Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10222578March 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OR RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY ON WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222344March 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
SHIFTER CABLES BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO SHIFTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222187March 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND JERK WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ON THE FIRST OCCASION. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221804March 19, 2008
SEATS
MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V045000, AND EVEN FALLS INTO THE "CARS AFFECTED" THAT IS LISTED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SATURN SAYS THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND REFUSES TO FIX, DESPITE THE RECALL THAT IS ON YOUR WEBSITE. THEY TOLD ME IT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THEIR COMPUTERS, AND I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN OLD PROBLEM AND CAR, THAT THEIR DATABASES DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE, FOR WHATEVER REASON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221730March 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2 SEDAN. ON MARCH 16, 2008, THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW WITHOUT WARNING. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS DISCONNECTED TO STOP THE HORN FROM BLOWING. THE NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VIN; HOWEVER, THEY LATER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE HORN. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR IN THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN, RECALL NUMBER, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220829March 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. HE HAD TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GRADUALLY ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY ACCUSED HIM OF NOT FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,323 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,175. UPDATED 04/04/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219251February 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE NOTED THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO UNUSUAL ACTIVITY OF RADIO FREQUENCIES (IN THE 120-140MHZ RANGE) AND THE ARE PULSING AND VARIABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S BODY. I AM CONCERNED WITH HEALTH EFFECTS ON CONTINUED EXPOSURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218553February 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - EPA PROBLEM AT 75,000 MILES OUR 2001 SL2 BEGAN TO CONSUME OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. 1 QT IN LESS THAN 150 MILES. THIS IS LESS THAT ONE QUART PER FUEL STOP. NO OIL IS DRIPPING AND THE ENGINE IS DRY OF OIL. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SUCH CASES POSTED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. ALL WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS STARTING AT BETWEEN 60,000 AND 80,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT GM USED LOW TENSION OIL RINGS AND THEY STICK EASILY ALLOWING THE OIL TO BURN IN THE CYLINDER. A TEMPORARY FIX CAN BE OBTAINED BY REMOVING THE SPARK PLUGS AND FILLING EACH CYLINDER WITH CAR CLEANER. A SOAKING OF SEVERAL HOURS WILL STOP THE OIL USAGE FOR ABOUT 3000 MILES THEN IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO AN EPA PROBLEM AS THE OIL IS GOING OUT THE EXHAUST. THE RESPONSE FROM SATURN IS THIS FALLS IN THE REALM OF NORMAL OIL USAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218373February 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1998 SATURN SL2 MUFFLER BROKE OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0070-91. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216992February 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANT, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH A COMPLAINT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WELL AND DESCRIBED IT AS "SLUGGISH". AFTER CHECKING IT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT THE ENGINE. WHEN I KEPT NOTICING THAT THE OIL IN THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY LOW BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, BUT IT WAS NOT LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR NOR WAS THE CAR BURNING OIL FROM THE EXHAUST, I CONTACTED THE DEALER VIA TELEPHONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD JUST FIXED A CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT TO THE TUNE OF $1400. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215791January 23, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I SAW A RECALL ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME REPAIR I NEED TO PASS EMISSIONS ON MY 2001 SATURN SL1. IT IS A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO FIX. I CAN HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WHICH I HAD ALREADY AND IT WILL COST $85. I AM GOING TO PAY FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE NOW AND IT IS EXPENSIVE FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES THE SAME AS MINE. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG. HOW CAN YOU HAVE A RECALL ON THE SAME ITEM AND NOT PUT IT ON ALL VEHICLES MADE WITH THE BAD PART? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211850December 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WAS PARKED AT A SHOPPING CENTER, WHEN I TURNED MY CAR ON, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES,IT MADE A POP SOUND AND SMOKE FLOODED INSIDE THE CAR. I TURNED OFF THE KEY, TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK AS WELL. I REPLACED THE FUSE FOR THE WINDOWS, AND THE CAR STARTED, BUT NOW ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WORKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210747December 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN SL2 70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMES ON, ENGINE STOPS RUNNING PULL OVER, LUCKILY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SAFELY. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS TIMING CHAIN OR BELT MAY HAVE BROKEN. DEALER CALLS BACK, SAYS I NEED A $7000.00 REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER 5000.00 IN REPAIRS. SATURN HAS NOT OFFERED ANY SORT OF EXPLANATION. JUST A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE. I AM FURIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210198November 28, 2007
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SATURN SL1. WHILE MAKING A SHARP U-TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN WOBBLING EXCESSIVELY. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME FIXATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V138000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,900. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING AT THE END OF THE WORN GEAR FAILED. THE WORN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210018November 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER WITH AN AS-IS NO WARRANTY BACK IN AUGUST 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD A LITTLE OVER 88,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND ALL MAJOR ITEMS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE CAR CAME DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007, THE ENGINE WENT BANG. THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH AND THERE WAS NO KNOCKING HEARD PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 TO REPORT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN ON FIRE, BUT THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASKED ABOUT KNOCKING PRIOR AND I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NONE. IN FACT, A MECHANIC HAD JUST LOOKED AT IT THE DAY BEFORE. I RECALL THAT THE CHANGE OIL SOON LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT NEVER STEADY. THE OIL LIGHT ALSO KEPT FLICKERING BUT WAS NEVER STEADY. THE RPM'S INCREASED FROM 2500 TO 3000 AND RETURNED TO 2500. NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS REPORTED BY DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN EAST GRAND FORKS. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID IT IS TOTALED. CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A NEW OR USED ENGINE TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10210046November 27, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. APPROXIMATELY TEN DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE LINING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION SEPARATED, WHICH ALLOWED DEBRIS TO ENTER THE GEARS AND VALVES. AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 2007, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209870November 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT AROUND 60K THE SATURN SL1 2002 SHOWED A TROUBLE CODE WITH THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKING FUEL MILEAGE SUFFERED. THIS CAR CAN NOT PASS SMOG AND NOW THE CAR IS CONSUMING 1 QT OF OIL IN 300 MILES, AS WELL AS GETTING TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS I WOULD THINK THAT SINCE THE NET IS LITTERED WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE SL1 1.9 IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY SATURN. IF THERE IS NOT A COMMON FAILURE WITH THE INTAKE GASKET WHY HAS SATURN MADE A UPGRADED GASKET?? RECALL THIS POS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209633November 21, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL2. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AT 10 MPH, THE GEARS BECAME STUCK AND COULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V310000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000. UPDATED 12/07/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202406September 10, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE SET AT DIFFERENT SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199842August 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STARTED MY CAR, IT RAN A FEW SECONDS, THEN DIED. BEFORE I COULD RESTART IT, SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND I SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DIDN'T START IT AGAIN BUT FOUND HELP TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY. IT'S ON IT'S WAY TO THE NEARBY SATURN DEALER WHO REFUSES TO PROVIDE ME WITH A LOAN CAR. I THINK THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL PROBLEM, AND I'VE DRIVEN A LOT OF CLUNKERS IN THE PAST WITHOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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