Saturn Frequently Asked Questions

(Last updated on October 21, 2009)

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted final approval of settlement in the Saturn VTi transmission class action on April 16, 2009. This FAQ answers a number of common questions regarding the settlement. 

We will continue to regularly update this FAQ to reflect new developments and to address additional recurring questions, so please check back often.*

Background

• What is this lawsuit about?
• Who is covered by the lawsuit?
• How can I know whether my Saturn vehicle contains a VTi transmission?

Class Relief

• What categories of relief does the proposed Settlement provide?
• If I have a claim for reimbursable expenses, what will the reimbursement rate be?

Your Options

• What do I have to do at this time?

Submitting Claims

• How Can I Obtain a Claim Form?
• How do I file a claim for Past Reimbursable Expenses?
• How Do I File a Claim for Trade-In Loss Reimbursement?
• Am I entitled to relief for a trade-in loss if I trade(d) in my vehicle any time after January 9, 2009?
• How do I file a claim for Future Reimbursable Expenses?
• What are the deadlines for submitting claims under the settlement?

Miscellaneous

• Does the proposed Settlement apply to leased vehicles?
• Is relief under the Settlement transferrable if I sell my vehicle?
• How long will it take for GM to process the Claim Form?
• How can I contact Class Counsel?

What is this lawsuit about?

Plaintiffs' Complaint alleges that the continuously variable VTi transmissions contained in certain Saturn Vue and Ion vehicles were inherently defective and unusually prone to premature failure. Saturn denies these allegations. The lawsuit sought to extend the warranty coverage for these vehicles and sought reimbursement for class members who suffered financial losses relating to past transmission failures.

Who is covered by the lawsuit?

The Class consists of all persons who are residents of the United States and who purchased or leased a new or used 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 model year Saturn VUE or 2003 or 2004 model year Saturn ION equipped with a continuously variable VTi transmission. Excluded from the Class are (i) any person, firm, trust, corporation, or other entity that purchased Class Vehicles for resale or fleet purposes (including without limitation any authorized Saturn Retailer) and (ii) any person who has filed a lawsuit against GM seeking damages for alleged personal injury or property damage in connection with a VTi transmission.

How can I know whether my Saturn vehicle contains a VTi transmission?

The vehicles at issue are all Model Year 2003-2004 Saturn Ions and all 4-cylinder Model Year 2002-2005 Saturn Vues. 6-cylinder Vues did not contain VTi transmissions, and manual transmissions are not Vti transmissions. The VTi is a continuously variable transmission ("CVT") utilizing a belt-and-pulley system, rather than traditional gears, to transmit torque from the vehicle's engine to the transaxle. If you can feel or hear your automatic transmission shifting gears, then it probably is not a VTi. If you received the court-approved notice of the settlement in the mail, then GM already has identified you as a class member.

What categories of relief does the Settlement provide?

The settlement provides for the following categories of relief:

 (1) Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses relating to the previous inspection, repair, or replacement of a malfunctioning VTi transmission, including related towing and rental car expenses, subject to specific time and mileage limitations ("Past Reimbursable Expenses");

 (2) Reimbursement for loss associated with a previous trade-in of a Class Vehicle with VTi transmission malfunction at the time of trade-in ("Trade-In with Transmission Malfunction Reimbursement"), subject to specific time and mileage limitations and repair estimate documentation; and

 (3) Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses relating to the future inspection, repair or replacement of a malfunctioning VTi transmissions, including related towing and rental care expenses, subject to specific time and mileage limitations ("Future Reimbursable Expenses").

If I have a claim for reimbursable expenses, what will the reimbursement rate be?

The rate of reimbursement depends on the mileage of the vehicle at the time the expense is/was incurred, and whether you purchased your vehicle new or used.

Reimbursement Chart

Nothing. You automatically receive the extended coverage. In the event you have incurred or will incur transmission related expenses, you may fill out and submit a Claim Form as outlined below:

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

* GM used a third-party to help it identify all class members (R.L. Polk). On March 12, 2009, GM and Class Counsel learned about a computer glitch in R.L Polk's computers that may have possibly resulted in 7,090 class members not receiving notice. 

Future Expenses Claim Submission Deadline Chart

To fill out a Claim Form for reimbursement, you have two options:

Print Out Claim Form and hand write 

Fill Out Online Claim Form

Before the above deadlines you must submit a valid Claim Form including any supporting documents to the following address:

The Claims Administrator's address will be provided upon receipt by Class Counsel.

Please do NOT submit your claim form to Class Counsel or the Court.

How Can I Obtain a Claim Form?

Although the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted final approval of the proposed class settlement regarding the Saturn VTi transmission litigation on April 16, 2009, on June 1, 2009, GM filed its bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The filing results in an automatic stay of all litigation (a suspension), including the Saturn VTi Transmission class-action litigation.

On August 26, 2006, we filed an adversary proceeding to compel New GM to fulfill its promises under the bankruptcy sale agreement to pay for the Saturn VTi settlement. For more information about the adversary case against New GM, please click here.

We will continue to provide you information via our web-site regarding GM's bankruptcy. If you received a bankruptcy claim form from Motors Liquidation Company (Old GM), and you are a class member of the Saturn VTi settlement, please click here. Please continue to check our web-site for updates.

How do I file a claim for Past Reimbursable Expenses?

All claims for Past Expense Reimbursement or Trade-In With Transmission Malfunction Reimbursement must be submitted no later than June 1, 2010.

Future Expenses Claim Submission Deadline Chart

How Do I File a Claim for Trade-In Loss Reimbursement?

To claim reimbursement if you traded in a vehicle with a VTi transmission malfunction, you must submit a Claim Form and provide dealer documentation including (1) a sales contract including the Vehicle Identification Number ("VIN") of the vehicle that was traded in and (2) a contemporaneous VTi transmission repair estimate dated on or before the trade-in date referencing the same VIN. The reimbursement will equal the repair estimate multiplied by the applicable percentage shown on Reimbursement Chart above. Class Members will be entitled to seek reimbursement of trade-in losses only upon proof that the Class Vehicle was traded-in before January 9, 2009.  All claims for trade-in loss will have to be submitted by the deadline. (See "Important Dates" under "What do I have to do at this time?"

If you do not submit the Claim Form by the deadline, then you will not be entitled to reimbursement for any trade-in loss but still will be entitled to any otherwise available relief for any Future Reimbursable Expense. You also still will be bound by the Settlement and the judgment, including the release of your claims, unless you exclude yourself from the Class.

Am I entitled to relief for a trade-in loss if I trade(d) in my vehicle any time after January 9, 2009?

No. The relief for trade-in losses applies only to those Class Members who traded in their vehicles prior to the date that notice of the Settlement was mailed to the Class.

How do I file a claim for Future Reimbursable Expenses?

Yes. The VTi transmissions in most leased vehicles would have been covered by the standard GM warranty during the course of the lease. However, relief is available under the proposed Settlement for those lessees who may have incurred reimbursable expenses during the course of their lease (for example, those whose vehicle mileage exceeded the GM warranty).

Is relief under the Settlement transferrable if I sell my vehicle?

No. The Class consists only of current and former owners of Class Vehicles as of January 9, 2009. Relief under the proposed Settlement is not transferrable.

How long will it take for GM to process the Claim Form?*

Once you submit a valid Claim Form as instructed above, GM will issue payment as follows:

Past Reimbursable Expenses- GM shall use its best efforts to issue checks as soon as practicable, but in no event more than thirty (30) days from the date the valid Claim Form and proof of loss is received by GM.

Past Trade-In With VTi Transmission Malfunction Reimbursement- GM shall use its best efforts to issue checks as soon as practicable, but in no event more than thirty (30) days from the date the valid Claim Form and proof of loss is received by GM.

Future Reimbursable Expenses- GM shall use its best efforts to issue checks within ten (10) General Motors business days from the date the valid Claim Form and proof of loss is received by GM. Upon written request by the Class Member, GM shall also issue Future Reimbursable Expense checks payable jointly to the Class Member and a Saturn Retailer or other repair shop.

* Although the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted final approval of the proposed class settlement regarding the Saturn VTi transmission litigation on April 16, 2009, on June 1, 2009, GM filed its bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The filing results in an automatic stay of all litigation (a suspension), including the Saturn VTi Transmission class-action litigation.

On August 26, 2006, we filed an adversary proceeding to compel New GM to fulfill its promises under the bankruptcy sale agreement to pay for the Saturn VTi settlement. For more information about the adversary case against New GM, please click here.

We will continue to provide you information via our web-site regarding GM's bankruptcy. If you received a bankruptcy claim form from Motors Liquidation Company (Old GM), and you are a class member of the Saturn VTi settlement, please click here. Please continue to check our web-site for updates.

You can email Class Counsel via e-mail at mailto:saturnvti.classaction@LakinChapman.com. You can contact them by phone at 618-251-2498. You can contact them by mail at 300 Evans Avenue, P.O. Box 229, Wood River, IL 62095. Please include the reference "Saturn Transmission Class Action."