Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#720032March 13, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND TRUN LEFT, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED, I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858305March 10, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE CUTS OFF. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAN'T FIND CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858208March 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING AT 60MPH VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 10MPH. DEALER SAYS IT'S A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719861March 9, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
I HAVE HAD IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM TO FIX IT. THEY PUT IN A DELAY BLOWER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN BAD FROM THE START. ONE OF THEIR SALESMAN HAS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE DEPT SAYS THERE IS NOT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED ONCE BECAUSE OF IT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719895March 9, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND THE SEAT-BACK SLIPS REARWARD WHEN MINOR FORCE IS APPLIED. I CONTACTED SATURN (ROBERT HALL) REGARDING REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V045000. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT AT THEIR COST. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE COMPANY'S POSITION IS THAT THE SEAT-BACK RECLINER MECHANISM IS A "WEAR PART" AND THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS 5-YEARS OLD, THIS KIND OF WEAR IS EXPECTED. I DISAGREE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 11/94. THE ORIGINAL RECALL COVERED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED 1/94 -8/94. IF ANYTHING, MY CAR IS NEWER AND THE MECHANISM SHOULD HAVE LESS WEAR. MR HALL FURTHER STATED THAT THE HIGH MILES INDICATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE EXPECTED TO FAIL. AGAIN, I DISAGREE. THE SEAT-BACK MECHANISM IS GENERALLY ADJUSTED ONLY ONCE EACH TRIP (OFTEN NOT AT ALL). UNLESS THE PART IS DESIGNED TO FAIL THROUGH NORMAL WEAR, IT SHOULD NOT FAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE THE AVERAGE TRIP LENGTH IS LONGER, AS OCCURS ON THE RELETIVELY LONG COMMUTES IN ALASKA. MR HALL STATED THAT THE PROBLEM "LOT" OF FAULTY SEAT-BACK MECHANISMS WAS FOUND AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT THE FACTORY ON MY CAR. ONE MORE TIME, I DISAGREE. I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUED TO INSTALL FAULTY SEAT-BACK RECLINER MECHANISMS AFTER AUGUST 1994. I REQUEST THAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE AND ANY OTHER THAT SUFFER FROM THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT AND THAT THIS SAFETY DEFECT BE REPAIRE AT NO COST TO ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9000186March 6, 2000
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF AXLE CAUSING CAR TO SLIDE ACROSS GRASSED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858033March 6, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IDLING IN PARK POSITION ENGINE BEGAN RACING ON ITS OWN ACCORD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DEALERSHIP ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. PUT IT IN PARK AND GOT THE SERVICE MANAGER TO OBSERVE. HE HAD NO EXPLANATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857681March 1, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. NOT SURE OF THE DAMAGES OR IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#719396February 28, 2000
SEATS, SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT
ON FEB. 24, I WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT PUSHED MY CAR INTO THE INTERSECTION AHEAD OF ME. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HOWEVER, MY DRIVER'S SEAT WAS FORCED INTO THE FULLY RECLINING POSITION AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE - NOT EVEN A SCRATCH. MY 2-YEAR DAUGHTER WAS SEATED IN HER CAR SEAT, LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, OR IF THE CHILD CAR SEAT WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE FORCE OF THE FRONT SEAT SUDDENLY AND FORCEFULLY RECLINING ONTO HER LEGS. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF TRANSPORTING MY DAUGHTER IN MY SATURN. AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAVE MOVED THE CAR SEAT TO THE CENTER POSITION. BUT THE SEAT DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY THERE - IT MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EVEN IN THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS HIT THE EDGES OF THE CAR SEAT WHEN THEY ARE RECLINED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719341February 27, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
2 OCCURRENCES OF FRONT BUMPER CATCHING ON GROUND OBJECTS AND CRACKING GRILL AND WHEEL WELLS. I OWN A 1996 SL2 AND A 1997 SL2. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE SUFFERED THIS SAME OCCURANCE. (WE ARE BOTH NEAR 50 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NO PREVIOUS INSTANCES OF SUCH OCCURANCES. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE; ONCE TO HER, ONCE TO ME. THE AIR DAM IS HINGED AND FLEXES BUT DOESN'T BREAK. THE BUMPER HOWEVER, IS LOW SET, HAS A BOTTOM EDGE THAT IS ABRUPT, AND CATCHES EASILY ON LOW-LYING OR LOW-SETTING GROUND OBJECTS. IT CATCHES ON THINGS INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO 'ROLL OVER' OR 'FLEX OVER'. THE RESULTING 'PULL' PULLS THE BUMPER AWAY (IN A FORWARD DIRECTION) FROM THE CAR, BREAKING THE LOWER GRILL AND INNER WHEEL WELLS. THE FIRST TIME THE DAMAGE WASN'T NOTICED UNTIL A DAY LATER; AND MANY MILES HAD BEEN DRIVEN. I BELIEVE THE CONDITION OF THE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY BEING LOOSE, HANGING, AND DROOPING AS IT DID, PROVIDED A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM (THE COMPONENTS COULD HAVE IMPAIRED STEERING AND/OR BRAKING. THE SECOND OCCURENCE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS SIGNIFICANT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857514February 24, 2000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 45MPH. WHILE GRADUALY COMING TOA STOP, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD, AND PARTICLES FELL BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. VOICE MAIL WAS LEFT TO MAKE DEALER AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857388February 23, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN TURNING IGNITION VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. OWNER HAS TO START VEHICLE A NUMBER OF TIMES TO IN ORDER TO RUN. DEALER SAYS ITS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719126February 23, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I RECENTLY HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE IN MY SATURN, ONLY TO BE HUMILIATED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE TORRANCE DEALERSHIP. SUNDAY NIGHT- I LEFT MY FRIENDS HOUSE TO GO HOME. UP UNTIL NOW MY SATURN ALWAYS RAN PERFECTLY AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. AS SOON AS I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE STREET I HEARD A LOUD METAL BANG UNDER MY CAR. IT WAS INCREDIBLY FRIGHTENING - I THOUGHT I RAN OVER A BOMB. THEN I WANTED TO PULL OVER SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. THE CLUTCH WENT INTO FIRST AND THEN SECOND, THEN THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT, I PUT IT BACK IN FIRST ONLY TO FIND IT STARTED PULLING BACKWARDS ALL ON ITS OWN. I WAS SCARRED OUT OF MY MIND AT THIS POINT. I COULD HAVE HIT OR KILLED SOMEONE -- THANK GOD IT WASN'T ON A FREEWAY - THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SATURN OF TORRANCE DEALER. MY REGULAR SERVICE DEALER AS WELL AS THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. NEXT MORNING, BORA CUMMINGS, THE SERVICE REP CALLED ME AT 7:30 AM TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A CLUTCH OR GEAR PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS "STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY" (THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YRS OLD AND ONLY HAS 27,690 MI ON IT) SHE THEN CALLED ME BACK 1 HOUR LATER AND TOLD ME THAT HER MANAGER SAID, "IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE COVERED AS THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, BUT THEY WOULD CALL ME AT 4 PM AND LET ME KNOW - SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THE CAR COULD BE FIXED TODAY ANYWAY AS IT TAKES QUITE A NUMBER OF HOURS TO DO THIS. THEY NEVER CALLED. BY 5 PM I WAS WORRIED. I WAS AT LEAST GOING TO NEED A RENTAL FOR THE NEXT DAYS WORK IF THE CAR WASN'T GOING TO BE DONE. BORA TOLD ME SHE RESERVED A RENTAL CAR AND TO COME AND GET IT. WHEN I GOT TO THE STATION -- 5:45 PM I WAS TOLD, LO AND BEHOLD THAT MY CAR WAS ALMOST READY AND IF I COULD COME BACK IN HALF AND HOUR I COULD HAVE IT. I ASKED IF THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS YET. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857306February 22, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN IS INOPERABLE WHICH IS VERY DANGEREOUS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857359February 22, 2000
SEATS
WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS ADJUSTED THE RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT LOCK. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED THE SEAT WILL JERK . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857251February 18, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DUE TO A ENGINE PISTON WEARING OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857260February 18, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT FROM RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857060February 16, 2000
SEATS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP, AND ALLOW OCCUPANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. BACK SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MECHANIC HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718740February 14, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND LOST POWER. PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO FIND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND PARTS OF THE HOUSING ON THE HIGHWAY.ALSO FOUND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSMISION PARTS FARTHER UP THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550874February 10, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW IS CAUSING THE STEEL TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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