Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10127997January 18, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1998 SATURN SL SEAT BELTS ARE DEFECTIVE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD UNLATCH WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107479January 18, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATEED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106124January 11, 2005
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
I OWN A 95 SATURN SL,AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR BECAUSE OF STEERING GEAR BOX. THE PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR BOX IS THAT THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED, CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION,CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. WELL LAST NIGHT JANUARY 10,2005 MINE BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WELL TODAY JANUARY 11,2005 I CALLED THE SATURN PLACE AND AFTER THEY TRANSFEREE MY CALL ,THE MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THAT THE VIN NUMBER ON MY CAR DID NOT MATCH THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. BUT HOW IS IT THAT THEY RECALLED THE EXACT CAR AS MINE AND MINE BROKE BUT THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THEM. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR ALL THE TIME TO TRANSPORT OUR KIDS AND OTHER NEIGHBOR KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERYDAY. I JUST THANK GOD THAT SHE WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR AT MY MOTHERS HOUSE INSTEAD OF ON THE HIGHYWAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL WITH ALL THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND NO WAY TO CONTROL THE STEERING.WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT MY WIFE ALMOST LANDED IN THE DITCH ACROSS THE STEET FROM MY MOTHER'S HOUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105089December 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND CHILD SITTING IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TOLD THE FATHER THAT THE SEAT BELT CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. HOWEVER, ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT REMAINED UNSTITCHED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105018December 17, 2004
TIRES
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE POPPED CAUSING THE RIM TO DEVELOP SHARP EDGES AROUND IT. THE RIM CUT THE RUBBER WIRING FOR THE BRAKES CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105021December 17, 2004
TIRES, STEERING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104012December 17, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING CAR INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY FROM PARK TO DRIVE. FINALLY, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. TOOK TO A CAR SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY CONNECTED TO A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THAT RESULTED IN A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 67,500 MILES. THE CAR IS A 1995 SATURN SL1. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102855December 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD ON 1998 SL1 SATURN WITH 70,000 MILES. CAR WAS LOOSING COOLANT. COST $2,000 IN LABOR TO REPAIR, PROBLEM SEEMS TO APPEAR WITH OTHER CONSUMERS COMPLAINING AS WELL. MANUFACTURER SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT AND REIMBURSE FOR COST OF REAPIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102120December 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
MY 23 YR OLD SON WAS TRAVELING FROM VENTURA, CA AT 75 MPH ON FWY 99 N BOUND IN THE MIDDLE LANE (OF 3) AT ABOUT 1 A.M. IN FRESNO, CA. JUST BEFORE ARRIVING AT HIS EXIT TO HWY 41 N, THE REAR END BEGAN TO SKID TO THE LEFT. DRIVER STEERED INTO THE SKID TO CORRECT WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKES TO REDUCE SPEED. SUDDENLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS HURLED INTO THE AIR CAUSING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO GO AIRBORNE, CLEARING THE THIRD LANE (FAR RIGHT LANE) AND LANDING ON TOP OF ASPHALT BERM AND SOFT, SANDY EMBANKMENT RESULTING IN THE CAR ROLLING AND GOING AIRBORNE, BOUNCING OFF THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND GOING AIRBORNE YET A THIRD TIME LANDING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WITH THE NOSE OF THE CAR EXTENDING INTO THE THIRD LANE. DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BUT CHP OFFICERS WERE ASTONISHED IT WAS NOT A FATALITY. CAR WAS TOTALED. TALKS WITH SATURN HEADQUARTERS HAS ONLY RESULTED IN DENIAL THAT THE SPINDLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THEY INSIST A TIRE BLOWOUT WAS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE. PERSONAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO BLOWOUT. EVIDENCE POINTS TOWARD THE SPINDLE BREAKING ALLOWING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO FOLD DOWN UNDER THE CAR CAUSING IT TO SKID TO THE LEFT. THE APPLICATION OF BRAKES BROUGHT THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DOWN ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO CATCH THE FRAME ASSEMBLY AND PITCH THE CAR INTO THE AIR WHILE TEARING OUT THE ENTIRE REAR WHEEL WELL ASSEMBLY. PARTS OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WERE FOUND 40 FEET BEFORE THE IMPACT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (WHICH WOULD BE IMPACT #2) AS IT TUMBLED ACROSS THE FREEWAY EMBANKMENT. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE WRECKAGE INCLUDING OUR INSURANCE AND SATURN.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10103089December 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE GOING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY $200.00 TOWARD THE COST OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEVELOP A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK.....VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO, REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102004December 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, WHEN SHIFTING IT DOWN SHIFTED AND CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN. MANUFACTURER TO DATE HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100346November 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DRIVING ON STRAIGHTAWAY ~ 20-30 MPH. BANGING INTO GEAR AS SHIFTS. HARDER BANG WHEN GOING INTO "R". BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. PROBLEM: FAULTY SOLENOID. REPLACED VALVE BODY. EXPENSIVE REPAIR! THIS IS A VERY PREMATURE, FAILURE. CAR ONLY 3 YEARS WITH ~50K. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099742November 3, 2004
STEERING
REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL OF 1990-96 SATURN SL. *BF THE WRITER'S SON WAS KILLED IN AND ACCIDENT IN WHICH, PER WITNESS STATEMENTS, HER SONS VEHICLE VEERED SHARPLY LEFT AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOME TYPE OF DEFECT CAUSED HER SON'S ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10096801November 3, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR MAT SLID UNDER THE PEDALS. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD A RUFF TIME STOPPING THE VEHICLE FINALLY GETTING IT TO STOP THE CONSUMER WALKED HOME. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093779October 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECT DETAILS: DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY CAUSES CRACKS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. ALLOWS MOTOR OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM/RADIATOR MIXING WITH ENGINE COOLANT IN THE ENGINE COOLANT RECOVERY RESERVOIR. MAKES THE CAR RUN HOT, RESULT IN OVERHEATING WITH POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN CRASHES. SOLUTION: TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY GM/SATURN RESPONSE: COMPLAINT FILED WITH GM ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004 VIA WRITTEN LETTER. GM RESPONSE TO THAT LETTER WAS A COURTESY CALL TO "THANK" US FOR OUR "FEEDBACK" AND HOW IT WILL BE PUT IN A DATABASE FOR THEIR ENGINEERS TO UTILIZE IN FUTURE DESIGN. WHAT A JOKE. NO HELP OR RESOLUTION OFFERED. NO RECALL OR ANY OTHER NOTICE WAS SENT VERBALLY OR IN WRITING TO US. REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF DEFECT AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO US. AMOUNTS TO FRAUDULENT BUSINESS AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. GM/SATURN KNEW ABOUT THIS FLAW IN 1997 SATURN SL-1 WHEN THEY SOLD THE CAR TO US, BUT NEVER DISCLOSED IT AND NEVER OFFERED TO FIX IT. REFER TO BULLETIN NUMBER 96T65 AND BULLETIN DATE: NOVEMBER 1996 ON HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, OUR CAR HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC TWICE DUE TO "CLOSE TO OVERHEATING". THE CAR IS 7 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT WITH OIL CHANGES ON TIME & ALL RECOMMENDED MAINT. ON TIME. SINCE GM/SATURN DEALERSHIP IN RENO, NEVADA DID NOT OFFER TO FIX THE DEFECT, WE GOT IT FIXED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC. COST = $1827.25. WE BELIEVE THIS IS FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICE ON PART OF GM/SATURN TO KNOWINGLY SELL THEIR DEFECTIVE CAR TO CONSUMERS WITHOUT DISCLOSING THIS AT THE TIME OF SALE AND NEVER OFFERING TO FIX THE DEFECT EVENTHOUGH IT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND PUT SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS AT RISK. WE ARE SEEKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FROM GM. A COPY OF THAT REQUEST WILL BE MAILED TO YOU SEPARATELY. WE HOPE YOUR AGENCY HAS THE AUTHORITY AND PASSION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096151October 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FOR THE 4TH TIME, THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND THE HEAD IS WARPED. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A FACTORY DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE AND WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME WITHOUT CHARGE BY SATURN. HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DO NOT LAST AND THE HEAD BLOWS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 30,000 MILES. THERE IS NO ENGINE BUILT THAT SHOULD ONLY LAST 30,000 MILES! SATURN REFUSES TO HELP WITH THESE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS BEEN DUTIFULLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED AT THE SATURN DEALER. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS $2,140 WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF NEW RODS AND BEARINGS AT THIS TIME ALSO. WE HAD NEW RINGS, RODS AND BEARINGS IN EARLY 2002. IF SATURN ADMITTED TO THE DESIGN DEFECT THE FIRST TIME, AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR, SHOULDN'T SATURN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097417October 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CAR HEAD ON. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SEEKED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10096107October 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
RECALL 98-V307. SATURN REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR A REPAIR THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE FALLS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECALL DOCUMENTS, IT SHOWS VEHICLES ALL AROUND MY VIN BUT NOT MY VIN. I HAD THE TWO PARTS IN QUESTION REPLACED 5/20/03 DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXACT SAME SYMPTMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL OCCURED TO MY VEHICLE. THE HORN WOULD SOUND WITH NO ONE AROUND. I FINALLY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN MANUALLY. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT FAILED BUT I HAD IT FIXED ON THAT DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097730October 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE RUNS HOT & OIL MIXED WITH COOLANT IN ENGINE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE DEFECTS WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. NO RECALL FOR CONSUMER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096031October 19, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT VEHICLE WAS 5 QUARTS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED RUNNING IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF AT THAT TIME. ALTHOUGH VEHICLE ONLY HAD 35000 MILES ON IT TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAD DEFECT, HAD TO BE REBUILT FOR $2400+.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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