Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10386884March 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL2 SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368496December 1, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BULB WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351591August 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. ON A LATER DATE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PART FROM THE DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HAD HE BEEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345469July 23, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
1996 SATURN SL2, A VEHICLE DEFECT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *BF THE LEFT FRONT STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0304-91)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10332501May 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH-LOCK MECHANISM IS BAD. MECHANIC STATES THIS HAS BEEN AN ON- GOING PROBLEM. REPLACING WHOLE IGNITION SYSTEM, PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE AROUND 50,000 MILE MARK. PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME CAR IS STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325422April 13, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY FIRESTONE COMPACT SPARE TIRE FOR A 1998 SATURN SL2, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN USED, SHOWS TREAD SEPARATION. THE RUBBER IS SPLITTING APART IN THE TREAD AREA AND THE BELTS ARE SHOWING THROUGH. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO A PREVIOUS FIRESTONE COMPACT SPARE I OWNED FOR A SATURN. THE TIRE IS SIZE T115/70R14 AND THE SERIAL NUMBER IS HYM7H5A377. THE TIRE IS ADMITTEDLY OLD, BUT THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS ALARMING CONSIDERING THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN USED. IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A NEW REPLACEMENT- TIRE DEALERS SAY TO GET A REPLACEMENT FROM A JUNK YARD, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. A FULL SIZE SPARE WILL NOT FIT IN THE TRUNK'S TIRE WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319116March 12, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MY 1998 SATURN SL2 HAS HAD A (HOT ENGINE) FAST IDLE (2000 RPM) CONDITION ON AND OFF FOR YEARS.. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SATURN DEALER,, THEN TO A GM DEALER THREE TIMES ALL TO NO AVAIL.. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE CONDITION PERSISTS.. I HAVE SPENT NEAR $1000. IN LABOR COSTS, SENSORS ECT AND STILL I HAVE THE PROBLEM.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304629February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TWICE I WAS STOPPING THE CAR--ONCE TO PARK AND ONCE AT A LIGHT AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE ENGINE REVVED UP AT FULL THROTTLE DRAGGING THE CAR FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED FULLY DOWN. I HAD TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND CUT THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT. NO REASON WAS EVER FOUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302322January 26, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE
1999 SATURN SL PLASTIC GROMMET CONNECTION BETWEEN SHIFTER CABLE AND SHIFTER. JUST BROKE. APPARENTLY ENGINEERED WITH A MIND FOR OBSOLESCENCE RATHER THAN SAFETY OR DURABILITY. ENABLING A HIGH REPAIR COST FOR A 50 CENT BUSHING THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENTIRE SHIFTER CABLE AND SHIFTER. CHEAP FIX (TIME AND PART WISE) FOR CAR MANUFACTURER IF STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONVENIENTLY COSTLY FOR OWNER WHEN CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299775January 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT HAD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HARNESS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,824. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298191January 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE:STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY.NHTSA ID #00V309000. SPOKE TO A PERSON TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAE IS NOT ONE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE THIS CAR ALMOST 7 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED I FEEL THAT I WILL GET A HARD TIME IF I ASK THEM TO INSPECT TO MAKE SURE. ALSO GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER TO VERIFY TO MAKE SURE. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289905October 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TOTALLY REBUILT WITH A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND IT ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. I PAID OVER $1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE INCLUDING LABOR AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN,I THINK ITS LUDICROUS BECAUSE MANY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY TIMING BELTS. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN WITH NOT MANY OPTIONS. NEED SATURN TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289173October 20, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR IDLES HIGH. IF YOU ARE AT A LIGHT OR PARKED IN THE CAR THE CAR WILL IDLE HIGH THEN SHUT OFF. IF YOUARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEED TO PICK UP SPEED THE CAR REVS UP AND THEN RPMS GO REAL HIGH BUT NOT ANY POWER PUT INTO THE CAR TO MOVE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AND IS GETTING WORSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288946October 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2000 SATURN SL1 SOMETIMES HAS REVERSE & SOMETIMES NOT & TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT A LOT OF GAS & IT HAS WENT IN REVERSE AT LOW & HIGH SPEEDS. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288949October 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN I START MY CAR OR PARK IT AFTER DRIVING THE RPMS SHOOT UP EXTREMELY HIGH & THE ENGINE RACES. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD CLUNK DUE TO SHUTTING IT OFF WITH THE RPMS THAT HIGH. I HAVE HAD IT DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES & NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG. I HAD THE AIR IDLE SENSOR REPLACED THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT. THIS IS VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10285018September 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE STARTER MOTOR ENERGIZED WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION OR ANYONE IN/NEAR THE CAR. IT WAS IN GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, AND IT RAN OVER A 12 INCH "STOP" AND INTO A FREEZER WHERE IT CONTINUED TO RUN FOR SOMETIME UNTIL IT BURNED UP. THE FREEZER PREVENTED IT FROM GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL AND INTO THE HOUSE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284235September 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1997 SATURN SL, 4 DOOR SEDAN, MANUAL TRANSAXLE, 143000 MILES AT A PARKING LOT: SHIFTER CABLE PLASTIC BUSHING BROKE LOCKING MY TRANSAXLE IN REVERSE. PROBLEM FIXED WITH AN AFTERMARKET KIT SOLD BY NAPA AUTO STORES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281665August 25, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THE SHIFT LEVER CABLE FRACTURED; THUS DISABLING THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. GEAR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281130August 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 1999 SATURN SL THAT I BOUGHT OFF A SATURN EMPLOYEE TWO MONTHS AGO; IT WAS MAKING A WHINING SOUND BUT SHE SAID THAT THE SOUND WAS BECAUSE IT HAD A NON STANDARD PART ON IT. THE IGNITION LOCKED UP ONCE OR TWICE AND NOW IT WILL NOT CRANK NOR START. I HAVE CHECKED THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE STARTER-SOLENOID AND ALL WIRES AND CABLES. I HAVE ALSO CALLED SATURN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE AND THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS ON ANY OF THE PARTS ABOVE NOR ANY THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THE CAR NOT TO CRANK OR START. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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