Okay, so I used a bit of an inflammatory topic, but as far as I am concerned, it is a valid one. Here'* why:

I bought a 2006 Ion-2 with 38K miles on it after it was declared a total by the insurance company. Only damage on it was caused by a minor accident which resulted in the car going over a curb and dented the oil pan and left front fender. It also resulted in airbag deployment for a total insurance company estimate which they felt exceeded the car'* value plus the insured'* deductable.

That said, after my Malibu blew an engine after perfect oil changes and having only 110K miles on it, we needed a car to get to work.... so, we used our tax return which we normally use to pay our home taxes, to buy the best car we could get for $6500. That was the 2006 Ion-2.

So now, it starts to suddenly lose power steering while driving at least once a day for the last 4 days. Checked this forum, and found that the Power Steering motor is defective and that GM had sent out letters to Saturn owners and a service bulletin both admitting the problem and telling us owners to bring it in to be fixed for free if the problem occurred.

So, yesterday, I called GM and they told me not to worry and just bring it in to my local Chevy dealer and get it replaced for free according to the letter and service bulletin. They even made me an appt for today.

Took off work and made the trip to the dealer and upon checking in with them, I was told that I would have to pay for the dangerous defective part to be replaced since I had a "branded" title(otherwise known as a salvage title once the insurance company totaled the car).

I could barely afford the car much less pay hundreds to fix an acknowledged GM defective part in the Saturn, so I guess we need to just take our chances and drive this PO-GM-*.

At the same time, due to the same problem and same defective GM part, the Cobalt had been recalled and regardless of the title on Cobalts, they are fixed free of charge. The folks at GM couldn't explain why the same problem/defective part on a Cobalt would be fixed while my Saturn would not be, regardless of title designation?

So.... obviously, GM considers Saturn to be their scum line and Saturn customers to be of less value than Chevy customers since they are willing to risk our lives but not those of Chevy folks?

I will get this problem fixed eventually and then my case will be in Small Claims court just as soon as I can file it.
Being in Texas, I legally recorded all my conversations with the two GM representatives who I spoke to, along with the Chevy dealership service manager and have all documents of the Saturn letter to owners, GMs service bulletin and the Letter and notice of the Cobalt recall for the same part.

You can bet I will be suing for my costs, time, effort, aggravation and stress caused by having to drive this defective vehicle due to GM'* prejudice against us due to being a Saturn owner and not a Chevy owner.

Our family has bought and proudly owned GM vehicles for the last 40 years... but this is probably gonna be the last for us due to GMs lack of respect for one of their brands and its' owners. If I was thinking of buying ANY GM product it is obvious they are potentially going to discontinue your brand and then deny fixing any manufacturer defects in that vehicle over time. GM has some serious customer service problems and probably company problems too since now customer satisfaction is no longer a priority.

Maybe, when I win my case I can buy a better car like a Ford or even a Hyundai?

Sounds like you are a bit pissed off. Reading through your post, it'* easy enough for me to understand both sides. If that were me, I'd call GM back and speak to them further about the recall/etc and see if they'll fix it as it wasn't before the "incident".

From their side, all they know is there was major damage to the car that an insurance company considered it a total loss.

I'd give them another call. sometimes dealerships don't want the hassle or they've gotten the directive and things can be reversed with the proper calls.

Sorry your having these problems, however, after reading your post I see the problem being the dealership, not GM. GM admitted there was a problem, and said take it in to be fixed. The dealership is not living up to it'* part. Perhaps you should be upset with the dealership, not GM.

I agree with Dan. The stealership sounds like the problem here.

Why didn't you fix the engine on the Malibu ... for a lot less than $6,500, and a lot less risk than buying a car with a salvage title?

GM'* service policies do not distinguish between a Saturn and a Cobalt. Who told you they would fix one and not the other? Even if that is true (and I don't think it is) telling you that is like throwing gasoline on a fire. That doesn't make sense.

Sounds like a bunch of idiots at the dealership not Gm themselves..hope you get this figured out and corrected

You bought a car with a salvaged title. GM is within their rights and standard business practices. Accidents that cause airbag deployment have been through forces that interact throughout the body and tend to cause unseen damage to many parts, bearings, shorts, seals, ... on and on. Insurance companys do not just total for seen expenses on these type of cars. They don't want to be liable for what they know and have seen over the years. Unseen troubles and continued repairs and expenses. You bought a salvaged vehicle. Get over it, take some of the savings you reaped for a "deal" and fix it. I suggest you really study the implicities of laws about salvage titles because you have no case and any money you throw at this is in the fire. You bought a car sold as-is, and accepting it as such. The warranty died with the accident and subsequent "pay-off" to the original owner. And your going to come here and whine you can't take your "cake" and eat it too?

Dealerships wont touch a totalled car, i know that from experience. I'm sure if the saturn wasn't totalled they would have taken care of it. But for all they know the damage to your car could have been the source of whatever went out on the saturn so they feel they dont have to give you free service.

WTFGM,

I would like to look further into your situation however I cannot promise anything. Could you please email me your complete contact information, VIN, current mileage and involved dealership? Do you currently have a case set up with GM Customer Assistance, if so please include the case number?

Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service
socialmedia@gm.com