| Initial Repairs |
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| My wife and I have a 1997 Saturn SL2. Around 29,000 miles (August of 1999) the car's alternator was replaced. Later that same year (November), the car's battery was replaced. While this repair should have been done under warranty, we were charged $123.21. Not thinking anything of it at the time, we paid the charge and took the car home. These two repairs were done at Saturn of Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. |
| Please note: This is not by any means a full list of vehicle repairs - only the repairs relating to this incident. |
| Second Time Around |
| In October of 2002, the car's alternator went out again at about 63,000 miles. When we took the vehicle in to Saturn of St. Charles in St. Charles, Missouri, it was determined that battery had leaked and needed to be replaced. |
| The total charges for the repairs above totalled around $500. In addition, Saturn of St. Charles informed us that the Positive Heavy cable needed to be replaced. I opted out of this repair, as they later changed the story to it 'may' need to be replaced. |
| We questioned the charge for the battery and damage it caused as we believed it was still under warranty from when we purchased it in 1999. We were told repetedly that we did NOT pay for the battery in 1999 and that it was replaced under warranty then. |
| Dishonest Service Center |
| We paid the charges for the vehicle and picked up the car. The next day we spoke with Saturn of Lincoln who verified we had paid for the battery and that Saturn of St. Charles had that information in their system. |
| At this point we began to feel cheated and the people at Saturn of Lincoln agreed. We contacted Saturn's main service line who promised to look into the situation. We also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. |
| A week after picking up the car, it mysteriously died and would not start. Due to the situation, we had a different mechanic look at the vehicle. After a lot of fighting, he was able to get the vehicle running. |
| Saturn's So-Called Customer Service |
| Knowing the full situation, Saturn offered us "$20 to $30" in reimbursment for a pro-rated portion of the battery, insisting they had acted appropriately and that we were not entitled to anything more. We were told that "people make mistakes" and multiple people must have overlooked the receipt for the battery multiple times. |
| Conclusion |
| To make a long story short, buyer beware when purchasing a Saturn Vehicle. These vehicles are low-quality (we're on the 3rd alternator at 63,000 miles). In addition, we have found Saturn Repair Shops to act in dishonest ways, one could even say fraudulent. Saturn does not stand behind their vehicles or accept responsibility for Saturn Dealership Service Centers. |