Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#10041081October 2, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
AC DELCO CAR BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL FELL OFF THE BATTERY, CAUSING CAR TO NOT START AND BATTERY ACID TO DRIP ON CABLES UNDER BATTERY. BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH REVEALS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE WITH AC DELCO BATTERIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042177October 1, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AS SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IT HAD RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. ABOUT $600 WORTH OF DAMAGES OCCURRED NOT INCLUDING THE CAUSE OF REPAIRS FOR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE.*CB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042451October 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *PH. LAST FEBRUARY THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032084October 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60000 MILES AND WAS THREE YEARS OLD. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN ONE OF THE HEATER CORE HOSES BLEW. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. *AK *NLM *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040736September 26, 2003
SEATS
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK MAKES A RATCHET NOISE WHEN ADJUSTING SEAT, AND THE SEAT BACK RECLINES BACKWARDS IN A FAST PACE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039604September 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE IN MY CAR, A 2001 SATURN SL, SEIZED. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 43000 MILES. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE ENGINE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE MOVING SLOWLY, AS SOMEBODY MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034379September 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *AK AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" FROM ILLUMINATING, THE MECHANIC FINALLY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER FELT THE RECALL SHOULD GO BACK A FEW MORE YEARS. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039241September 21, 2003
TIRES
I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1997 SATURN IN TO DISCOUNT TIRE FOR MY TIRE ROTATION THAT THEY PROVIDE WHEN YOU PURCHASE TIRES FROM THEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN BECAUSE OF THE WEAR ON THE OUTER EDGES OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE FRONT TIRES ARE WORN BUT NOT DOWN TO THE WEAR INDICATORS AND THE REAR TIRES ARE IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION AND HAVE MUCH MORE TREAD. I WAS TOLD BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY WOULD NOT ROTATE MY TIRES BECAUSE THE BEST TIRES WERE ALREADY IN THE "REAR", AND THAT IT IS MUCH SAFER TO HAVE BAD TIRES IN THE FRONT THAN IN THE REAR. WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHY, I WAS SHOWN A BROCHURE EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL BETWEEN HAVING A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT VS. THE REAR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT HAVING THE BEST TIRES UP FRONT WAS "OLD SCHOOL" MENTALITY. NOT ONLY HAVE I EXPERIENCED "BLOW OUT" CONDITIONS IN BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR OF DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED THROUGH OUT THE YEARS, I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15+ YEARS AS AND ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN AND CURRENTLY WRITE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICAL SERVICE MANUALS, AND NEVER HAVE I HEARD THIS. STILL HAVING MANY CONTACTS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, I CAN NOT FIND ANYONE WHO AGREES WITH DISCOUNT TIRE ON THIS ONE. I AM NOT LOOKING TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT, BUT LOOKING TO A RELIABLE SOURCE FOR SOME CLARITY ON THIS ISSUE. TO ME, IT SEEMS AS IF THEY COULD BE CREATING MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN SOLVING ONE. HOWEVER, IF PRESENTED WITH CREDITABLE INFORMATION ON TESTING (OTHER THAN MARKETING BROCHURES), I COULD BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE. I SEEMED TO ME THAT THIS WAS BEING USED TO SELL ME TIRES MORE THAN ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE SALE PITCH STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHOWING ME THE COLOR BROCHURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FEED BACK OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS CONCERN. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT IF NECESSARY.*JB REGARDS, GARY H KNAPP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040051September 16, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP MOTOR REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038848September 14, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1997 SL2 SATURN WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD CHARGE. HAD EARLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS (ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT FUNCTION, NO DASH LIGHTS). *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033634September 12, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, CHILD SEAT:SHELL:BOOSTER
COSCO MODEL 02-452 WAL, MANUFACTURING DATE UNKNOWN. WHEN THE BOOSTER SEAT WAS INSTALLED USING THE VEHICLE SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE BELT WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD GO INTO THE BELT POSITIONER TO BUCKLE THE CHILD TIGHT, BUT IF THE CHILD MOVED, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER MOVED AND REMAINED LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE SHOULDER BELT TO NOT RETRACT. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038717September 11, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I PURCHASED A 1998 SATURN SL2 IN APRIL OF 2002 AND DISCOVERED AFTER PURCHASE THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALSO UNABLE TO FIND THE EXACT PART NUMBER AND WANTED TO MAKE THE REPAIR FROM A SIMILAR BUT NOT IDENTICAL 1996 MODEL. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT SATURN DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS THE RETRACTOR BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038638September 10, 2003
AIR BAGS
THERE WAS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT" ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WANTED $66.50 AN HOUR TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037541September 9, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BAD BEARING IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION- ESTIMATE AROUND $1000-OPTIONS: TAKE TIS ONE APART OR BUY USED TRANSMISSION- THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR THIS NEW- CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 48000 MILES YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037157September 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION FIRST STARTED RELEASING THE KEYS WITH OUT THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF. THEN THE IGNITION CEASED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO ENTER MORE THAN HALF WAY. THE LOCK UP WAS DUE IN PART OF THE BUZZER SWITCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037051September 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION: VEHICLE COULD STOP WITHOUT WARNING AS A RESULT OF ENGINE BURN-UP. SATURN DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037065September 2, 2003
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1995 SATURN SL-2 SUNROOF FAILURE. TOOK IT INTO A SATURN, AND THEY QUOTED 776.00 TO REPLACE THE GUIDES AND STOP BUMBERS. THE RETAIL COST OF THE PARTS (I LOOKED IT UP) WAS 264.38. THEIR PRICE FOR PARTS WAS 398.00. THE REMAINING WAS LABOUR - 3.6 HOURS!**AK PREVIOUSLY, I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SATURN DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $360.00 TO REPLACE THE TEMP SENSOR -- A $12.00 PART. I TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHO REPLACED THE PART FOR 20.00. SATURN'S REPAIR DEPT'S PRICES ARE HIGHLY INFLATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001528September 2, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH GREASE AT THE FACTORY. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR HALF OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED $240.30. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE IS REAR AND HAPPENS IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AND EVEN THAT IS REAR. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037767August 27, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036732August 27, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
AFTER BOTH MY CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT TIMES TOLD ME THAT I HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING INCRESASED EXHAUST NOISE (I HAD IT CHECKED), I RAN ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN "HIGHWAYS" MAGAZINE (GOOD SAM CLUB) THAT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES. I OWN A 1999 SATURN L-SERIES AND IT IS SHOWING ALL THE SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V231000. THE CAR HAS BEEN SLUGGISH AND VERY HARD TO START ALONG WITH THE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. THIS MODEL/YEAR SATURN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL...THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT ALSO! WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEALER IN MARCH, 2001, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE BUT IT DID NOT IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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