Saturn SL Complaints (1992)

123 consumer complaints on file.

#744640April 27, 2001
SEATS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
OUR 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DIED BECAUSE SHE HAD THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FULLY RECLINED. SHE WAS TAKING A NAP COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL. HER SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED, BUT AT IMPACT HER UPPER TORSO WAS WHIPPED FORWARD, THEN THE FRONT SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM GAVE OUT AND THE FRONT SEAT POPPED UP TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION, THEN WHEN HER SHOULDER BELT CAUGHT SHE WAS THROWN BACK INTO THE SEAT. SHE DIED OF SEVERE BRAIN TRAUMA, BUT THERE WERE NO MARKS ON HER. THE NEUROLOGIST SAID IT WAS AKIN TO SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME BECAUSE HER HEAD WAS SHAKEN TOO FAST AND TOO HARD, CAUSING THE BRAIN STEM TO SWELL AND CUT OXYGEN FLOW TO THE BRAIN. THE WINDSHIELD DIDN'T EVEN CRACK. WHY ARE FRONT SEATS MADE TO RECLINE WHEN SAFETY BELTS AND AIRBAGS WILL NOT PROTECT YOU IF YOU ARE RECLINED?*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
1
#883232March 16, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RETRACT, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID TRACK WAS BENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#559617February 13, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE 1993 THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO HEAT RELATED ISSUES. CJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877535January 5, 2001
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF HAD FALLEN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF THIS SITUATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877531January 5, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH HEARD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AND LOST POWER. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, THEN SAW THAT ALTENATOR HAD FALLEN OFF VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738123December 21, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESSES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD AND PASSENGER IN THE REAR POSITIONS. A MECHANIC AT ABRA DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BAD SEAT BELT ASSY TRACK UNITS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#736892November 27, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
YOUR DATABASE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO FILL THE FORM CORRECTLY. THE SPARE TIRE FAILED AFTER 10 MILES OF DRIVING TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP. I ARRIVED SAFELY WITH THE SPARE TIRE INTACT. ONE MONTH LATER, I NEEDED TO USE THE SPARE AGAIN. THE TREAD WAS DELAMINATED WITH SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE RUBBER. THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER OFFERED NO HELP OR SUGGESTIONS WHEN I CALLED. THE SPARE WAS USED ONCE FOR THE TRIP TO THE TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE LOOKS BRAND NEW OTHER THAN THE GAPING HOLE. THE WHITE INK PRINTED OVER THE TREAD SURFACE IS STILL VISIBLE AND LEGIBLE. THE INFLATION PRESSURE WAS 40 PSI. I NOTICED THE DOT NUMBER IS FROM ONE OF THE FACTORIES YOU ARE LOOKING AT. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF USE OF SPARE TIRES, THIS MAY NEVER APPEAR AS A PROBLEM, BUT IF THIS TIRE HAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE HAD A SEVERE BLOW-OUT. I PLAN TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE TIRE BEFORE SATURN REPLACES IT. WOULD YOU LIKE AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE PHOTOS? I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN AT SATURN, BUT LIKE FORD, I AM SURE THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD BET FIRESTONE IS STONEWALLING (NO PUN INTENDED) OTHER COMPLAINTS OUTSIDE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES IDENTIFIED. THEY ARE LOSING MONEY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HY7H5M162 TIRESIZE: T11570R14)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#873601October 23, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN CHANGING GEARS VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ENGAGING THE GEAR. IF DRIVER'S FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, AT THIS TIME, VEHICLE WOULD TAKE OFF. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS AGO. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#873039October 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED. MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#734160October 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. HEAD GASKET PROBABLY RUPTURED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733701October 8, 2000
SUSPENSION
ROLLOVERS WITH SATURNS/ IN LOOKING FOR PARTS I HAVE FOUND OVER TEN SATURNS AT JUNK YARDS. THE OPERATORS OF THESE YARDS HAVE SEEN MANY SATURNS AS ROLLOVERS AND SAY IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM -
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#871731September 28, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SEATBACK RELEASED AND COLLAPSED INTO A RECLINING POSITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731704September 17, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731707September 17, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO RECALL ANNOUNCED ON POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD ON VEHICLE. DUE TO MILEAGE, VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRENTY, HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED REGARDS TO POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO SAME REASON AS RECALL. MANUFATURER STATED THERE WAS NO CHANCE. (RECALL WAS FOR ALTERNATOR/ALTERNATOR FAILED) MECHANIC STATED IF DIODES DID NOT BURNOUT, MAY HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. RECALL WAS BASED ON POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD IN ALTERNATOR SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722936May 20, 2000
SEATS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#861637May 9, 2000
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. JUST GAVE UP ON CONSUMER WHERE NEITHER OF THE FRONT MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ARE WORKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720910April 2, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED WITHOUT TRAUMA, ENGINE MOUNT FAILED CAUSING STEERING DIFFICULTY AND LOUD NOISE, GAS GAUGE BEGAN BOUNCING RANDOMLY, O-RINGS IN A/C FAILED TWICE, DESPITE RETROFIT, A/C AGAIN INOPERATIVE DUE TO "O-RINGS" WATER PUMP LEAKED AT 40,000 MILES, BATTERY DEAD IN ONE YEAR IN ARIZONA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9000186March 6, 2000
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF AXLE CAUSING CAR TO SLIDE ACROSS GRASSED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718368February 6, 2000
SEATS
SEAT FRAME STARTED TO BREAK THROUGH THE CLOTH COVERING. THE FRAME EVENTUALLY BENT BACKWARDS NEAR THE TOP OF THE SEAT. SOON THE FRAME BROKE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND THERE IS A SHARP POINT STICKING OUT AND THE CLOTH COVERING IS RUINED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SEAT WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER 500 DOLLARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#717618January 20, 2000
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEATBELT RESTRAINTS ARE INOPERATIVE ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THE PASSENGERS SEATS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THEM FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY IN WHICH WE WERE REAR ENDED. THIS HAS LEFT MY WIFE WITH BACK PROBLEMS EVER SINCE, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE SHOULDER RESTAINTS WERE TO HAVE BEEN WORKING PROPERLY SHE WOULD BE FINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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