The Grand Rapids Saturn dealer did not notify us when Saturn Corp told them that our new car most likely had a casting flaw in the cylinder head. I lately found out that Saturn made over 100,000 CARS with this costly epidemic defect. (The flaw causes the head to CRACK - usually just beyond its low mileage warranty period.)
Instead of calling us or warning us by letter to bring the car in for inspection-they did not warn us at all! Instead, they allowed us to continue to drive the car OVER the warranty mileage. Lately, the head just cracked! The dealer and Saturn Corp. Refused to re-imburse us for our loss because we are over the warranty mileage.
That's the way Saturn of Grand Rapids and Saturn Corp does business. When the company finds out it has a major defect on its hands and thousands of defective cars go off the assembly line, they withold the information from their buyers until they can get as many lemons over the warranty period.
There is no legal recourse. Car companies can get away with slapping warranties on costly drivetrain parts. Drivetrain defects are a SAFETY issue and the state and federal government is useless in protecting consumers. A cracked engine head is no safety issue unless you are passing a semi truck on a two lane, and just when you are about to complete the pass - the engine head cracks and you lose power - and hit the brake but can't get get back behind the truck before an oncoming vehicle gets to you!
Saturn's measily 36,000 mile warranty tells the whole story. You get only a 36,000 mile warranty because the company KNOWS that major problems occur just after that mileage.
My suggestion:
When you buy ANY Saturn, tell the dealer that you want a $200 deductible limit on any documented DEFECT in the car (put out on a service notice by Saturn or documented by a reputable expert). (You will pay the first $200 and they pay the rest). If they refuse, that ought to tell you that they don't stand behind their product and you can expect major problems. ANY quaity car dealer can take the small risk of covering a major costly defect! Don't let them talk you into buying a costly extended warranty. The cost of that warranty tells you that they need the money to cover other SUCKERS who have already bought a Saturn!
My experience and lesson: PROTECT YOURSELF! A Saturn is no good for anything past its 36,000 mile warranty!
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