Question: The car dealer damaged my new Saturn Vue before I took delivery of it. What can I do?

July 5, 2005

Hi Tony

I ordered a new Saturn Vue. I signed all papers and got financed. When I went to pick-up the car, I noticed a baseball sized dent in the hatch door.

The General Manager was very apologetic and said he would take car of it. Would this info show up when running a report on the VIN# or be notice upon a trade-in down the road?

They did not say how they would fix it. As it is in a corner of the door, I would expect they would have to replace the door. The Manager did offer some freebies but what does this do to the value of this new car?

I have yet to take ownership.

Thanks for your response.

Stephen Z.

Answer:

Hi Stephen,

They'll either replace the door, or more probably they will straighten the dent. In either case the door will have to repainted. A good, professional body man can make it so you'll never see it. Hopefully you'll have someone like that work on it.

I doubt that this repair will ever show up on any report down the road. If it is done properly it won't be noticeable, and therefore won't affect the value down the road.

If I were you I would contact this manager and tell him that if the repair is not to your satisfaction that they will have to get you another vehicle. The pressure is on them as long as you haven't taken delivery of the vehicle yet.

Also have them put in writing that the repair will not void the factory paint warranty. In fact, make them give you a copy of the completed repair order on the dent, so you know exactly how it was repaired.

One last thing . . . you may want to contact Saturn direct. Explain the situation, and verify with them that the factory warranty will still be in tact.

Good luck...

All my very best...

Tony Iorio