Owner Letter
April 9, 1997Dear Saturn Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Saturn has decided that 319 Saturn 1997 model vehicles built in January and February of 1997 fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 114, "Theft Protection." On these 1997 Saturn vehicles, it may be possible to remove the ignition key while the cylinder is in the RUN position. Although the driver may be able to remove the ignition key from the ignition cylinder while it is in the RUN position, no other aspect of the operation of the vehicle is affected. The ignition key must be reinserted in the ignition cylinder to turn the engine off. To ensure that all vehicles are operating as intended, we want to inspect the ignition cylinder function and, if necessary, to have the vehicle's ignition cylinder re-coded. Re-coding of the vehicle's ignition cylinder will require the doors, and rear compartment or liftgate locks to be re-coded in order to retain a one key system.
There is nothing more important to us than how you feel about your Saturn. If there is ever anything that might compromise your ownership experience, we want to address it right away ... which is why we are writing to you.
What you should do:
You may choose to perform a simple functional inspection yourself using the enclosed Inspection procedure. If the vehicle performs as it should in this check (no removal of the ignition key in the run position is possible) no further service is required. If it does not perform correctly, your Saturn Retailer will make the necessary repairs. If you have any questions concerning this procedure, please contact the Saturn Customer Assistance Center at 1-8O0-553-6000.
If you perform the functional inspection yourself and find the vehicle to be functioning properly, please use the postage paid return card to notify us that the ignition cylinder on your vehicle is functioning properly. Complete section # 6, sign and drop the card in the mail. Please affix the attached label to the vehicle to help service technicians verify that your vehicle has been inspected. Once affixed to the vehicle, this label should not be removed.
If you are not comfortable performing this functional inspection yourself, your Retailer can perform the inspection for you and, if necessary, make the needed repairs. Please contact your Saturn Retailer or the Saturn Customer Assistance Center to make arrangements for having this service performed.
What Saturn will do:
We will inspect and, if necessary, re-code the vehicle's ignition cylinder. In order to retain a one key system, the doors, and rear compartment or liftgate locks will be re-coded. The inspection should only take a few minutes to perform. If re-coding of the vehicle's locks is required, the entire procedure will take two and one-half hours. Please allow your Retailer some additional time for paperwork and processing.
Your Retailer is prepared to perform this service promptly and with minimal inconvenience to you. However, if your car is provided to the Retailer on the agreed service date and the condition is not remedied on that date, or within five days, please contact the Saturn Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-553-6000. We will assist you and the Retailer in getting your car serviced.
If, after contacting your Saturn Retailer and the Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or call 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, DC residents use 202-366-0123).
Again, we sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern this situation may cause you. We also want you to know that we will do our best, throughout your ownership experience, to ensure that your Saturn provides you many miles of enjoyable driving.