Saturn SL Complaints (1996)

287 consumer complaints on file.

#732388September 24, 2000
TIRES
AT 10 AM ON 9/24/2000 GOING WEST ON THE 210 AT APPROX. 65 MPH. SLIGHT BUMPINESS FOR LESS THAN THREE MINUTES, THEN BLOWOUT OCCURRED. TIRE EXPLODED AND VEHICLE FISHTAILED ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. MERCIFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE TREAD SEPARATED( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/65R1 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731568September 15, 2000
TIRES
I WAS RETURNING TO HAMILTON, MT FROM HAVING MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 24,000 SERVICE AT THE SATURN DEALER IN SPOKANE, WA. I EXITED I-90 AT THE LIBERTY LAKE EXIT AND, AS I WAS APPROACHING THE END OF THE RAMP, MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. I INFORMED SATURN OF THIS BY TELEPHONE 9/14/00. NO VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS DONE AND A TIRE DEALER WAS A BLOCK AWAY SO I PURCHASED A NEW SET OF TIRES (DAYTON). I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH CONTINUING TO KEEP THE 3 TIRES THAT HAD NOT BLOWN OUT ON MY VEHICLE.AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#730503September 6, 2000
TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE SIDEWALLS ON THIS TIRE LITERALLY DISINTEGRATED AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. NO WARNING. NO SLOW LOSS OF PRESSURE. A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF PRESSURE. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY A MADMAN WITH A KNIFE, ALMOST SEVERED FROM THE TREAD. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING ATTACKED BY A HELICOPTER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175/70-R14 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869723September 6, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. SATURN SAID IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED IT WOULD AFFECT THE BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729064August 25, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1,2,3. BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. FIRST KNOWN PROBLEM WAS ABOUT 08/99 WHEN DEALER FOUND PITTED & BLISTERED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. REPLACED THEM "AS A FAVOR" SINCE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (LESS THAN 36,000 MILES). I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT LOWER GAS MILEAGE AND FEELING LIKE CAR WAS "DRAGGING" AND HAD BEEN TOLD EARLIER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS - USE A LOWER GEAR. IN JUNE, 2000, I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE DISK WAS GLOWING RED AFTER A 36 MILE FREEWAY DRIVE. LATER, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET UNDER THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER WAS FROZEN IN THE "ON" POSITION. WD40 AND MUSCLE FREED IT, BUT IT HAD TO BE LEFT OFF AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER FOUND THE DISKS TO BE WARPED, CALIPER RUINED AND FRONT DISKS ALSO WARPED. PADS WERE NOT TERRIBLY WORN ON THE FRONT. I HAVE ROUTINELY GONE 50,000 ON PADS IN PREVIOUS CALLS; THE REAR PADS ON THIS CAR HAD LESS THAN 15,000!! AGAIN, DEALER IMPLIED IT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT A DEFECT BY SATURN. #4. SPEED CONTROL - DEVICE BEGAN ERRATIC FUNCTION - SPED UP AND SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING; AT TIMES WOULDN'T TURN ON. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NO NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM. #5. IGNITION SWITCH - STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY IN TURNING ON OR FULLY OFF (LOCKED POSITION). FIRST TOLD BY DEALER IT MUST BE JAMMED WITH KEY SHAVINGS-IF KEY SHOWS BRASS COLOR, MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A GROOVE IN THE SWITCH HOUSING-DUE TO USE OF A "HEAVY KEY CHAIN BY PREVIOUS OWNER". I PAID 50% - LOOKS LIKE CHEAP, SOFT METAL HOUSING-DESIGN FLAW. #6. HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT AROUND 26,000 MILES - 3 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER WHAT WILL FAIL NEXT - ALL OF THESE COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867495August 11, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DUE TO DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ALSO, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867325August 9, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT PREMATURELY. RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER HAD ADVISED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON OTHER VEHICLES, BUT HAD NO REMEDY. CONSUMER HAS SEEN 3 OTHER VEHICLES WITHSAME PROBLEM OF THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BURNING OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866317July 31, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & FOUND THAT ROTORS WERE CORRODED ON THE INSIDE. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION IN JUNE & SAID NOTHING TO THE CONSUMER ABOUT ROTOR CORROSION. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MACHINED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIRED MINIMUM THICKNESS. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725373July 13, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND BOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARD COMPLETLY, ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK SEATS WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. IF A CHILD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT CHANCES ARE HE WOULD NOT SURVIVE. THEIR HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE BACKSEATS COLLAPSING UPON REAR IMPACT AND SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANY REAR SEAT PASSANGERS, ESPICIALLY CHILDREN, WHICH THE LAW STATES THAT A CHILD UNDER 100 LB. MUST BE IN A CHILD RESTRAINED SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER OR PASSANGER SIDE.THIS CAN PROVE FATAL UPON REAR COLLISION.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#552706June 19, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEEL BEING CORRODED. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863516June 13, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PLASTIC FRAME ON SEATBACK STICKS THROUGH THE PADDING, AND IRRITATES THE CHILD'S BACK. MAY CAUSE INJURY TO CHILD'S BACK. COSCO CARSEAT, NOT ATTACHED TO CAR, BOUGHT SEPARATELY. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862972June 2, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED SAW WATER AND OIL COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. OWNER TOLD THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SATURN WOULD PAY REPAIRS COST. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723299May 29, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE MOTOR MOUNT FOR THE SATURN SL COUPE 1996. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722958May 20, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
REPLACING FUEL TANK @27862MI FUEL TANK SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I AM NOTIFYING YOU, BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL LOSS OF POWER. I THINK THAT I ALSO SHOULD BE REIMBURSED MY $50 DEDUCTIBLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722766May 16, 2000
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722363May 7, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
AIR CONDITIONER STARTED - SMELLED TAR-LIKE SMELL - TURNED A/C OFF, NO SMELL & CAR RAN BEAUTIFULLY, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. TOOK ON ROAD TRIP, RAN FINE BUT NOTICED ENGINE WAS HOT WHEN STOPPED - ADDED OIL, OTHER FLUIDS FINE - IMMEDIATELY ABORTED TRIP & DROVE TO DEALER- NO PROBLEMS (SMELLS, INDICATOR LIGHTS, ETC.) ON RIDE, - NOTICED THAT SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED 1.5 MOS. AGO WAS FRAYED & LOOSE. OIL SPEWED FROM FRONT TO BACK OF CAR (ALTHOUGH CAR DROVE FINE & NO INDICATOR LIGHTS, NOISES OR INDICATION OF TROUBLE) - DEALER SAYS ENGINE MAY BE SHOT & CAR MAY NEED TO BE JUNKED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861154May 1, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHICH PUSHED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEATBACK TO BREAK, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#9000544April 26, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT APPROOX. 25MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, PRESSED THE BRAKES WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, REPAIRED THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860921April 25, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
UPON ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP CONSUMER NOTED THAT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP, CAUSING SOME EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STAND STILL , IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT 1ST. THE CALIPERS. THEN , MASTER CYLINDER FAILED/NOT RELEASING, CAUSING BRAKES TO GRAB. *AK.ET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720748March 29, 2000
TIRES
REAR TIRE FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. 45 MPH SPEED AT TIME OF INCIDENT. NO STEERING CONTROL ONCE REAR TIRE DEFLATED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DAMP ROAD, ASPHALT SURFACE WITH SOME SAND ON THE SURFACE. ON-RAMP ONTO FREEWAY WITH 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. VEHICLE TURNED RIGHT 90 DEGREES AFTER TIRE FAILURE AND LEFT THE ROADWAY. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P19565T15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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