Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#700205October 30, 1998
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS HARSHLY & ERRATICALLY. IT'S NOT ONLY UNCOMFORTABLE BUT DANGEROUS AS WELL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE A COPY OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN(#93-T-22A) THAT THEY ISSUED WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OF SATURN (DON HUDLER) IN APRIL 1997. THE REPLY I RECEIVED FROM HIS OFFICE WAS THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY IS UP, THE NEED FOR REPAIRS IS UNFORTUNATE AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME $750. THEY ALSO SAID THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY ISSUE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CAR HAS ANY PROBLEM. SO, AFTER HAVING IT FIXED IN 4/97, THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL 8/98. I'M HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AGAIN. I CAN GIVE YOU A COPY OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND LETTER FROM SATURN IF YOU NEED IT. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. DOZENS OF MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM PLENTY OF TIMES WITH SATURNS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO LEE MYLES TRANSMISSIONS, THEY KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANY BEFORE THEY EVEN TOOK IT FOR A TEST D
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829729October 29, 1998
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
WHEN FLOOR GEAR SHIFT IS TOUCHED OR BUMPED,THE SHIFT WILL POP OUT OF GEAR SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700135October 27, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ON 12/25/95, I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A CHRISTMAS DAY OUTING. I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN SL2 AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. A TAXI REARENDED ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT THE STOPLIGHT. THE IMPACT FROM THE BACK COLLAPSED MY BUMPER, DAMAGED THE LEFT REAR TRUNK AREA AND CAUSED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. I WAS LEFT LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING OF MY VEHICLE FROM MY BROKEN SEATBACK. I WAS JUST THREE WEEKS OUT OF SURGERY FOR MY LEFT KNEE AND THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN INJURY TO MY BACK AND RIGHT KNEE AND A SUBSEQUENT SURGERY. MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AT PUNCHBOWL FENDERWORKS, INC., AT 3427 WAIALAE, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96816, (808) 737-5584. MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME SIX WEEKS LATER. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND THE SEATBACK STILL DOES NOT SIT UP STRAIGHT OR HOLD AT TIMES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#542291October 27, 1998
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DESIGN OF THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED ON THE TURN SIGNAL DIAL ALLOWING FOR ACCIDENTAL DISENGAGMENT WHILE ENGAGING THE TURN SIGNAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700086October 26, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR OF MY CAR WHICH CAUSED BOTH FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO SNAP TO A FULL RECLINE POSITION. AS A RESULT OF LAYING FLAT ON MY BACK I COULD NOT TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. I HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE BACK INJURIES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#700051October 23, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL IS UNEXPECTED/UNPREDICTABLE APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#700016October 22, 1998
AIR BAGS, SEATS
COPY OF E-MAIL TO SATURN: DEAR SATURN REPRESENTATIVE, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER SATURN SL2. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. MY PREVIOUS SL2 (1995, #[XXX]) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CHEVY TAHOE ON 5/3/97. I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THAT VEHICLE (A TOYOTA) ENDED UP ON TOP OF MY SATURN. MY SL2 WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK MUSCLE INJURIES. I CONTINUE TO UNDERGO TREATMENTS FOR RECURRING PAIN. THE CAB COMPARTMENT OF THE SL2 HELD UP WELL. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND FELL BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. IT SEEMS THIS LACK OF SUPPORT MAY HAVE ADDED TO MY MUSCLE STRAIN. ALSO, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHOULDN'T IT HAVE DEPLOYED AS THE SL2 WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT? ARE THESE DESIGN ISSUES OR WERE THEY POSSIBLY DEFECTS IN OUR CAR? WOULD THE '98 VEHICLES BE SAFER IN THESE RESPECTS? IF HELPFUL, WE COULD SEND PICTURES OF THE SL2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THANK YOU - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#542120October 20, 1998
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN TURNOVER AND FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#829236October 20, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE KEY IN THE INGITION AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP AND WAS REPAIED. THE SHOP REPAIRED THE HARNESS AND NOW THE ELECTRICAL ITEM'S DON'T WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#781464October 20, 1998
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND SET CRUISE CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEED, BEGAN TO EXIT, TOUCHED THE BREAK TO SHUT CRUISE OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SHUT OFF. STOOD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW VEHICLE, REMOVED PRESSURE MOMENTARILY AND VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO SET CRUISE SPEED, TURNED OFF CRUISE AT MAIN SWITCH, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT GUARDRAIL, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 55MPH IMPACT TO REAR FROM THE GUARDRAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#542078October 19, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE ROTORS, DRUMS, PADS FAILED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#541990October 15, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION SEAT LATCH FAILED CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER LOOSING SIGHT OF THE ROAD THEREFOR LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#781281October 15, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO VEHICLE WAS LOSING 11/2 QUARTS PER OIL CHANGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828935October 14, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME. #3805-EA-98-017. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#525320October 14, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE RUNS ROUGH, STALLING CONTINUALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828859October 13, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828876October 13, 1998
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE IN TRAFFIC ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED THE SATURN. UPON IMPACT, THE ENTIRE FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ONTO THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN REAR. WILL BE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#828803October 9, 1998
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. SHE WAS HIT BY A TRUCK GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#781011October 8, 1998
SEATS
BOTH BUCKET SEATS WENT TO A FULL RECLINING POSITION WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#828715October 8, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND COMING TO A HALT THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AND NOTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES IN THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER DROVE THE CAR AWAY WITH NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION. SEVERAL REPAIRS OF DUE TO LOSS OF POWER, HOWEVER VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS DURING SHIFTING, FOUND SCUFFED VALVES, REPLACED VALVES THAT WERE BINDING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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