Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#754463November 13, 2001
INTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STEERING:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT
INTERIOR OVERHEAD SAGGING ABOVE DOME LIGHT, TRIED TO HAVE DEALER FIX (SAME CONDITION AFTER "REPAIR"). TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON FAILED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. ASH TRAY LIGHT FAILED 3 TIMES, DEALER REPLACED. VENTILATION BLOWER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED - ALL OTHER SPEEDS BURNED OUT OVER 2 WEEKS (COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING). REMOTE CONTROL WORKS HALF OF THE TIME, NO IMPROVEMENT AFTER DEALER REPLACED BATTERIES, SAYING "WHITE FILM" WAS A KNOWN CAUSE OF REMOTES NOT WORKING. CHANGE OIL LIGHT CAME ON 1000MILES AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE, COINCIDING WITH FAN BLOWER BURNING OUT. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES BECAUSE OF IRREGULAR WEARING ON REAR AND PREMATURE ALIGNMENT DRIFT ON THE FRONT. BRAKE DUST IS EXCESSIVE - FRONT RIMS ALWAYS COATED BLACK FROM DUST. SOME HESITATION WHEN AUTOMATIC IS SHIFTING GEARS. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED AFTER 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT" COMING ON WHILE ACCELERATING. ADDING 1LITER ENGINE COOLANT PER MONTH - NO LEAKS NOTED UNDER VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754466November 13, 2001
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754329November 9, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754158November 6, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAILURE OF REVERSE AND 2ND GEAR CONSISTENT WITH SB612478, DATED 4/2000. 2ND GEAR FADED EFFECTIVENESS OVER TIME, WHILE REVERSE GEAR DISAPPEARED SUDDENLY ON 11/1/01. EXAMINATION BY MECHANIC FOUND THE GEAR RING FOR REVERSE (WHICH ALSO HOLDS 2ND GEAR) HAD DISINTEGRATED SPRAYING DEBRIS THROUGHT THE REST OF THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECT WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED BY DEALER SUBSEQUENT TO THE 4/00 BULLETIN. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PRESENTED BY SATURN TO THE CUSTOMER, AND SATURN HAS TRIED TO CLAIM THE SERVICE BULLETIN MEANS NOTHING. DEALER/SATURN CORPORATE REQUIRE EXAMINTION BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVE (DEALER) PRIOR TO REMEDY, YET THEY WILL NOT DO IT WITHOUT REQUIRING LABOR BE PAID UPFRONT. I PURCHASED A 2ND SATURN IN JUNE 2001, A 2001 L200, THAT IS ALSO HAVING 2ND GEAR DIFFICULTY AT ONLY 9000 MILES. MY TRUST IN SATURN IS IN SHAMBLES -- I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND HALF SINCE THIS BULLETIN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, ONLY TO LEARN THAT INFORMATION HAD BEEN HIDDEN RELATING TO MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED MY SECOND SATURN BASED ON THIS FALSE TRUST, AND I FEEL CHEATED. I EXPECT SATURN TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, PROMTLY AND AT THEIR COST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754129November 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL--I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2,000 TO 3,000 MILES BUT I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY WEEK--THERE IS NO OIL LEAK THAT IS VISIBLE AND ON ACCASSIO I HAVE HAD NO OIL BUT THE DAY OR SO BEFORE IT IS READING THAT THE OIL IS FULL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754078November 4, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, SUSPENSION
ACTUAL PART A SMALL BUSHING CONNECTING THE SHIFTER (1-5) TO CLUTCH CABLE BROKE OFF WITH OUT ANY WARNING HAVING SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF SATURN DEALERS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED SIMILAR RECALLS ON 1996 AND 97 MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN BEAWARE OF WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS UNLESS THEY REMOVED THE CONSOLE LIKE I DID. SATURN CLAIMS IT IS THE SUPPLIERS FAULT AND THAT I HAVE TO AN ENTIRE TWO CABLE PACKAGED ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR TOTAL COST $350-$400 DOLLARS I BELIEVE THE CONSUMER IS BEING PUT AT DELIBERATE RISK FOR THERE PROFITS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898687November 2, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WAS THE FORWARD GEARS WHICH FAILED AND WERE NOT WORKING. DEALSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898710November 2, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753785October 27, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95, MILE MARKER 277 (NORTH OF DAYTONA) WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 72 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND AS I APPROACHED A CAR GOING SLOWER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, SO I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND TRIED REPEATEDLY TO RELEASE IT. I WAS ABOUT THE HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, AND IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ACCELERATING RATHER THAN DECELERATING. I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN SO WENT INTO THE MEDIAN STRIP, AND STILL WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN.IT SEEMED I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT SEEMED FROZEN. IT WAS ROUGH GOING, AND I WAS AFRAID OF GOING INTO THE NORTHBOUND LANES, SO I STEERED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT, AND SEEMED TO SLIDE ACROSS THE NEAREST LANE INTO THE SIDE OF A U-HAUL TRUCK. THE IMPACT SPUN US AROUND AND WE CAME TO REST IN THE MEDIAN STRIP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#753787October 27, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753741October 26, 2001
WHEELS
ARE THE FRONT WHEELS ON THIS ALIGNABLE?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753617October 24, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR FIRE AFTER CAR WAS OFF FOR 1.8 HOURS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004979October 23, 2001
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE FELL APART CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO STREET, THE SPRING FOUND ON THE FLOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004660October 23, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, DRAMATIC SPEED REDUCTION AND HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897996October 19, 2001
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR AT 50 MPH WHILE IN A STOP POSITION AND DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898032October 19, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES FOR APPROACHING STOP LIGHT PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897855October 17, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT ABLE TO LOCK INTO BUCKLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK STITCHING ON SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE CAME APART. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753327October 17, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I TOO HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY SL1. THE FIRST TIME SATURN REPLACED THEM BECAUSE AT 25,000 MILES, THEY SHOULD NOT BE BAD. THEN AT 45,000 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS "RIDING" THE BRAKE. OF COURSE IT WAS MY FAULT - NOT! I ARGUED WITH HIM, BUT LOST. HAD TO PAY ALMOST $400 DOLLARS FOR A BRAKE JOB THAT WAS ALREADY REPLACED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED HIM IF I WAS GOING TO BE CHANGING THE ROTORS AGAIN IN 30,000 MILES, HE SAID NO. IT SHOULD LAST TILL 50,000 MILES. GUESS WHAT?!? 25,000 MILES LATER, IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. NOT ONLY THAT, I NOW HAVE A CRACKED/BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO WHICH AFTER MANY INQUIRIES, SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT IN THE SL1 MODELS. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NOT BE INVESTING IN "A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR COMPANY" ANYMORE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753095October 11, 2001
WHEELS
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE WHEEL LINER BECAME DISENGAGED AND BLEW INTO THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT ENSUED, A LESSER-SKILLED DRIVER COULD POSSIBLY LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THE LINER WAS DAMAGED WHILE PARKING AT A CURB. I MAINTAIN THAT THIS IS NOT SO, THAT THE MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE; BUT IF SO, THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS SUCH DAMAGE TO OCCUR BEFORE THE TIRE CAN CONTACT THE CURB.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897531October 10, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN A COOL DAMP SPOT. HORN STARTED TO BLOW ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN HORN THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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