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Saturn Complaint - Avoid Saturn, and Saturn of the Valley, like the plague - Saturn 2003 Vue
Saturn 2003 Vue - Complaint
I purchased my Saturn Vue in late 2003; and it was in the shop before the first payment was even made with engine block issues.
Between 2004-2009; the car was at the dealership over 20 times for problems; not basic service, but problems.
The main problem started in 2006, when the transmission started acting up; the car wouldn’t accelerate quite right, it had trouble going up hills (I was terrified it would roll backwards every time I came across a hill) and didn’t quite work right when trying to shift on the freeway.
Every time this would happen, I would take it to my closest Saturn dealership, Saturn of the Valley.
They were no help. They had techs drive out with me, who HEARD the problems; yet, could never find any problems. Because my warranty came with the rental car option, they were always in a hurry to get me out of there, never being able to find anything, of course.
The final straw came when, in 2008, the transmission suddenly decided not to work on the corner of one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles. I got the car to Saturn of the Valley, and they, ONCE AGAIN, couldn’t find anything wrong with it. When I told the manager of the dealership that I didn’t feel safe in that car, and could they please keep it a bit longer so keep looking, and I would just use the rental car another day, he responded with:
“If I let you have the car for another day, you’ll just want another one.”
Thank goodness, Saturn of Santa Monica opened. When the Hazard Light broke shortly after being sent away from Saturn of the Valley, I took it to Santa Monica and I am so glad I did.
Brien, the AMAZING manager there took ONE look at my service history, even though I brought the car in for something else, and knew exactly what was wrong with my car. I literally started crying with relief when he told me that the transmission had actually been recalled and that he would replace it for me ASAP.
That transmission worked for about a year and a half. I don’t blame Santa Monica for this, and am very sad that they closed (the service I received at Galpin-otherwise known as Saturn of the Valley-is much more indicative of how I’ve been treated by this company; Santa Monica was an anomaly).
This time, the transmission died on a busy street-no warning, no lights, NOTHING. It just wouldn’t drive anymore.
Given my service history, and the class action settlement, and the warranty extension, I THOUGHT they might attempt to help me. They did nothing except the following:
1. I called on the day it happened to find out my recourse and spoke with Dennis-who was no help. He reviewed my service history, and told me the car needed to be evaluated at a Saturn dealership. I understand this, but when I asked who would pay to get the car there, I was told I would have to do this.
2. When I disputed this, he immediately said that he can’t help me and would be elevating my issue to a “district specialist” but that they weren’t in on the weekend. He wouldn’t give me their names, wouldn’t give me their phone numbers, and wouldn’t give me the names to the district managers of the Saturn dealership I would be taking my car to…nothing.
3. On Monday, Jamie, a district specialist, called. She, like Dennis, literally, did nothing. She said that she would not (her words) authorize a courtesy tow to the Saturn dealership so they could “evaluate” my car nor would she even indicate that they might pay for the repair on a faulty, new, transmission.
When I asked to speak to someone above her she said, and I quote “There is nobody above me.” When I asked who she reports to, I was told that their department reports to nobody. When I asked to speak to her supervisor she said “my supervisor will tell you the same thing.”
When I asked, once again, for the name of the department she reports to, I was told “I am empowered to make these decisions; there is nobody above us.”
Given my service history, I am appalled at the way Saturn, and GM, are treating their customers. According to the Kelly Blue Book, my 2003 Vue, with 93000 miles, because of the transmission, even though the body looks great, and I took very good care of the car, has “No Value.”
I’ve only had the car for 7 years and it now has “No Value.”
I will never, ever consider another Saturn, nor, ever use any of the Galpin dealerships that Saturn of the Valley is affiliated with again and am shocked at how Saturn has no respect for their customers, allowing them to remain, in may case, car-less and stranded.
Between 2004-2009; the car was at the dealership over 20 times for problems; not basic service, but problems.
The main problem started in 2006, when the transmission started acting up; the car wouldn’t accelerate quite right, it had trouble going up hills (I was terrified it would roll backwards every time I came across a hill) and didn’t quite work right when trying to shift on the freeway.
Every time this would happen, I would take it to my closest Saturn dealership, Saturn of the Valley.
They were no help. They had techs drive out with me, who HEARD the problems; yet, could never find any problems. Because my warranty came with the rental car option, they were always in a hurry to get me out of there, never being able to find anything, of course.
The final straw came when, in 2008, the transmission suddenly decided not to work on the corner of one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles. I got the car to Saturn of the Valley, and they, ONCE AGAIN, couldn’t find anything wrong with it. When I told the manager of the dealership that I didn’t feel safe in that car, and could they please keep it a bit longer so keep looking, and I would just use the rental car another day, he responded with:
“If I let you have the car for another day, you’ll just want another one.”
Thank goodness, Saturn of Santa Monica opened. When the Hazard Light broke shortly after being sent away from Saturn of the Valley, I took it to Santa Monica and I am so glad I did.
Brien, the AMAZING manager there took ONE look at my service history, even though I brought the car in for something else, and knew exactly what was wrong with my car. I literally started crying with relief when he told me that the transmission had actually been recalled and that he would replace it for me ASAP.
That transmission worked for about a year and a half. I don’t blame Santa Monica for this, and am very sad that they closed (the service I received at Galpin-otherwise known as Saturn of the Valley-is much more indicative of how I’ve been treated by this company; Santa Monica was an anomaly).
This time, the transmission died on a busy street-no warning, no lights, NOTHING. It just wouldn’t drive anymore.
Given my service history, and the class action settlement, and the warranty extension, I THOUGHT they might attempt to help me. They did nothing except the following:
1. I called on the day it happened to find out my recourse and spoke with Dennis-who was no help. He reviewed my service history, and told me the car needed to be evaluated at a Saturn dealership. I understand this, but when I asked who would pay to get the car there, I was told I would have to do this.
2. When I disputed this, he immediately said that he can’t help me and would be elevating my issue to a “district specialist” but that they weren’t in on the weekend. He wouldn’t give me their names, wouldn’t give me their phone numbers, and wouldn’t give me the names to the district managers of the Saturn dealership I would be taking my car to…nothing.
3. On Monday, Jamie, a district specialist, called. She, like Dennis, literally, did nothing. She said that she would not (her words) authorize a courtesy tow to the Saturn dealership so they could “evaluate” my car nor would she even indicate that they might pay for the repair on a faulty, new, transmission.
When I asked to speak to someone above her she said, and I quote “There is nobody above me.” When I asked who she reports to, I was told that their department reports to nobody. When I asked to speak to her supervisor she said “my supervisor will tell you the same thing.”
When I asked, once again, for the name of the department she reports to, I was told “I am empowered to make these decisions; there is nobody above us.”
Given my service history, I am appalled at the way Saturn, and GM, are treating their customers. According to the Kelly Blue Book, my 2003 Vue, with 93000 miles, because of the transmission, even though the body looks great, and I took very good care of the car, has “No Value.”
I’ve only had the car for 7 years and it now has “No Value.”
I will never, ever consider another Saturn, nor, ever use any of the Galpin dealerships that Saturn of the Valley is affiliated with again and am shocked at how Saturn has no respect for their customers, allowing them to remain, in may case, car-less and stranded.
Comments:
Posted by redmx3racer on 2010-02-03:
It will be hard to sell any Saturn, period, now that they have gone out of business.
While most of your complaint dealt with the transmission, you mentioned engine problems as well. Interesting/"Fun Fact"-if your Saturn has the 3.5L V-6 that is actually a Honda engine.
While most of your complaint dealt with the transmission, you mentioned engine problems as well. Interesting/"Fun Fact"-if your Saturn has the 3.5L V-6 that is actually a Honda engine.
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