Saturn goof up, opinions needed

Hi everyone.

I have a 2000 SL2. Just after I bought the car in 2000, Saturn replaced 1
front tire because the car pulled to one side. Since then, the front tires
have squealed when I make tight turns...even if I'm going 5 mph. I brought
it back to them once or twice because of the squealing and they told me
everything was fine. Just last night I noticed that the tire they replaced
3 years ago was the wrong size! So for 3 years I've had 3 tires that are
185/65 and 1 that is 175/70, and Saturn never noticed each time I complained
of the tires squealing. I'm bringing the car to them this week.

My question is if they just slap on the correct tire, is that enough? Now
I'll have 3 tires that are worn the same, and 1 that is brand new.
Shouldn't that be avoided? I highly doubt they will replace all 4, although
I'm thinking about making a stink about it.

Opinions are appreciated.

Thanks.

Brian

 

I would DEFINITELY make a stink about it. I think at the very least you
should get 4 new tires and a Front end alignment out of the deal, you're
looking at really screwed up tire wear and likely are out of alignment due to
their screw up and the least they should offer to do is to make that right.
I would talk directly to the New car manager and have him deal with the
service department. If they won't make it right I'd wrote a calmly worded
letter immediately to Saturn and maybe get your local News guy who handles
consumer complaints on the phone, It'd be a lot cheaper for them to just give
you four new tires and an alignment than to have that kind of screwup on the
news. It probably won't come to that though, I'll wager the new car manager
knocks some heads and you are straightened out in no time flat.

Be interested to hear back what happens with this!

TS

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That would definately screw up the alignment in turns. Your ackerman
angle was likely off causing the squealing in turns. Definately a
screw up on their part.

I would make a stink about it, but do it in a diplomatic way. 50,000
parts go in to making a car, and only four actually touch the road.
Never underestimate the importance of good tires.




Vic
2kGT 5m blk
suspension upgrades
http://home.earthlink.net/~jthet

 

Here's what Saturn said/did:

True, the 175/70 tire did not match the other 3 185/65 tires, but it IS a
size that is used on the 2000 SL2s. The squealing around turns, even at 5
mph, is due to tire wear. He recommended I BUY two new front tires at $76
apiece. I brought the car there twice before about the tire squealing and
they never said it was tire wear until now. I asked him if the unmatched
tires would affect the alignment or tire wear...he said nope. I asked if it
would affect the gas mileage and he said maybe, but if so, very little
because they are the same tires, just different sizes, and the size
difference is very small.

Here's another thing. I don't have ALL of my old receipts, and when I asked
him to print out a couple for me, he said it's company policy that they
don't print out receipts for customers.

So to sum up, he sent me on my way with unmatched tires that his company put
on. I made him write on the sales ticket that the car was not unsafe as it
is. I'm going to write a letter to the main company because I'm very
unsatisfied with how he blew me off.

Any thoughts?

Brian

 

I would DEFINITELY write to Saturn Corporate and it really is time to get your
local "news guy on your side" reporter into the mix here as well. You tried to
be nice about it, now it's time to get mean. Everything this guy told you was
bullshit.

TS
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