Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#759595March 20, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS IS A RESULT OF A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH. MANUFACTURER NOT HELPFUL IN RESOLVING ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005957March 19, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AFTER A RAIN OR SNOW DAY, BRAKES WILL TIGHTEN UP AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL TO METAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759551March 19, 2002
SEATS
UPON REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARD TO A TOTAL RECLINING POSITION. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED BACKWARD, INTO A RECLINING POSITION, UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD TO NAVIGATE THE CAR. THE SEAT IS NOT BROKEN. WHEN THE LEVER WAS PRESSED, THE SEAT RETURNED TO IT'S NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8005802March 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK, AND THIS WAS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO RADIATOR FLUID. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD BURN UP. *AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005863March 18, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS IT BEING THE BRAKE BOOSTER DIAPHRAM THAT IS WORN AND LEAKING. THE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE CHECK VALVE GROMMET IS TORN. *JG *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005402March 12, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING INTO A PUBLIC DRIVEWAY AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, WHILE TAKING HER FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A PARKED CAR, THE VEHICLE BOUNCED FROM THAT CAR, TRAVELED ACROSS THE STREET AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8005346March 11, 2002
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE, HEARD A CLUNK NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL FRACTURE IN THE STEERING BOX, THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759056March 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I CHECK MY CAR WEEKLY. WITH NO WARNING OR TELL TALE SIGNS, I FOUND WATER IN THE CRANKCASE AND OIL IN THE RADIATOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CLAIMS I HAVE EITHER A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD WITH ESTIMATED REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $2, 000.00. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CAR HAS A WARRANTY OF 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005064March 6, 2002
SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO SHAKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER NINE ATTEMPTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES ROUGH IDLE WHEN WARM. DEALER REPLACED PCM/ECM, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. POWER STEERING FLUID LOW. EXPERIENCING SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING. NOISE FROM GAS TANK WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759006March 6, 2002
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DRIVER SEATBACK FAILED AND FELL BACKWARD TO A FLAT POSITION AS I WAS STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION. I HAD TO PROP THE SEAT IN POSITION SO THAT I COULD FINISH THE TRIP. I HAD THE SEAT BACK REPLACED AT A SATURN RETAILER. THE INCIDENT MADE ME DECIDE TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO MY INSURANCE WEB SITE TO REGISTER MY NEW CAR, A LINK CAME UP TO CHECK THE SAFETY PROBLEMS OF MY VEHICLE - THE 1995 SATURN. THE ONE RECALL MENTIONED WAS THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FALLING BACKWARD. I CONTACTED SATURN AND ASKED WHY I HADN'T RECEIVED A NOTICE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ONE WITH A PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS SEAT BACK, IT WAS DUE TO AGE AND MILEAGE. I WANT THE INFORMATION ON RECORD FOR FUTURE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564572March 5, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT ON THE SLANTED WINDSHIELDS CAUSING A BLINDING REFLECTION ON THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASH. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005022March 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, SUSPENSION
BATTERY COVER CAUSES BATTERY ACID TO LEAK AROUND POSTIVE POST. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES ACID FROM THE BATTERY HAS CAUSED HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES/VIBRATES AND WASHER FAILED, DEALER REPLACED BOLT AND SEAL. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005029March 5, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
VEHICLE HAD TO BE REALIGNED ON THREE OCCASIONS BY DEALER DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. *AK BATTERY REPLACED TWICE. THE CABLE SHIFT CONTROL REPLACED. BOLT AND SEAL WASHER REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MADE A ROARING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. BOTH FRONT INNER DOOR HANDLES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758748February 28, 2002
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS FOR OVER $400. IN MY OPINION, SEATS SHOULD NOT JUST BREAK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF IT BROKE DURING A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION. ISN'T IT DANGEROUS FOR ME TO BE DRIVING AROUND WITH A COOLER IN THE BACK SEAT PROPPING UP MY SEATBACK?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004668February 27, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VALVE BODY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUT INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758688February 26, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR WAS USING OIL, BUT WAS NOT LEAKING OR BURNING IT. CAR THEN STARTED OVERHEATING, AND I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE STATION I ALWAYS USE. WHEN CHANGING ANTI FREEZE FOR OVERHEATING PROBLEM, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTI- FREEZE. THIS LED TO ENGINE HEAD PROBLEMS. AND HEAD WAS SENT OUT TO BE REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED. DROVE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT STARTED USING ANTI- FREEZE AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN THE HEAD WAS PULLED OFF, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK IN IT AND NOW I HAVE TO BUY A NEW HEAD. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1,800.00 SO FAR AND HOPE I DIN'T HAVE TO SPEND MORE. MY MECHANIS CALLED THE SATURN MECHANIC IN ALBANY N.Y. AND HE SAID THIS WAS COMMON WITH 1995 SATURN SL-1S. I ALSO LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH CONSUMERS OF THIS YEAR CAR. ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THE COMSUMERS OF THESE JUNK CARS ARE GETTING THE SHAFT FROM YOU PEOPLE, AND YOU SHOULD BE REINBERSING ALL OF US FOR THESE PROBLEMS THAT YOUR ENGINES ARE CAUSING. RIGHT?.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004435February 25, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES WOULD GRAB AND LOOSEN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ONCE; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785890February 23, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758534February 23, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATION AND TWO DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758248February 14, 2002
SEATS
FRAME OF DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS WAS A BREAK THROUGH THE STEEL U-CHANNEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT JUST BELOW WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE TUBULAR STEEL TOP PIECE. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NEVER FAIL EVEN UNDER THE STRESS OF A REAR END COLLISION LET ALONE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEFECT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT AND IF IT OCCURED DURING A REAR END COLLISION AN UNECESSARY INJURY WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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