Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10171892October 26, 2006
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SL1 SATURN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,000 MI; NOW, AT 30,000 MI, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 1991 SATURN SL1, FOR 11 YEARS AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MI, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SO IT'S NOT MY STYLE OF DRIVING - IT'S APPARENTLY THE EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR ITSELF (AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AS WELL.) *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171576October 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE USED UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE DRIVEWAY, HOWEVER THE RESERVOIR HAD TO BE REFILLED EVERY 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE, UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS MOISTURE AROUND THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR TANK, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR TANK HAD LEAKED FROM THE TOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171126October 17, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
LEFT FRONT STRUT/COIL SPRING BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXTREME RUST. VEHICLE WAS A 2002 YEAR MODEL WITH 45,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER DID NOT CONSIDER RUST-INDUCED FAILURE TO BE ABNORMAL. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171131October 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN A RELATIVELY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH 52,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST $600.00 TO FIX. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169896October 3, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DURING A REAR END COLLISION THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT RELEASED TO FULL RECLINE POSITION. LEAVING ME WHICH MORE SEVERE INJURIES THAN I SHOULD HAVE SUSTAINED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10169370September 27, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166978August 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURN AUTOMOBILES WITH FIVE-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I HAD THE BUSHING ON THE SHIFT CABLE BREAK. THE REPAIR SET ME BACK $400. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML) AND OTHER WEBSITES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE A 1999 SATURN SL. ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM MANY PEOPLE, THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED OVER MANY MODEL YEARS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS: WHY HAS SATURN BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? A SHIFT CABLE BREAKING (RATHER THE CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHING WHICH ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT LEVER BREAKING) WHEN THE DRIVER IS IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM COULD CAUSE HAVOC AT THE VERY LEAST. A DRIVER UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS OF HIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS THIS DESIGN FAULT HAS CAUSED. AGAIN I ASK, WHY HAS THIS MANUFACTURER BEEN ALLOWED TO PROVIDE A FAULTY PRODUCT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC? WITH THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM CAN DISCOVER JUST HOW LARGE THE MAGNITUDE OF ANY PROBLEM CAN BE. I WONDER IF THE EXECUTIVES OF SATURN EXPECT TO "SWEEP THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE CARPET" LIKE THE EXECUTIVES OF FORD DURING THE "FLAMING PINTO" ERA. LEE IACOCCA WAS EVEN ABLE TO GET A LARGE LOAN FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS TO HELP OUT CHRYSLER. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, LEE (THEN AT FORD) AND OTHER FORD EXECUTIVES DECIDED THAT PAYING INJURY LAWSUIT AWARDS WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM. WELL, THEY WERE WRONG -- THEY HAD TO DO BOTH. AGAIN I WONDER, WHY DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ALLOW ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER (SATURN) TO PRODUCE ANOTHER FAULTY PRODUCT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166989August 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
CORRECTION OF INFORMATION IN PREVIOUS SUBMISSION #10166978. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166736August 28, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END IMPACTED THE REAR OF ANOTHER WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A DRY BLACKTOP SURFACE. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167983August 22, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2002 SATURN SL-1 REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING FLYING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LOOSING CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL TO REGAIN CONTROL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166002August 19, 2006
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. ONLY THE LAP BELT IS OPERATIONAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165133August 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I CALLED MR.AKINBUSOLA DESOLA AKINTOLA HARRISON ON 08/03/06 FOR '99 SATURN SL2 FOR SALE OVER CRAIGS LIST WEB-SITE DATE 08/02/06AD#[email protected]. WHEN MEETING HIM IN PERSON I ASKED HIM IF THE CAR HAD ANY DAMAGES, ACCIDENTS OR PERHAPS TO DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAR. HE SAID THAT THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITIONS ITS A CLEAN CAR, NO ACCIDENTS, NO DENTS THE CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN I ASKED HIM TO BRING THE DMV PAPERWORK ALONG WITH REGISTRATION AND PINK SLIP HE ONLY BROUGHT THE DMV FORMS TO FILL OUT. THE SELLER LOST THE PINK SLIP, BUT WITH DMV FORM REG 227 YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A COPY. ONCE WE FINISHED WITH THE FORMS HE ASKED FOR THE PAYMENT TO BE IN CASH $2,500. AFTER THE TRANSACTION I DROVE HIM BACK TO HIS HOME. HE ADVISED ME TO CHANGE THE CARS BATTERY BECAUSE HE GOT THE WRONG ONE (A DIFFERENCE OF $30.00 ALREADY!) I HEADED BACK TO WORK & THIS CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE STILL DRIVING I PARKED IT OVER MY JOB'S PARKING LOT. I CHECKED THE REGISTRATION: WHICH WAS ISSUED ON 7/11/2006 PR/HIST: SALVAGE!!! HE MANAGED TO FOOL ME & MR.KHAN AS WELL! HE BROUGHT A PRINTED OUT SALES CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE DMV FORMS WHICH SEEMED FAIR. MR.AKINTOLA HARRISON KEPT THE VEHICLE'S REGISTRATION WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES UNTIL HE GOT THE PAPERS FILLED OUT, AND SIGNED AND THE $2,500.00 IN CASH. HE RELEASED THE CAR'S REGISTRATION PLACING IT IN BETWEEN OF ALL THE DVM DOCUMENTS. I CALLED HIM ON MONDAY 08/07/2006 UNTIL NOW ASKING HIM IN GOOD FAITH TO DO A FAIR EXCHANGE (THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OVER WHERE I WORK SINCE I BOUGHT IT) IN A FRIENDLY MANNER I ASKED HIM TO GET MY MONEY BACK WITH NO HARD FEELINGS & WHEN CAN WE RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? I DID CHANGED THE BATTERY AS REQUESTED (A $30.00 LOSS ON ME)MR. HARRISON CALLED MY WORK NUMBER AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SPENT THE $2,500 ALREADY; INSTEAD I SHOULD BUY A NEW ALTERNATOR! PLEASE HELP ME WITH ADVICE IN HOW TO APPROACH THIS EVENT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164851August 7, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AFTER LEAVING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED FOR A STALLED CAR IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC WE WERE TRAVELING. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED. THE CAR BEHIND THIS CAR COLLIDED WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME CAUSING IT TO COLLIDE WITH MY CAR WHICH WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CARS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE HINGES OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT GAVE WAY CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE TO THE RECLINING POSITION. I WAS NOT INJURED BUT THE SEAT COULD NOT BE PLACED IN DRIVING POSITION. THIS KIND OF ACTION COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164325August 3, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ANTENNA CONNECTOR (HOLDER) FAILS ON A 2002 SATURN SL1 WITH 42K MILES ON IT RADIO WOULDN'T RECEIVE FM RECEPTION OVER 30 MILES! HAD FACTORY PUT BACK IN AND NO DIFFERENCE THOUGHT RADIO WAS BAD NOT THE CASE! REMOVED HOLDER WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DO TOOK 5 HOURS REMOVING AND PUTTING A NEW ONE IN COST 44.00 FOR PART DEALER REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT! SPENT 50.00 REMOVING RADIO AND RE-INSTALLING RADIO! ANTENNA CONNECTOR (HOLDER) HAD SALT BUILD UP IN IT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163429July 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
MANUAL TRANSMISSION - GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE TO SHIFT CABLE -- BROKEN BUSHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MANUAL FLOOR SHIFTER WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT CABLE. THE CABLE FALLS OFF THE SHIFTER LINKAGE. SATURN PARTS (OEM) WANTS TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY FOR ~$200 (PLUS 3 HOURS LABOR TO INSTALL IT) -- SHOULD BE A $5 FIX FOR THE BROKEN PLASTIC BUSHING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG SATURN OWNERS. (SEE HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML ). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163360July 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. I PURCHASED MY 2000 SATURN SL1 FROM A USED CAR DEALER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. AFTER I STARTED THE CAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. FOR A FEW SECONDS NOTHING HAPPENED AND I THOUGHT I WAS EITHER AGAINST A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT OR IT WAS STILL IN NEUTRAL. I GAVE IT MORE GAS. SUDDENLY, THE CAR SLAMMED INTO REVERSE AND I NEARLY LOST CONTROL AND BACKED INTO A CAR. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL TO SEE IF MORE WAS NEEDED. IT WAS FULL. A COUPLE DAYS LATE, IT DID IT AGAIN. NOW IT DOES IT ABOUT EVERY THIRD REVERSE SHIFT. ALSO THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. SO, I CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES AND THEY INDICATED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I GOT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT HAD TO BE DONE TO FIX IT. IT TURNS OUT MANY SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS EVEN A SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 612478 THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX A VALVE PROBLEM. MANY SATURN OWNERS CAN'T AFFORD SUCH A REPAIR. SO, THEY DRIVE THE CAR AT THE RISK OF BACKING INTO SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. SATURN OBVIOUSLY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG A LONG TIME AGO AND DIDN'T RECALL THE VEHICLES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163013July 20, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TWO FRONT SEATS FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER RECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED AS A RESULT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10162548July 17, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GAS LEAKING. RUNNING LOW ON GAS AFTER FILL UP. HAD CAR LOOKED AT AND THERE ARE HOLES IN THE GAS LINE, RUNNING FROM THE ENGINE TO GAS TANK. FUEL LINE IS APPARENTLY IS PLASTIC AND IS DETERIORATING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161656July 6, 2006
SEATS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WIRES AT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WERE POKING OUT THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED. IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AS WELL. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR BUT THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH WITH THE SEAT BECAUSE THERE WAS FAULTY ON WORKMANSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160953June 28, 2006
PARKING BRAKE
I HAVE A 1996 SATURN SL1. ONE DAY I WENT TO PULL UP THE PARKING BRAKE AND FOUND THAT THE LITTLE BUTTON HAD POPPED OFF AND LANDED ON THE DASH, THE SPRING ENDED UP ON THE FLOOR. THE BUTTON IS PLASTIC AND ONE SIDE THAT LATCHED IN TO KEEP IT IN PLACE APPARENTLY BROKE. TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE SPRING AND BUTTON BACK ON AND ENGAGE THE BRAKE, THEN LET IT POP OFF AGAIN OR JUST TAKE IT OFF. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE IT YET AS I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T SELL JUST THE PART FOR THE 1996 SATURN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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