Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10198619August 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD. HE THEN PULLED OVER AS THE SMOKE TURNED INTO FLAMES. AFTER HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND OIL SPRAYED OUT FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 131,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198381August 3, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE CRASH WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART, MANUFACTURED BY TRW AUTOMOTIVE (PART NUMBER ES3238). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TIE ROD END. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BETWEEN THE BALL AND SOCKET STEERING ABILITY WAS COMPLETELY LOST. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197989July 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR MADE A PFFFF SOUND AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THE TIMING CHAIN JUST SNAPPED AND THEN 12 OUT OF THE 16 VALVES IN THE CAR BENT. I FOUND THIS INCREDIBLE ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197898July 30, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SHE HAS REPLACED THE FUSE AND BOLTS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SHORTAGES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197621July 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ONCE MY SATURN SL AS AT LEAST 2 OTHERS THAT I KNOW OF THAT OWN THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, HIT 100K MILES OR JUST SLIGHTLY OVER, THE HEAD GASKET BLOWS. I LOVED THE CAR UNTIL THIS POINT AND WOULD HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER IF THIS WASN'T A COMMON ISSUE WITH SATURNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197712July 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM LOSING A LOT OF OIL. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC HE STATED THAT A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THE VALVE COVER GASKET, SO HE CHANGED IT. THE CAR IS STILL LOSING A LOT OF OIL. ABOUT A QUART EVERY 400 MILES. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON MY OWN AND HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197422July 25, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I HAVE A 2002 SATURN SL2 AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP IN MANCHESTER, NH KNOWINGLY SOLD IT TO ME LIKE THIS SINCE I HAD BROUGHT UP A VERY SLIGHT SPEED UP EFFECT THE CAR HAD TO THE CAR SALES WOMAN, AND SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD A SLIGHTLY MORE POWERFUL ENGINE THAN THE 4.0 I WAS USED TO (IT HAD A 4.6) AND THE JUMP WAS JUST THE "EXTRA POWER". I HAVEN'T EVEN OWNED THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS YET. IT'S A PIECE OF CRAP AND I HAVE A PRETTY BITTER TASTE IN MY MOUTH FROM DEALING WITH THE CAR DEALERSHIPS IN NH AND IN MD. THE DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY, MD WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED (AFTER THE FACT) THAT THERE WAS SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE BEGINNING IN ALL '02 S-SERIES, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IF THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE PRODUCT. IT HAS ALREADY COST ME ABOUT $5000 ON TOP OF THE 9,000 THAT I HAVE ALREADY SPENT TO PURCHASE IT (COST OF CAR PLUS BANK INTEREST FOR LOAN). THE CAR IS HARDLY WORTH $14,000 BUT I'M STILL UPSIDE-DOWN ON MY LOAN SO I CAN'T GET RID OF THE THING. I'VE LOOKED INTO THE RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IN HOPES THAT IT WILL GIVE SOME INSIGHT ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY (MORE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN) BUT SATURN SHOULD REALLY BE REPRIMANDED OR MADE TO REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMERS SOMEHOW. CARS ARE REALLY TOO BIG OF A PURCHASE FOR THINGS TO GO THIS WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193511June 16, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PLASTIC BUSHING ON TRANSMISSION CABLE BROKE. HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE CABLE ($240), PLASTIC "BUSHING" IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE BY ITSELF - BUT THE CABLE IS NOT BROKEN, ONLY THE PLASTIC "BUSHING." SATURN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THAT PART. FOUND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WHERE OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SO IT IS APPARENTLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE. REFERENCE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.COOLGOOSE.COM/SITES/FLEMCO/CAR/CAR.HTML FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS SATURN OWNER'S EXPERIENCE (SAME AS MINE, EXCEPT MY TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR). I MAY ALSO BE POSTING MY INCIDENT ON THE INTERNET TO MY BLOG, SO AS TO WARN PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A SATURN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192134May 22, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1995 SATURN MODEL SL CUSTOMER WANTS COPIES OF ALL RECALLS **CC (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10190383May 10, 2007
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT MECHANISM FAILED SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN RECALL # 99V045000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190289May 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE COOLANT LIGHT LOW INDICATOR CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION OIL WAS FOUND IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. CAR HAD UNDER 100000 MILES, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED. SATURN ISSUED COMPANY BULLETIN 99P01. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR A MINIMAL CHARGE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. WERE ONLY WILLING TO OFFER 25% OF THE APPROXIMATE $2200 REPAIR CHARGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189949May 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT CONTAINED NO OIL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SERVICED THREE WEEKS PRIOR. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3,400 AND A USED ENGINE WITHOUT WARRANTY WOULD COST $2,400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SIGNS OF LEAKING, DRAINING, OR OIL BURNING WERE PRESENT, YET THE OIL IS EVAPORATING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189796May 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 181,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187980April 15, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON BROKE; BUTTON EJECTED WHEN USING PARKING BRAKE, PREVENTING E-BRAKE FROM BEING USED. BUTTON AND SPRING ASSEMBLY CAME OUT, WITH BUTTON HAVING TWO SMALL PLASTIC CHIPS THAT WERE BROKEN, PREVENTING REASSEMBLY. THIS EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED THE VEHICLE'S STANDARD EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT (PARKING BRAKE) FROM BEING USED. NO REPLACEMENT BUTTON WAS AVAILABLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186905April 3, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, MAKES A LOUD BANG NOISE AND SLAMS HARD INTO GEAR. I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME EXACT SITUATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186683April 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING 3 OTHER VEHICLES. THE MOTOR OF THE 2002 SATURN SL1 IN WHICH HE WAS DRIVING STALLED AS HE EXITED THE HIGHWAY ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. ONCE THE ENGINE STALLED,HE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, HE STRUCK 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT HE STRUCK HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE MY SON DROVE. THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE 1 SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE REAR AND FRONT BUMPERS WERE DAMAGED ON VEHICLE 2. THE REAR OF VEHICLE 3 IS DAMAGED. THE SATURN IN WHICH MY SON WAS DRIVING HAD FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE, HOOD CRUMPLED, AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, LEFT REAR VIEW MIRROR SEPARATED FROM THE CAR, LEFT HEAD LIGHT AND BRACKETS DESTROYED, AND DAMAGE ALONG THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL. *JB MY SON RECEIVED A SUPERFICIAL CUT IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY PARAMEDICS BANDAGED WHILE ON SITE. THE SATURN WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF ARLINGTON FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COMPUTER CONTAINS VEHICLE SYSTEMS INFORMATION THAT OCCURED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, HOWEVER HE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO EXTRACT THE INFORMATION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184921March 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1996 SATURN SL2. HORN TURNS ON BY ITSELF AND WON'T TURN OFF, HAD TO UNPLUG IT. HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAD THE HORN SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE. I'VE ALMOST BEEN RUN OFF THE ROAD A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I COULDN'T HONK THE HORN WHEN SOMEONE WAS CHANGING LANES AND DIDN'T SEE ME. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR HORN MORE THAN 3 TIMES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184426March 7, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION SYSTEM.. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.. SATURN TOLD ME SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY THAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME 999.99 DOLLARS TO FIX IT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THEN ONCE.. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183781February 28, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL*- WHILE GETTING OUT THE 2001 SATURN SL 1, THE CONTACT CLOSED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THEY COULDN'T ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE ANY PREVIOUS WORK DONE ON THE AIR BAGS BEFORE, AND AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THERE WAS NO AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183068February 20, 2007
TIRES, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SL2 SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SHREDDED AND PULLED OUT THE INJECTION CIRCUIT SO FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE YEARS. ALSO, THE JACK DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 95000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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