THIS IMPACT DID NOT PRODUCE HIGH HEAD INJURY MEASURES, BUT THE HEAD PROTECTION WAS INADEQUATE. IN RESPONSE, GENERAL MOTORS REDESIGNED THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO ENSURE MORE RAPID INFLATION AND GREATER EXTENSION OF THE AIRBAG NEXT TO THE REAR DUMMY'S HEAD. IN THE SECOND TEST, THE FIX WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND THE HEAD PROTECTION RATING IMPROVED TO GOOD'. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE REDESIGNED AIRBAGS ARE BEING INSTALLED IN ALL VUE'S PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2007, OR FROM JANUARY 2008 ON. I PURCHASED MY 2008 SATURN VUE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007. AS SUCH, I DO NOT HAVE THE REDESIGNED AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER VIA EMAIL AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING RESPONSE 'I CURRENTLY AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY REDESIGNS FOR THE SIDE AIR BAGS AND AS ADVISED IN AN EARLIER CORRESPONDENCE, SHOULD THERE EVER BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUED, YOU WOULD BE NOTIFIED BY UNITED STATES MAIL.' AM I TO HOPE THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THAT THESE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOY PROPERLY EVEN THOUGH SATURN CLEARLY KNOWS AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH ITS ACTIONS THAT THEY MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY? *TR

THE CAR IS A 2008 SATURN VUE 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC WITH TWO MAIN SAFETY PROBLEMS. PROBLEM ONE IS THE CAR WILL LOCK YOU OUT AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. CAR CAN BE RUNNING OR SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 14 TIMES. LUCKILY I HAD THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE CAR. SATURN HAS REPEATED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VUE AND DEEMS IT A "NORMAL FUNCTION" EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MANUALS SAYS THERE IS A FUNCTION IN THE CAR ENGINEERED INTO IT TO PREVENT YOU FROM LOCKING YOUR KEYS IN THE CAR ACCIDENTALLY. AGAIN THIS HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER EXITING THE CAR. PROBLEM TWO, TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTS AND ACCELERATES ON FLAT GROUND OR SLIGHT GRADES WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL. THIS ALSO HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN CRUISE CONTROLS IS DISENGAGED AS WELL. MY WIFE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONE DUE TO THIS ON A CURVING ROAD GOING UP HILL. I ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS WELL. MULTIPLE DATES OF THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND HAPPENS BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 47 DAYS SINCE IT HAS BEEN PURCHASED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. AFTER HAVING THE TIRES INSPECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A STARTER, IN WHICH THEY REPLACED AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. A FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB