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Saturn Complaint - Poor gas Mileage - Saturn Vue-Poor gas Mileage
Saturn Vue-Poor gas Mileage - Complaint
OCEANSIDE, NEW YORK -- In January 2006 I purchased a Saturn Vue FWD V-6 after extensive reseach to buy a car with good gas mileage. I was promised 20 city and 28 highway because it had a proven Honda engine as a result of a joint venture with Honda Motor Co.
I immediate began testing the mileage and found it only got about 13 mpg. As part of the 30 day exchange policy offered by Saturn I requested a different car. I was denied because they claimed it took 3-7 thousand miles for a car engine to break in.
I brought the car in at 3000 miles because the mileage had not increased much above the 13 mpg. They tested it and miraculously it got 32 mpg but they had a hand written receipt from the gas station where they filled my car up.
I drove the car another 4000 miles but the mileage remained extremely low. I brought it back and this time the dealer got 26 mpg again with a written receipt. I had dozens of calculations with pump generated receipts which calculated an overall 15.5 mpg for city and highway combined.
I brought the car back one more time and this time they calculated 20 mpg with a gas pump receipt with all highway mileage which was still 8 mpg below the promised 28 mpg. Their calculations continued to go down from a high of 32 now down to 20.
I looked the service manager in the face and asked him to teach me how to drive the car so I can get that mileage. He said since they couldn't duplicate my low mileage they couldn't do anything for me, but asked me to have my children drive the car while I was away on vacation to see if it was my driving habits creating the poor gas mileage.
We did this and my daughter got 15.64 mpg all highway and my son got 11.74 mpg with local driving around our town.
The end result is i'm SOL according to the dealer. I got an area manager involved and she too told me I'm SOL bcause they were unable to duplicate my low mileage even though i had dozens of receipts proving the low mileage.
I currenly own three GM products in my family but based on my treatment they will be our last. I am telling my kids no more American cars. Detroit is losing another generation of car buyers because they treat their loyal customers like dogs. TOYOTA HERE WE COME.
I immediate began testing the mileage and found it only got about 13 mpg. As part of the 30 day exchange policy offered by Saturn I requested a different car. I was denied because they claimed it took 3-7 thousand miles for a car engine to break in.
I brought the car in at 3000 miles because the mileage had not increased much above the 13 mpg. They tested it and miraculously it got 32 mpg but they had a hand written receipt from the gas station where they filled my car up.
I drove the car another 4000 miles but the mileage remained extremely low. I brought it back and this time the dealer got 26 mpg again with a written receipt. I had dozens of calculations with pump generated receipts which calculated an overall 15.5 mpg for city and highway combined.
I brought the car back one more time and this time they calculated 20 mpg with a gas pump receipt with all highway mileage which was still 8 mpg below the promised 28 mpg. Their calculations continued to go down from a high of 32 now down to 20.
I looked the service manager in the face and asked him to teach me how to drive the car so I can get that mileage. He said since they couldn't duplicate my low mileage they couldn't do anything for me, but asked me to have my children drive the car while I was away on vacation to see if it was my driving habits creating the poor gas mileage.
We did this and my daughter got 15.64 mpg all highway and my son got 11.74 mpg with local driving around our town.
The end result is i'm SOL according to the dealer. I got an area manager involved and she too told me I'm SOL bcause they were unable to duplicate my low mileage even though i had dozens of receipts proving the low mileage.
I currenly own three GM products in my family but based on my treatment they will be our last. I am telling my kids no more American cars. Detroit is losing another generation of car buyers because they treat their loyal customers like dogs. TOYOTA HERE WE COME.
Comments:
Posted by Leela on 2007-03-30:
I just don't understand how it is possible that you were 'promised' a certain gas mileage.
You are referring to an SUV, correct? I can't think of ONE that gets wonderful gas mileage.
You are referring to an SUV, correct? I can't think of ONE that gets wonderful gas mileage.
Posted by poppapia on 2007-03-31:
To echo emt, who exactly promised you this mileage? I have never been promised mileage, but usually given a range. If you been paying attention lately, the federal government has confessed that the mileage rating on the stickers is not accurate, and they are in the process of changing how mileage is calculated so it is more accurate. If you were concerned about this, you should have done some research on the internet where actual customers rate and review vehicles.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-03-31:
If the car has a Honda engine and it's not delivering the economy you expected, why are you swearing off American cars? Who says our vehicles aren't fuel efficient that you had to buy one with a foreign engine to start with. Heck, doesn't a 400hp Corvette get over 20 mpg highway today?
Posted by superbowl on 2007-03-31:
I have a big Ford truck with a V10 and get 14.5. It's all in how you drive just like JayD says.
Posted by LennyGuy on 2007-04-10:
Consumer Reports says the Vue gets (in their tests) 12 city, 27 highway. That is straight highway driving - on a 150-mile trip it got 23. So, it seems your Vue is getting about what it should. I'm curious too, who promised you it would get high mileage - it wasn't a salesperson was it? Always check independently.
Posted by RCawdor57 on 2007-11-18:
I have a 2002 Vue with 5 speed manual, FWD only, 2.2 liter 4 cylinder engine. This vehicle DOES get 31 mpg on the highway and around 23 city. Of course I drive it easy and don't gun it plus I take excellent care of the engine, brakes, tires, etc myself. I do my own oil and filter changes and install my the brake pads and rotors myself. My Vue has just over 105,000 miles on it and drives like a dream. Oh, I also installed the new Bosch dual prong platinum plugs a few days ago to see if the mileage and performance change any.
Posted by Egrain on 2008-06-08:
I have the 2003 w/5spd manual and a 4 cylinder. We have gotten 32 on highway for long trips even with the air on at 107 degrees outside (Aug in CA). If hubby is doing city driving he gets between 18 and 22. If I am driving city I get between 23-26. Driving style makes a huge difference in this vehicle.
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