NHTSA complaint: 1997 SATURN SL — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 SL1 AND ON THE 3RD DAY OF OWNING IT THE SHIFTER BROKE CAUSING IT TO GO LIMP. AT THE TIME I WAS ON THE 101 FREEWAY STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITH MY THREE CHILDREN. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE TOWED IT TO HIS SHOP FOR REPAIRS. AFTER MAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIR, HE DID A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK. THIS WAS WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE OIL HAD WATER MIXED IN WITH IT CAUSING A WHITE SMOKE ESCAPING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. I'M CERTAIN THIS PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MOST LIKELY WAS THE REASON FOR SELLING. AFTER READING THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS FROM CARSURVEY, (COMPLAINTS LISTED BELOW) I BELIEVE SATURN ENGINEERED THIS VEHICLE "BY DESIGN" WITH THESE PROBLEMS FORECASTING THEIR REVENUE. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation