Saturn SL Complaints (1998)

168 consumer complaints on file.

#10056746February 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, THEY FALL DOWN ON LOW SPEED, SLIGHT IMPACT, UNLEVEL TERRAIN (BUMPS). I WONDER IF SATURN HAS ANY IDEA HOW FUN IT IS TO STOP EVERYTIME YOU PASS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY PUSH THE WINDOWS BACK IN PLACE; ONLY TO HAVE THEM FALL AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. DON'T DRIVE YOUR 1998 SATURN SL2 IN THE RAIN UNLESS YOU WISH TO GET WET ALONG WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR REAR SEAT. IT'S DEFINATELY "DIFFERENT IN A SATURN", THAT'S WHY I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ONE AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070891January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
BEFORE BUYING SATURN SL THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE A MOTOR MOUNT AND PROMISED ME A GOOD RUNNING CAR. SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE "USED" IN MARCH OF 2003 I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASSIONS FOR A VIBRATION IN THE MOTOR THAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND A LOUD EARING RINGING HUMMING IN THE CAR ITSELF THAT WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF TO SHAKE. ALL BUT ONE OF THE TIMES THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A 4 CYLINDER AND THAT IS HOW THEY SOUND. YHEY WOULD THEN RESET THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THE NOISE GOT GRADUALLY WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE PHYSICALLY TO DRIVE IT. I RECENTLY REQUESTED ANOTHER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, THEY DID IN FACT FINALLY SAY " YA THAT'S BAD" AND QUESTIONED WHY THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON BUT AGAIN REPLACED THE SAME DEFECTED MOTOR MOUNT AGAIN. NOW I HAVE IT BACK AND THERE IS STILL A NOISE IN THE ENGINE THAT IS NOT RIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NO LONGER THEIR PROBLEM.THE VIBRATION ISN'T AS TERRIBLE AS IT WAS BUT MY FEAR IS THAT THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM THAT CASUED THE VIBRATION JUST A SYMPTOM AND THEREFORE LIKE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT IT WILL COME BACK. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071090January 15, 2004
EQUIPMENT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ACCESSORIES: VOLUME KNOB FELL OFF...NOT REPLACED YET. OVERHEAD INTERIOR LIGHT FELL OFF ROOF...REPAIRED IN AUGUST. OTHER:SINCE AROUND 40,000 MILES THIS CAR HAS HAD A SEVERE VIBRATION, WETHER FROM MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION, OR ??? IS NOT KNOWN. VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT YOU CANNOT SEE CLEARLY OUT OF REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN IN PARK, OR IN DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. IF YOU ARE SITTING IN CAR WHILE IN PARK, VIBRATION CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE A NUMB FEELING IN YOUR BUTT (I AM SERIOUS...THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!) OTHER TIMES IT IS A FIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR TO A STOP IF IN DRIVE BECAUSE OF VIBRATION AND A "LEAPING" FEELING. DASH PANEL VIBRATES TERRIBLY LOUD, AND IS VERY DISTRACTING FROM THIS PROBLEM TOO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068767January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
1998 SATURN WITH 49,000 MILES NEEDED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT. THE VALVE BODIES ARE KEPT IN STOCK AT SATURN OF ROUTE 23 BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN. THE CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, TRANS SERVICE AT 25,500 MILES. SATURN WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE COST OF REPAIRS. I'VE NOTED THAT SATURN IS ON SEVERAL WEBB SITES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES DOCUMENTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050457December 12, 2003
TIRES, AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED . CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, AND WAS NOT SURE IF THERE WERE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042391November 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
CONSUMER NOTICED UPON STARTING VEHICLE PARK PAW WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THIS HAPPENED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. CONSUMER HAD TO ROCK THE VEHICLE, RESTART, PUMP THE BRAKES AND GIGGLE THE LEVER BEFORE IT WOULD RELEASE. WHEN CHANGING GEAR A SCRAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD AND SATURN STATED IT WOULD GET WORSE. AFTER FOUR TIMES, CONSUMER HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $#144.09. CONSUMER NOTED SATURN WOULD NOT WORK ON HIS VEHICLE MAYBE BECAUSE HE FILLED A COMPLAINT FOR SHABBY WORK. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046670November 4, 2003
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFT ON 1998 SATURN SL1. *MR THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND THE BCSI SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043370October 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FOR THE PAST 2-3 YEARS I HAVE HAD A MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN SL2 '98. I BROUGHT IT TO TWO SATURN DEALERSHIPS WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO LEAK NOR WAS MY CAR BURNING OIL, IN ESSENCE THAT I WAS IMAGINING THIS PROBLEM. IN JULY OF 2003, THE PROBLEM HAD GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I WAS ADDING OIL EVERY 100 MILES, THEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND I BROUGHT IT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING BELT/GASKET AND I REPLACED THEM ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION THAT IT WOULD FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS - COST $1000. THE CAR CONTINUES TO CONSUME MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND REGULARLY EXHIBITS A BURNING SMELL. I BROUGHT IT TO A SATURN DEALER LAST WEEK WHO NOW TELLS ME THAT THE CAM COVER IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, HE TOLD ME THAT I PROBABLY INDEED HAVE SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF MY MANY OIL PROBLEMS THAT THIS REPAIR WILL NOT FIX. I HAVE WORKED MY WAY UP THE SATURN CORPORATE COMPLAINT SYSTEM AND I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO EITHER PAY FOR THE REPAIR, REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIR OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNDERLYING ENGINE PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A JUST ME GETTING A "LEMON" BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM MY CONCERN IS MUCH MUCH GREATER. SPECIFICALLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS (WELL OVER 100) COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS INTERNET CITES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM - EVERYONE HAS MASSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND MANY PEOPLE'S ENGINES HAVE ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF LOW OIL. THEY HAVE ALSO TRIED TO GET SATURN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES AND TO NO AVAIL. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF IT CATCHING ON FIRE. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS WITH SATURN ENGINES AND OIL CONSUMPTION. I AM AN ATTORNEY AND PLAN TO PURSUE MY OWN CASE AGAINST SATURN FOR THE COST OF MY REPAIRS, BUT REALLY FEEL LIKE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SATURN OR THE NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUE A WARNING TO CONSUMERS TO KEEP CAREFUL WATCH ON THEIR ENGINES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033577October 8, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENOR AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR, HOWEVER THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. *AK THE POWER STEERING AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, MAINLY IN FIRST GEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038717September 11, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I PURCHASED A 1998 SATURN SL2 IN APRIL OF 2002 AND DISCOVERED AFTER PURCHASE THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALSO UNABLE TO FIND THE EXACT PART NUMBER AND WANTED TO MAKE THE REPAIR FROM A SIMILAR BUT NOT IDENTICAL 1996 MODEL. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT SATURN DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS THE RETRACTOR BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034293August 22, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT APPLYING GAS, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031340August 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE MOUNT PROBABLY MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO 52184 MILES. THE MOUNTS FOR THE VIBRATION WAS FOUND ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE IN WHICH THE MOUNT(S) CRACKED. *SCC THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BECAUSE A LEAK WAS FOUND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025027June 26, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE IGNITION MODULE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL OUT, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022594June 6, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016343April 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 1998 SATURN (1.9)HAD OIL IN THE COOLANT. IT HAD A CRACK IN THE # 3 CAM JOURNAL. THE CAR ONLY HAD 72188 MILES. I HAD FOLLOWED ALL THEIR REGULAR SERVICE. I KNEW THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD IN 1994 AND 1995 MODELS. BUT WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. COST WAS $1990. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013888April 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SATURN SL2 WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR 15,000 CHECK UP ON 3/17/, AS I WAS SELLING TO SON. CAR HAS APPROX. 15,690 MILES ON IT. SERVICE MGR. HOWARD GORMAN TOOK INFORMATION. MY HUSBAND TOLD HIM THE PLACE THAT CHANGES THE OIL SAID TO HAVE ANTI-FREEZE FLUSHED BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING ANTI-FREEZE AND WE COULD NOT SEE LEAK. MR. GORMAN AFTER CHECKING CAR AND CALLING US, PERFORMED CLOSE TO $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS ON CAR, INCLUDING ROTATING TIES ETC. HE THEN TOLD US THAT CAR MAY HAVE A HAIRLINE CRACK IN HEAD. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AT SATURN NORTH, 8600 NORTH HIGH ST., WORTINGTON, OHIO. I DRIVE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK WHICK IS APPROX. 8 MILES ONE WAY. MR. GORMAN SUGGESTED THAT WE TAKE CAR HOME AND PUT SOME MILES ON THE CAR AS IT IS NOT DRIVEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IT STAY IN GARAGE AND IS NOT LEFT OUT IN WEATHER. HE PUT DIE IN THE ANTI-FREEZEE TO CHECK AND ASKED US TO BRING BACK IN A WEEK AND HE WOULD RECHECK. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK ON 3/31/03 AT THIS TIME MR. GORMAN TOLD US SPECIAL DIE CAME THROUGH THE HEAD ON #4 CYLINDER POSITION. AFTER TAXES IT WOULD COST US $3000 TO FIX. WE ARGUED AND COMPLAINED . THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD REDUCE THAT TO $2,268.35 BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES. I THEN CALLED A CHRISTIE AT SATURN HEADQTRS. AFTER MR. GORMAN SUGGESTED WE DO THIS. SHE TOOK SEVERAL DAYS TO GET BACK TO US AND TODAY TOLD US SATURN WOULD DO NOTHING FOR US. I FEEL THAT FOR A HEAD TO HAVE A CRACK AT 15,000 MILES IS HORRIBLE AND WONDER HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MY SECOND SATURN AND THE FIRST CAR I TRADED IN HAD ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS MY WORK CAR AND I DO NOT DRIVE GREAT DISTANCES. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010318March 11, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SMALL PLASTIC RING IN SHIFTER LINKAGE BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC LEAVING CAR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007867February 20, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN APRIL 2002. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE BACK OF MY SEAT COLLAPSED THEREBY RENDERING THE ANTI-WHIPLASH HEAD RESTRAINT INEFFECTIVE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10006140January 31, 2003
CHILD SEAT:SHIELD ASSEMBLY, CHILD SEAT
THE PLASTIC SHELL OF CAR SEAT WAS SHARP/KNIFE LIKE, AND RESULTED IN A CHILD CUTTING TWO FINGERS. *AK SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10003992January 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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