Saturn SL Complaints (1996)

287 consumer complaints on file.

#10023280June 18, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1996 SATURN SL1'S HAVE A PROBLEM REFERRED TO AS "DELAYED ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE, CAUSING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION WEARING EXCESSIVELY, ALLOWING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW AROUND A POPPET BEFORE ENGAGING. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SO ARE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACES. SATURN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM THOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE PROBLEM AND AT ABOUT $1000 PER REPAIR PER VEHICLE SATURN HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018766May 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AT TIMES IT MUST BE SHOVED TO GO IN TO AND OUT OF REVERSE, FIRST, AND THIRD GEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE AND IS AT LEAST REMOTELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30 SECONDS OR SO TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016552April 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1996 SATURN - ENGINE OIL LEAKS INTO COOLANT. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. 1997'S UNDER 100,000 MILES SATURN WOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT NOT 1996'S. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017453April 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE VEHICLES HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011862March 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 98 V 307 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010631March 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GRINDS. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET IT INTO GEAR. ALL COMPONETS OF THE CLUTCH ARE FINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011414March 11, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014755February 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
NAR 02/28/2003 MR MALFUNCTIONING ENGINE. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005654February 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY SATURN SL2 NEW IN 1996. AFTER 70,000 MILES IT STARTED USING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF OIL. OIL CONSUMPTION STARTED TO ECLIPSE 1 QT. FOR EVERY 500 MILES. MY OIL CHANGE SERVICE SAID SATURN ENGINES WERE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD RINGS. I TOOK TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A NEW ENGINE. I REPLACED ENGINE WITH A SATURN ENGINE WITH 23,000 MILES. AFTER ANOTHER 40,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE EXHIBITED THE EXACT SAME BEHAVIOR. I NOW NEED TO PURCHASE A THIRD ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001524December 26, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768431October 14, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. RANDOM ACCELERATION ONE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. CC SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO DECEL BUTTON. CC SYSTEM WILL DISENGAGE WITH SYSTEM SET TO OFF. ACCELERATION ON FAILURE IS STRONG, BELIEVED TO BE A FULLY OPEN THROTTLE ON FAILURE. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766953September 10, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 1996 BRAND NEW FROM STAMFORD SATURN CAR DEALER. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED THAT MY CAR IS USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER MONTH. I REPORTED TO MY CAR DEALER THAT MY CAR IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY MONTH, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR TO THEM FOR OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY FOR SIX MONTH. I DID NOT BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER AT THAT TIME. AFTER SIX YEARS, MY CAR WAS USING 3 QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN TEN DAYS. I CALLED SATURN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE LOCAL SATURN CAR DEALER FOR HELP. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO DO TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE. I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO THE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE; AFTER THE TEAR DOWN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT, I EITHER HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED FOR $3000.00 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4300.00. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH NEW ENGINE. THE SATURN REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT MY CAR HAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I EXPLAINED TO THEM THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR TO USE UP 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN TEN DAYS. IN THE BEGINNING, THE SATURN REPRESENTATIVE AGREED IF THE CAR HAD OIL CONSUMPTION OR MANUFACTURER DEFECT THEY WOULD HELP WITH THE REPAIR COST. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THEY ARE NOT HELPING ME WITH THE REPAIR COST. PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND I HAVE FAMILY WIFE AND TWO YEAR OLD SON, MY WIFE CANNOT WORK FULL TIME BECAUSE SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SON. TO PAY $4300.00 IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE, PLEASE HELP. I PAID THE DEALER WITH MY AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766456August 30, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN GOING FROM A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED TO A LOW RATE OF SPEED (65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR 40 MPH TO 15 MPH) THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES, THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP WITHIN THE NORMAL DISTANCE . WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND SLOWING TO A RATE OF ABOUT 15 MPH ENTERING A HIGHWAY RAMP, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE WET ROADWAY WHCIH CAUSED ME TO SKID AND GO UP ONTO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAD APPROX. $2500 WORTH OF DAMGE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE 5 PEOPLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO ROADWAY CONDITIONS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 20 MPH SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN AHEAD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT THIS TIME. AGAIN, IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016593August 19, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE IS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AND OIL IS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016149August 13, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HAD A CRACKED HEAD WHICH WAS CAUSING LOSS OF OIL. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015836August 8, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT 65 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL FELT HARD, AND WOULD NOT DEPRESS. DASH INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765332August 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRACKED HEAD CYLINDER CAUSED BY OIL MIXING WITH COOLENT. SATURN REFUSED TO HONOR SUPPLIMENTAL WARRANTY PROVIDED IN TSB 99P01. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765248August 6, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
IN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT CAR--FORTUNATELY WHILE PARKED--THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY WENT LOOSE IN MY HAND. DISASSEMBLY REVEALS THAT THE COUPLING AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR STICK HAS A PLASTIC CLIP WHICH HAS BROKEN. A CALL TO SATURN OF HONOLULU PRODUCED THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN "GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE LATELY". THE FIX REQUIRES NEW "CABLES" AS THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH BROKE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE "CABLE"--WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A BAR TRANSLATING THE FORCE OF GEAR STICK FORWARD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY VEHICLES AS HE STATED IT COULD REPEAT EVEN AFTER THE CABLES ARE REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL IT COULD LEAVE THE DRIVER IN THE WRONG GEAR OR WORSE NOT IN ANY GEAR AND PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PIECE WHICH I WILL BE HAPPY TO E-MAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764830July 28, 2002
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON 7/20/00, 9/21/00, 8/14/01, AND 7/26/02, THE DOORS ON THIS VEHICLE DID NOT CLOSE AND SECURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DOORS MUST BE TIED SHUT WITH ROPE TO SECURE THEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS ONE INCIDENT, THE LEFT REAR DOOR OPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. PASSENGERS COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY!! SATURN STATES THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. CURRENT INCIDENT OF 7/26/02 WILL BE BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION. SATURN OF DANBURY, CT ALSO PERFORMED WORK ON VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM ( 8/14/2001). AT THIS TIME, BOTH REAR DOORS HAD ASSEMBLY AND DOOR HANDLES REPLACED. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 7/26/2002, THE PASSENGER RIGHT-FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT SECURE. PASSENGER MUST RIDE IN REAR SEAT. VEHICLE IS GARAGED YEAR ROUND AND MAINTAINED BY SATURN DEALERSHIPS IN STAMFORD AND DANBURY, CT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#565422June 12, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK THE CURB AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE MECHANIC CUT THE AIR BAG OUT OF STEERING WHEEL AND SHOWED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT DEPLOYED CORRECTLY, HALF OF THE AIR BAG HAD STAYED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HALF THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG OR ITS DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, AND SHE THINKS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SATURN TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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