Hi all-- I have a 2002 Saturn SL2 w/ 18K miles. Recently the armrest on the driver's side door cracked and broke into several pieces. Now there's a big hole where I rest my arm! It is just covered by the thin fabric. Has anyone else had this experience, and if so, have you had any luck with the dealer replacing it? I'm going to see if I can get it replaced under warranty. It seems to me that it should be covered, given that it broke under normal usage. Opinions anyone? Thanks! Tom
My 95 has a small crack in the arm rest, probably because I was using it to shift my body weight whenever I got in the car. I stopped doing that, and the crack hasn't grown. No harm in asking the dealer if this is a warranty issue.
They will probably replace it, unless it looks like you whacked it with something. (all of the Saturn dealerships I have dealt with have been top notch when it comes to customer service - they will do what they can to keep you happy) As an aside, materials selection, particularly for the interior, is one of my biggest gripes about our L300 - Saturn seems hell-bent on using the hardest, most brittle materials whenever they can - as a result, you get creaks, rattles, and groans when you really shouldn't - last time the car was in the shop, I took a look at the new Ions - even the dash is hard plastic - yuck!
Same thing happened to me on my 02 SL Spl Edition. Reached into my pocket for tollway money and put to much of 155 Lbs on the armrest and it cracked. Was starting to look for a suitable piece of plastic and the JB Weld. Thought it cracked because I had the cheap SL. Took the car in one afternoon and the next day after work they had ordered and replaced the fabric cover and put in an inner liner in 90 Min. under warranty with no questions. First class service. Had the car in one time before last Jan. When it was around 0 for an oil change and also had excellent service. They even washed the car. I guess it was worth the $29 at that temperature. Just to get under the car without getting stuck I have to run it up on 4 patio blocks and in an unheated garage with insulated coveralls. Only the second time in my life that I paid to have the oil changed and I started out with a $325 63 Rambler Ambassador which was a great car to work on. The Saturn sits so low. For $9999 it is a great car. It gets 40 MPG + all the time on the Highway in warm weather. And since the wife doesn't drive it because it is a manual it has to see 200 K Mi. The way she abuses a car in cold weather is enough to make one cry. I just read in the paper that the Saturn dealership in suburban Chicago which I bought the car at has closed as well as its sister dealership on Nov 6 and 7. Have not heard anything from Saturn about the closing which I thought was strange. Went past it last night and the Saturn sign is gone and the Subaru sign is up. That's a quick transition. Don't know if Saturn is in trouble but if it is I doubt that the Ion is the car to turn it around. Read in the Wall Street Journal within the last couple of years that Saturn has not made any money for GM. If that is true it is a shame.
If not, you have 2 viable options. First you can contact http://www.6thplanetusedparts.com/ and talk to Joey, he can get you any part in decent condition. Second, if you are ever so slightly mechanically inclined, is the local junkyard. We have a few close by. I have found it very convenient to just go and pull off the part I need, which sometimes costs next to nothing. Nowadays with ecological laws in most states getting tougher, most junkyards are cleaning up thier acts; I joke with my wife and told her that the junkyard that I goto is cleaner than our KMart! (which isn't saying much, lol).
