NHTSA ID Number: 10171807

Incident Date: 2006-10-20

Manufacturer's Name: General Motors, LLC

Vehicle/Equipment Make: SATURN

Vehicle/Equipment Model: ION

Model Year: 2003
9999 If Unknown Or N/A

Vehicle Identification Number: 1G8AJ52F73Z

Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 45747

Vehicle Speed: 0

Number Of Occurrences: 1

Was Vehicle Towed: No

Consumer Location: OWOSSO, MI

Summary of Complaint

I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 45747 MILES AS OF THE SERVICE DATE. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN, AND ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER MAY WANT TO CLAIM THAT SNOW CAUSED THIS FAILURE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SNOWFALL PRIOR TO THIS DATE (10-25-06). I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS FOLDED OUTWARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SUPPORT BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO OBTAIN THE SIMPLE BRACKET. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE WIPER MOTOR WHICH STILL FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY ARE A UNITIZED MODULE WHERE NO SINGLE PART CAN BE PURCHASED INDIVIDUALLY. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS ASSEMBLY (GM PART NUMBER 15221904 ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE) WAS $149.12 WHILE LABOR AND FEES MADE UP AN ADDITIONAL $100. OVERALL COST TO FIX WAS $250.91 WITH STATE TAXES. I ASKED FOR THE BROKEN PART, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT (I WILL TAKE DIGITAL PICTURES IF YOU SO WISH). ADDITIONALLY, WHILE MOST OF THE MECHANISM IS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL, THE HIGH STRESS POINTS (THE BRACKETS) ARE MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC. WHILE NO HARM CAME TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHE DOES EXIST. IF THIS MECHANISM WERE TO FAIL WHILE ONE WAS DRIVING, THEIR VISION WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED AND AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN MY CASE, WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WAS RENDERED VIRTUALLY USELESS. THIS DEFECT COULD EASILY BE CORRECTED. THE BRACKETS WHICH ARE BOTH MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC COULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE RELIABLE METAL PART. TO SAVE PRECIOUS PENNIES, SATURN CHOSE TO CONSTRUCT THIS CRITICAL PART OF THE CAR WITH AN INFERIOR MATERIAL. THE RESULT IS A DESIGN FLAW POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS OF UNSUSPECTING SATURN OWNERS. I ASK THAT CONSIDERATION BE MADE FOR THEM WHILE THIS COMPLAINT IS REVIEWED.

Complaint 10171807 Documents

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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH

FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE

INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED

DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES

Was Medical Attention Required: No

Was Incident Reported To Police: No

Date Of Incident: 2006-10-20
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Added To File: 2006-10-25
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2006-10-25
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Purchased: 2005-04-15
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Was Original Owner: No

Product Type: Vehicle

V = Vehicle
T = Tires
E = Equipment
C = Child Restraint

Specific Component's Description: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Anti-Lock Brakes: No

Cruise Control: Yes

Number Of Cylinders: 4

Drive Train Type: FWD
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]

Fuel System: Fuel Injection

FI = Fuel Injection
TB = Turbo

Fuel Type: Gas

BF = BiFuel
CN = CNG/LPG
DS = Diesel
GS = Gas
HR = Hybrid Electric

Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]: AUTO

(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:

Tire Size:

Location Of Tire:

FSW = Driver Side Front
DSR = Driver Side Rear
FTR = Passenger Side Front
PSR = Passenger Side Rear
SPR = Spare

Type Of Tire Failure:

BST = Blister
BLW = Blowout
TTL = Crack
OFR = Out Of Round
TSW = Puncture
TTR = Road Hazard
TSP = Tread Separation

Was Defective Tire Repaired:

Was Part Original Equipment:

Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)

Type Of Child Seat:

B = Booster
C = Convertible
I = Infant
IN = Integrated
TD = Toddler

Installation System:

A = Vehicle Safety Belt
B = Latch System

Dealer's Name: SATURN OF FLINT

Dealer's Telephone Number:

Dealer's City: FLINT

Dealer's State: MI

Dealer's Zipcode: 48532

SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:

CAG = Consumer Action Group
CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office
DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition
EVOQ = Hotline VOQ
EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING
INS = Insurance Company
IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site
LETR = Consumer Letter
MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ
RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation
RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition
SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF)
VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire

Incident State Code:

Vehicle Operator's Name: