Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#729959September 2, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
NOT LONG AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES MADE NOISE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE UPON BRAKING. BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THEY CUT THEM DOWN. SINCE THEN THE BRAKES HAVE MADE NOISES AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKUP UPON INITIAL DRIVING DAILY. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISES, AT 10.209 MILES &16,284 MILES, BUT THEY ALWAYS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW THE BRAKES ARE STILL MAKING NOISES WHEN YOU FIRST START THE VEHICLE. ALSO, NOW THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES UPON BRAKING, MORE AT HIGHER SPEEDS, CAUSING HARDER BRAKING AT TIMES WHEN QUICK BRAKING IS NEEDED. UPON SLOW ROLLING STOPS, LIKE COMING TO A LIGHT, THE CAR SURGES, LIKE THE BRAKES ARE GRABBING AT CERTAIN POINTS THEN RELEASING. SOMETIMES BRAKING IN NORMAL CITY ROADWAYS, THE BRAKES DON'T RESPOND WHEN QUICK BRAKING IS NEEDED TO AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. IT'S LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOUGH TO PRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#554285September 1, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION, DURING ACCIDENT THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN INTO THE REAR SEAT OF THE CAR, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#554251September 1, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THE FIRESTONE MODEL FR480 TIRES EXPERIENCED BULGES IN THE TREAD CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729892September 1, 2000
TIRES
THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELTS. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON RETREADS BUT NEVER NEW TIRES. IT IS AS IF YOU TOOK A KNIFE AND CLEANLY SEPARATED THE TREAD ABOVE THE BELT.( DOT NUMBER: W2EP TIRE SIZE: P175/70R14 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729936September 1, 2000
TIRES
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869253August 31, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES IN THE FRONT OF A 1997 SATURN SL, FR480, P175/OR14-845, DOT HYEP, TREAD IS SEPARATING AT 28,000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECH. HE TOOK TIRES OFF AND SAID INSIDE WAS WORSE THAN THE OUTSIDE, AND TREAD WAS GETTING READY TO SEPARATE FROM THE SIDEWALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729456August 29, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED BY LEAKING BATTERY ACID PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR-DESIGN FLAW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868926August 28, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEWOUT. FIRESTONE INFINITY P185/65R15. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729008August 25, 2000
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, SWERVED OVER A LANE THEN OFF THE HIGHWAY, HITTING THE CURB AND ENDING UP IN A GRASSY AREA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND COURTESY PATROL ARRIVED TO ASSIST IN CHANGING THE TIRE. THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO IMMEDIATELY GET ME ON MY WAY, SO THE COURTESY WORKER THREW MY TIRE INTO THE TRUNK AND I LEFT. WHEN I GOT TO THE TIRE STORE WE EVALUATED THE TIRE AND 40% OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATION. THE CAR HAS MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3000 MILES, SO TIRES WERE ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: W2EPBCA428 TIRE SIZE: P17570R14 )
Crash:
Yes
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
#554004August 24, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO REMEDY AND CONSIDERS THIS A TRAIT OF THE VEHICLE. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868452August 23, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AC DELCO BATTERY ACID IS LEAKING ON THE BRAKE CABLE, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868220August 21, 2000
SUSPENSION
WHEN TRAVELING AT 45 TO 50 MPH VEHICLE WILL ZIGZAG, AND ITS VERY HARD TO STEER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. CONSUMER FEARED VEHICLE MAY DO THIS IN THE RAIN AND SLIDE OFF THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728431August 19, 2000
TIRES
DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF SOME OF FIRESTONE TIRES I WANTED TO ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT MY FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRES TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE ROADSIDE BEFORE A BLOWOUT OR FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TIRE HAS ABOUT A 36 INCH LONG AND 3 INCH WIDE SECTION WHERE THE TREAD IS MISSING. THE TIRE OVERALL IS ABOUT 8 INCHES WIDE. I ALSO HAVE A FORD EXPLORER WITH WILDNERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE NOT MADE AT THE DECATER PLANT AND THUS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. ALTHOUGH MY FIREHAWK TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I STILL FEEL THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD OTHER TIRES THAT RAN UNTIL THE TREAD WAS BALD AND THE TREAD NEVER SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT A FIRESTONE TIRE NOT INDICATED IN THE RECALL HAD THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN TO IT, I DON'T FEEL THE PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES IS LIMITED TO THE LARGER SUV TIRES. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO INSURE OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES ARE SAFE FOR THEPEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM ON THEIR VEHICLES. MY CONFIDENCE IN FIRESTONE TIRES IS LOST AND I WILL BE REPLACING THE WILDERNESS TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T COME FROM THAT PARTICULAR PLANT. I STILL HAVE THE FIREHAWK TIRE THAT HAD THE TREAD COME OFF IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PICTURE OF IT I CAN ARRANGE THAT. THE TIRES WERE MADE IN 1995. THEY WERE PURCHASED IN 07-95 IN WYOMING. OF THE 5 YEARS ON THE CAR 2 YEARS WERE IN WYO. AND 3 YEARS WERE IN FLORIDA. THE DRIVING ON THE TIRES IF A GOOD MIXTURE OF HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: W2V9 TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728379August 18, 2000
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MANUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT ARM SUDDENLY WAS LOOSE. SATURN OF ASUTIN REPORTED SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND REPLACED SAME. IF BREAK HAD OCCURRED WHILE MOVING IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT AND INJURY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728248August 17, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES WITH ABS (I HAVE EXPERIENCE DRIVING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKING) TEND TO PROVIDE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, WHERE NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED. DURING BRAKING, THE BRAKES WILL FEEL AS IF THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY APPLIED, SO MORE PRESSURE IS PLACED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, EVENTUALLY DEPRESSING IT FULLY, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER BRAKING RESPONSE. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS GLIDING ON ICE AND SIMPLY SLIDES TO A STOP IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO STOP AT ALL AND FEELS, INSTEAD, AS IF IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE ROLLING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE SATURN DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM, YET THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS (IDENTICAL SATURN CARS PROVIDED WHILE THIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS, THEY HAD HIGHER MILEAGE AND STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT). THIS ISSUE HAS RESULTED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER 40 MPH (3/8/99 @ 596 MILES) AND HAS RESULTED IN AT LEAST TWELVE OTHER NEAR COLLISIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SANDED THE FRONT PADS (6,554 MILES), REPLACED THE FRONT PADS (11,385 MILES BRAKES WERE GRINDING, FOUND FRONT ROTORS AND PADS TO BE OVERHEATED AND GLAZED, ONLY 40% REMAINING ON PADS), AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS (6,554 AND 11,385 MILES). THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO IN AGAIN TO HAVE ITS BRAKES INSPECTED AND ROTORS RESURFACED AT ONLY 22,500 MILES (BRAKING QUALITY IS DEGRADING AND THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, PULSATES, AND VIBRATES DURING BRAKING). NEITHER MY WIFE OR I FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL STOP EVERY TIME AND HOW MANY CAR LENGTHS IT WILL TAKE TO FINALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKING PROBLEM IS SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL IS SWITCHED TO THE ON POSITION, EVEN IF IT IS NOT ACTUALLY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLES SPEED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867849August 15, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH HEARD A RATTLE. AS CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER, HEARD A THUMP. PISTON WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID HE SAW FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT SATURNS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM WITHIN A MONTH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727809August 14, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND WARM. I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, AND I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BREAK, I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT I EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY APART FROM THE RIM. THE TREAD WAS GOOD ON THE TIRES. I DID NOT RUN OVER ANY OBJECTS WHICH PUNCTURED THE TIRES. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. MY TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE 31ST WEEK OF 1994, BUT I DO NOT KNOW FROM WHICH PLANT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. THANKFULLY, MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER WALKED AWAY WITH MUSCLE STRAIN AND MINOR INJURIES. HOWEVER, TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AS MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. PASSENGERS OF ONE OF THE VEHICLES ARE CLAIMING INJURY. BOTH OTHER VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2V9JAI314 TIRE SIZE: P195/60R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#727841August 14, 2000
TIRES, SEATS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DURING HYDROPLANE, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RECLINED AND COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO UPRIGHT POSITION. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME DISCONNECTED. WHIP LASH AND BRUISES WERE SUSTAINED DURING ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#727690August 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE USE OF OIL FOR LIFE OF CAR. HEAD GASKET HAS NOW BLOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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