Saturn SL Complaints (2000)

148 consumer complaints on file.

#10287133October 12, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, POWER TRAIN
THE GEAR SHIFT CAN BE OPERATED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NOT RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278959July 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2000 SATURN SL2 IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO START. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION IT REFUSES TO TURN TO THE "START" POSITION WITHOUT EXTENSIVE JIGGLING OF THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM SURFACED FOUR YEARS AGO AND WAS "FIXED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED AND IS WORSE THAN EVER. THIS SEEMS TO POINT TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD RESULT IN A DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BEING STRANDED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE IN INCONVENIENT OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. GOOGLING "SATURN IGNITION KEY PROBLEMS" WILL REVEAL THAT THERE IS QUITE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH SATURN IN THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. SINCE THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY COMPLETELY I WILL ASSUME THAT SATURN IS REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED SWITCH. SATURN NEEDS TO DESIGN AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT WILL NOT FAIL AND USE THE NEW UNIT AS A REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240697September 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2000 SATURN L BROKE. I ONLY HAVE 83,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY WITH GM CARS, ESPECIALLY SATURNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237300August 6, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, TIRES:SIDEWALL
SIDEWALL EXPLODED WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY. BOUGHT THE SAME TIRE AS A REPLACEMENT AND IT DEVELOPED A GIANT SIDEWALL BUBBLE IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES THAT JUST RUPTURED...THE TWO TIRES BOTH WENT BAD IN ONLY 11333 MILES...ABOUT 5666 MILES EACH!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232346June 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY SATURN SL2000 IS 8 YEARS OLD. RECENT REPAIRS ARE FUEL CAP REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN CAP SEAL. REAR BUSHINGS, GASKET REPLACEMANT GASKET TOP REPLACEMENT AND NOW AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WONT WORK. ALL PROBLEMS DISCOVERED SINCE MAY 2008. REPAIRS PERFORMED ON ALL EXCEPT AIR CONDITION WHICH WAS DISCOVERED TODAY 6-25-08. 1000 DOLLARS APPROX. ALL 3MONTH MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR DEC, 1999. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230356June 9, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS A LOT OF FLUID ON THE GROUND, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. HE FOUND A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 08/01/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222578March 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OR RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY ON WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210747December 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN SL2 70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMES ON, ENGINE STOPS RUNNING PULL OVER, LUCKILY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SAFELY. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS TIMING CHAIN OR BELT MAY HAVE BROKEN. DEALER CALLS BACK, SAYS I NEED A $7000.00 REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER 5000.00 IN REPAIRS. SATURN HAS NOT OFFERED ANY SORT OF EXPLANATION. JUST A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE. I AM FURIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210018November 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER WITH AN AS-IS NO WARRANTY BACK IN AUGUST 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD A LITTLE OVER 88,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND ALL MAJOR ITEMS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE CAR CAME DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007, THE ENGINE WENT BANG. THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH AND THERE WAS NO KNOCKING HEARD PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 TO REPORT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN ON FIRE, BUT THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASKED ABOUT KNOCKING PRIOR AND I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NONE. IN FACT, A MECHANIC HAD JUST LOOKED AT IT THE DAY BEFORE. I RECALL THAT THE CHANGE OIL SOON LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT NEVER STEADY. THE OIL LIGHT ALSO KEPT FLICKERING BUT WAS NEVER STEADY. THE RPM'S INCREASED FROM 2500 TO 3000 AND RETURNED TO 2500. NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS REPORTED BY DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN EAST GRAND FORKS. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID IT IS TOTALED. CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A NEW OR USED ENGINE TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10209633November 21, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL2. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AT 10 MPH, THE GEARS BECAME STUCK AND COULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V310000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000. UPDATED 12/07/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190289May 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE COOLANT LIGHT LOW INDICATOR CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION OIL WAS FOUND IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. CAR HAD UNDER 100000 MILES, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED. SATURN ISSUED COMPANY BULLETIN 99P01. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR A MINIMAL CHARGE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. WERE ONLY WILLING TO OFFER 25% OF THE APPROXIMATE $2200 REPAIR CHARGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189949May 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT CONTAINED NO OIL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SERVICED THREE WEEKS PRIOR. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3,400 AND A USED ENGINE WITHOUT WARRANTY WOULD COST $2,400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SIGNS OF LEAKING, DRAINING, OR OIL BURNING WERE PRESENT, YET THE OIL IS EVAPORATING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186905April 3, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, MAKES A LOUD BANG NOISE AND SLAMS HARD INTO GEAR. I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME EXACT SITUATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177042December 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED, AND THE DRIVER WASUNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVES HASDTO JIGGLE AND SHAKE THE IGNITION AREA FOR THE KEY TO TURN AND THE CAR TO START. THE CONTACT STATED ONCE THE CAR STARTED THE KEY COULD BE TAKEN OUT AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173835November 20, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH (SPEED LIMIT.) THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKES. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS I SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH. MY BRAKES LOCKED-UP AND I SLID INTO THE PICK-UP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 65 MPH. THE SEAT BELTS WORKED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS INJURED AND TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10173312November 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2000 SATURN SL2 WHICH WAS USED, THEREFORE, I HAD A SHOP THOROUGHLY CHECK THAT ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE IN WORKING ORDER...I WAS TOLD THAT ALL WERE IN GREAT SHAPE..IE., THE ENGINE, STARTER, AND ANY VITAL PARTS. THE CAR RAN GREAT...WELL, FOR 5-6 MOS. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING,WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF...THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN...NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING! THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED BUT I JUST HEARD CLICKING WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION. WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS SHOT, THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO OTHER THAN PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN IT...WITH A SMALL FEE OF 4000.00. BOTH OF US DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS AND BARELY 3,000 MILES THE ENGINE WENT FROM GREAT TO GONE! I HAVE READ SEVERAL DOCUMENTS FROM THIS SITE AND THERE ARE MANY PERSONS WITH 2000 SATURNS THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY TOO HAVE A CAR THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY AND THE STORIES SOUND VERY SIMILAR TO MINE...I'VE SEEN MANY OF HAVE SIMILAR VIN #S...I IDENTIFIED WITH THE DOCS REGARDING THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES ISSUES, ALTHOUGH, MINE IS OF THE S-SERIES (I GUESS, BECAUSE IT IS AN SL-2). THE LETTER DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE REFERRED TO (EA06-009), THE DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) OR THE ODI INVESTIGATION PE06-006 THAT WAS OPENED ON 1/24/06. I AM NOT SURE THAT THOSE DOCUMENT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BEING THAT I THOUGHT MY ENGINE WAS OF THE SIZE 1.9L, I-4, MP, DOHC. IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO VIEW THE DOCS MENTIONED, THEY ARE BASICALLY DESCRIBING THE SAME PROB. THAT I HAVE. WILL YOU PLEASE FIND OUT IF I AM INCORRECT WITH THE INFO. THAT I'VE VIEWED AND IF THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD FOR OVER 1 YR. OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ADVICE, OR KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO OR WITH WHOM I SHOULD SPEAK...PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH.*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
#10146395December 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN CHECKING THE COLOR OF MY OIL, THE DIP STICK WAS FOUND 3 TIMES BONE DRY. NO OIL LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD COME ON AND FINALLY ONE TIME IT WAS TOO LATE. ON CHRISTMAS EVE MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO HEAT AND LACK OF OIL. I WOULD LOSE 5 QUARTS BEFORE MY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO BUY A USED ENGINE AND HAVE IT INSTALLED BY A FAMILY FRIEND DUE TO LACK OF MONEY TO FIX THIS UNEXPECTED PROBLEM ON MY 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT I AM STILL MAKING PAYEMNTS ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146283December 28, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
I WAS STOPPED BY A FELLOW DRIVER A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED MY LIGHTS AND REALIZED THAT WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT. I HAVE HEARD THAT SEVERAL OF THE 2000 SL1'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE TO FIX IT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145754December 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE THIRD COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN PLACED IN PARK OR NEUTRAL OR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL RPM 3,500-4,000. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND PRIVATE MECHANICS AND NO ANSWER HAS BEEN GIVEN. NOTHING SHOWS ON DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. WHEN ENGINE REVS, I WILL PLACE IN PARK, TURN CAR OFF, AND START AGAIN. SOMETIMES THIS DOES THE TRICK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS VEHICLE WILL TRY TO DRIVE WHEN WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT AND FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. PLEASE HELP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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