Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10130786August 1, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY BROTHER WAS KILLED JUNE 24, 2005, IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS DRIVING A 1998 SATURN SL ON AN INTERSTATE IN MISSISSIPPI, THE SATURN WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HIS SEATBELT (WHICH HE ALWAYS WORE) AND HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR. SINCE HIS DEATH, I'VE FOUND ON NHTSA'S SITE ALMOST 30 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS FROM 1998 SATURN SLY OWNERS DESCRIBING SERIOUS FAILURES OF THAT CARS STABILITY, BRAKES, STEERING, AND AIR BAGS---ALL OF WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR GOING OUT OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVERS IN THE 30 COMPLAINTS I'VE FOUND ALL STATED THAT THE INJURIES WERE NOT FATAL. MY BROTHER AND OUR FAMILY ARE NOT SO FORTUNATE. THE 1998 SATURN SL'S FAILURES KILLED MY BROTHER. ALL OF THESE FAILURES WERE REPORTED TO NHTSA YEARS AGO, SO HIS DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. NHTSA AND THE SATURN COMPANY OWE ME AND MY FAMILY SOME ANSWERS. AND NHTSA AND SATURN MUST ACT NOW BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY THIS FATAL CAR.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10129662July 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO REINSERTING THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH OTHER MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128892July 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 SATURN SL. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER TOOK IT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED. FOUR DAYS LATER ON 6-25-05, SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION; THE CAP ON THE RADIATOR COOLANT HAD POPPED OFF. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GUSHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE COOLANT AND OIL MIXED. THIS MIXTURE IS CURRENTLY SPLATTERED ON THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. AFTERWARDS SHE CONTACTED THE PLACE WERE SHE GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY TOLD HER TO BRING IT IN. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE THEM ON 6-27. THEY TOLD HER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. AFTERWARDS WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THEM SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL NUMBER 0304. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO REPAIR VEHICLES JUST OIL CHANGES AND SUCH. SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SATURN OF AMARILLO, WHICH TOLD HER THAT IT WAS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD, THERMOSTAT, AND THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENT BEING FIXED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WHEN ASKING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RECALL THEY TOLD HER THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. AFTERWARDS, HER DAUGHTER CALLED AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON HER VIN NUMBER. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST CAUSED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128421July 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1996 SATURN SL-1 CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. A KNOWN DEFECT TO THE SATURN CORPORATION.$2400 TO FIX! MY "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN. SATURN FINDS NOTHING! HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_5215_1.HTML SIMPLY "GOOGLE" SATURN + CYLINDER + HEAD HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_ENGINE.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127838July 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE; WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS IT JUST REVVED THE ENGINE BUT HAD A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO SPEED; I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY TWO DAUGHTERS; GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN STUFF FALLING UNDER MY CAR....THE CAR DIED. I PUSHED THE CAR ABOUT A BLOCK AND HALF TO MY HOUSE. MY CHILDREN AND I THEN WENT TO PICK UP THE PIECES OF THE ENGINE...ONE OF THE PISTONS HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE BLOCK. THERE WAS A HUGE WHOLE ON THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE ENGINE. I HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS COME LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS A "FREAK" ACCIDENT. THERE WAS STILL OIL IN THE ENGINE SO I HAD NOT RAN IT OUT OF OIL. THE NOISE JUST STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE WAS BAD. I BOUGHT IT WITH 113000 MILES ON IT AND HAD IT ONLY A 6-8 WEEKS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD 117000 MILE ON IT WHEN IT BROKE DOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127209June 30, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1. NORMAL DRIVING, THE VIBRATION FROM NORMAL ROAD BUMPS OR POT HOLES. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON THE LOWER SIDES WHERE EXTREME STRESS EXHISTS, DANGER EXHISTS OF WEAKENED ROOF SUPPORT AND GLASS INJURY IF A COLLISION OCCURS. 3. MUST BUY NEW WINSHIELD BECAUSE ALL THE USED VEHICLES IN THE AREA HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE DESIGN WAS USED FOR ONLY THAT YEAR MODEL AND THE WINSHIELD WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE AUTO RESULTING IN A WEAK DESIGN. THE WINSHIELD PRICE IS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE WINSHIELD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127906June 28, 2005
CHILD SEAT:BASE
THE REAR ANCHOR ON THE CAR SEAT BASE SLIPPED OUT OF ITS POSITION. *JB THE CARRIER HAD GOTTEN STUCK AND WAS REMOVED. *SC 8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126255June 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION,. THEN, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REENTERED. ALSO, KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER IT WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. OWNER DID NOT THINK THAT SHE SHOULD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125374June 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT- WAS ON THE INTERNET WONDERED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SATURN SL2. THERE WAS, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. WHEN KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION ONE CAN SHIFT IN ANY GEAR, AND THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. IT CAN BE STOLEN IF SOMEONE CHOSE TO PUSH IT ONTO A TRUCK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125266June 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT: WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR WITH THE KEY IT WILL NOT TURN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SAME COMPONENT BUT FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL CAR. DEALER HAS FIXED PROBLEM, BUTCALLER HAS TO PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125297June 14, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES FAIL THROUGH THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. BOTH TIRES WERE REAR, 49,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED INSPECTION, TIRES WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE TIRE IS 185/65R14 85S FIRESTONE FR680. I REPLACED ONE WITH A NEW FIRESTONE AND THE OTHER WITH A GOODYEAR REPUBLIC. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS TIRE? I HAVE TWO MORE THAT COULD BLOW AT ANY TIME ON THE FRONT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124940June 10, 2005
SUSPENSION
DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY SHAKING, AFFECTING THE STEERING. THE SOLENOIDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125820June 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECT RESULTED IN THE 2002 SATURN SL2 CATCHING ON FIRE. *MR (SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS HAZARD AND NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *SC 8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124330June 6, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK ON MY SATURN SL2 2002 WILL NOT BUDGE. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH IT IS EVIDENT THAT SCORES OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL MODELS OF SATURNS. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL? IF NOT HOW DOES ONE START THAT PROCESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124156June 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
FOR 3 YEARS I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO SATURN ABOUT MY SATURN S SERIES CARS. ONE IS AN SL2 THE OTHER IS A SATURN WAGON. IN BOTH CASES WHEN THE WEATHER HAS BEEN EITHER SNOWY OR RAINY OR THE ROADS HAVE BEEN SLICK WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CORNER IN THE CARS THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE INITALLY. I HEAR A CLUNKING LIKE NOISE WHICH SATURN HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE & THEN MY ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AS SOON AS THEY SHOULD. THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF CONCERN SINCE I COULD BE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS OR JUST DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL & WHEN I TAKE A CORNER THE BRAKES DO NOT FULLY ENGAGE. I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES WHICH I DID & IT STILL DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE BEYOND THE FIRST MONTH AFTER BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES AGAIN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL HAS COME BACK. I WAS TOLD THE ROADS ARE JUST SLICK DUE TO THE FIRST RAINS, SNOW ETC OF THE SEASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SATURN WHO SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM & ALTHOUGH I HAVE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINING ABOUT IT THEY HAVE YET TO OFFER A SOLUTION. THANKFULLY WE HAVE YET TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAVE ON OCCASION RESORTED TO USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION BUT SINCE I SAW THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE GM TRUCKS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN TO ME & HAVE THE S SERIES SATURNS CHECKED OUT AS WELL. I SHOWED A COPY OF THE GM TRUCK BRAKE RECALL TO MY LOCAL SATURN & ASKED THEM TO CHECK THIS ON MY CAR & WAS TOLD IT WASN'T NECESSARY SINCE IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE THIS AS I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK. I HAVE LISTED THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE & THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120953May 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY SATURN CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION JUST LOCKED UP AND DOES NOT FUNCTION. I WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY THREE SMALL CHILDREN. MY CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURING WITH THIS MILAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120135May 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
IN 2003 MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A 1999 SATURN WITH 47000 MILES THAT HAD JUST BEEN TURNED IN FROM A LEASE FROM A DEALER AND IT STARTED SMOKING AND USING A QUART OF OIL PER 1,000AT WHICH TIME WE CONTACTED THIS AGENCY AND GM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ALAWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND HAD NOT YET REACHED IT'S HALF LIFE. SATURN TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL HOWVER, THE CONDITION HAS ONLY WORSED OVER TIME AND IT'S NOW USING 1.5 QT'S PER 1000 MILES AND SMOKING WORSE. I BET THE EPA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT. ADDITIONALLY THE ROTOR HAVE FAILED TWICE BECOMING WARPED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT HAS FAILED ALONG WITH A COOLENT TEMP SENSOR. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND GM KNOWS IT. ONCE AGAIN WE ASKED THEM FOR SOME GOODWILL AND THEY TURNED US DOWN SAYING THAT THE CAR (NOW) HAS TOO MANY MILES EVEN THO THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BUT IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAVE STRUNG US ALONG DOING LEAK DOWN TEST AT OUR COST FROM 2003 AND FROM OUR GOV COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW WHILE TELLING US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL USE............ THAT WAS WRONG AND THEY SHOULD FACE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALLOWED A PROBLEMATIC ENGINE WHICH THEY KNEW ABOUT TO BE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THEN THEY REFUSED TO HELP THE CONSUMERS IN NEED. I'LL NEVER BUY A SATURN OR A GM AGAIN. AND, I PLAN TO SELL MY SONS NEW SATURN TOO AFTER THIS POOR TREATMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117825May 6, 2005
SEAT BELTS
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT EXTEND OUT FOR USE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $900.00. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119250April 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2000 SATURN SL2 INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. *MR *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118497April 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 68,00 MILES IN MY 1997 SATURN SL1. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn SL