General Motors settles lawsuit regarding its Saturn VUE and Saturn ION which are equipped with a continuously variable VTi transmission.

A class action lawsuit has been certified and settled against General Motors for its design, manufacture and sale of certain Saturn model vehicles.

The General Motor manufactured Saturn models are the Saturn VUE model years 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 and the Saturn ION model years 2003 or 2004. In all cases the Saturn vehicle must be equipped with a continuously variable VTi transmission. If you purchased a new or used Saturn that meets the above description (even if you have already traded the vehicle in) you may be entitled to compensation for the following:

(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;

(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").

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, reimbursable expenses will include

(a) costs to inspect, repair or replace a malfunctioning VTi transmission,

(b) costs to rent a replacement vehicle or secure other transportation while the Class Vehicle's malfunctioning VTi transmission is/was being inspected, repaired or replaced,

(c) costs to tow or transport the Class Vehicle to the place(s) where the VTi transmission is/was inspected, repaired or replaced, and

(d) costs relating to the trade-in of a Class Vehicle with a malfunctioning VTi transmission at the time of trade-in, as further limited and defined below.

GM will reimburse any Class Member who incurs Future Reimbursable Expenses after the date of Final Judgment based on the percentages shown in Chart B below, provided that the Class Member incurs the expense and submits the claim within the time limits set forth in Chart A below. To obtain reimbursement, the Class Member must submit a Claim Form and the Saturn Retailer or other repair shop bills showing the date, mileage and amount of the repair costs paid by the Class Member and, if applicable, receipts showing the rental car, alternative transportation or towing costs incurred by the Class Member. GM shall use, or cause any claims administrator to use, its best efforts to issue checks for Future Reimbursable Expense to Class Members within ten (10) General Motors business days of receipt of the Claim Form with all required supporting documentation.

Upon written request by the Class Member, GM shall also issue checks for Future Expense Reimbursement payable jointly to the Class Member and a Saturn Retailer or other repair shop specified by the Class Member.