Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#891465June 27, 2001
SUSPENSION
HOOD WAS DENTED UPWARDS, AND UPON EXAMINATION FOUND THAT FRONT LEFT STRUT TOWER DISCONNECTED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. UPON EXAMINATION, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT LEFT STRUT TOWER ONLY HAD 3 SPOT WELDS AS OPPOSED TO 11 SPOT WELDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT TOWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747465June 27, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 1996. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALL OF WHICH I AM TOLD IF THEY CAN'T FIND IT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I STOPPED TAKING MY CAR TO THEM BECASUE THAT WAS WHAT THEY TOLD ME - I HAVE LOGGED COMPLAINTS TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ONLINE AND THEY TOLD ME I CAN NOT HAVE COPIES OF THOSE RECORDS - RECENTLY, I WAS LEFT STRANDED AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW $3800.00 ENGINE, MY HUSBAND WENT AND GOT THE CAR - IT WORKS FINE!!!!!!!!! NO NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WHEN I SOPKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AND OWNER THEY SAID OOPS BDA DIAGNOSIS - WHAT ID I HAD PAID THAT MONEY TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPAIRED? THEY STILL SAY THERE ISN'T AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MY CAR AND IF I WANT I CAN BRING IT UP WHENEVER THE ELECTRICAL GUY IS THERE NEXT. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SATURNS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELEIVE THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND BY "NOT FINDING IT" THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR CAR DIES FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE FRREEWAY - OR YOUR BRAKES COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE MOVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT....... - I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747500June 27, 2001
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 WHEN I HEARD A LOUS NOISE AND THAN THUMPING. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE QUICKLY AND LOOKED AT THE TIRE. IT HAD SEPARATED ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO SATURN DEALERSHIP, THEY CLAIMED A ROAD HAZARD HAD DESTROYED THE TIRE. YES THERE WAS A SCREW ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE BURIED IN THE TREAD AND STILL THERE. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE, LEAVING 2 SEPARATE PIECES. THEY REFUSED TO HELP, AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER TIRE, NOT A FIRESTONE. I FEEL I HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P18565R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891237June 26, 2001
SEAT BELTS
FRONT PASSENGER PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT IS LOCKED IN FORWARD POSITION, LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891162June 25, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STARTED TICKING/OVERHEATING, AND MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9002948June 21, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SATURN ARE AN EASY CAR TO STEAL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SO THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2000 MODELS. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH FOR 109.46 DOLLARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747227June 21, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FEDERAL-MOGUL BEARING MANUFACTURE #512000 WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2000, BROKE WHILE DRIVING , THE WHEEL CAME OFF . I WAS LUCKY I WAS GOING SLOW AROUND A SHARP CURVE, AND THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE ROLLING WHEEL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890714June 19, 2001
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT SIDE ,AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO CHECK TIRES SIZEP18565R15, DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES WERE ROTATED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIND PROBLEM IN TIRES. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AGAIN. VEHICLE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. DEALER STATED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A DEFECT. CONSUMER CONTACTED SEARS, AND SEARS ROTATED TIRES AGAIN, AND COULDNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE. *AK THEY REPLACED THE TIRE THE NEXT DAY. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9002787June 12, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER REQUESTING THAT AN ON/OFF SWITCH BE ADDED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746638June 11, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. WE ARE PRIOR YEAR (1993, 1997 (2), AND 1998) SATURN OWNERS. FOR THE PRIOR YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE HORN BUTTONS WERE LOCATED ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLAINTS FROM MANY OWNERS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT THE STANDARD LOCATION FOR HORNS ON GM OR OTHER MODELS. IN 1999 OR 2000, SATURN MOVED THE HORN TO THE TYPICAL LOCATION (CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL OVER THE AIRBAG). THEY REPLACED THE HORN BUTTONS WITH THE CURISE CONTROLS. 4-6 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED, THE 2001 SATURN, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WITH A YOUNG LADY HAVING A 'ROAD RAGE DAY'. DURING ONE FRANTIC MOMENT, I TRIED TO LOCATE THE HORN. OF COURSE IT WASN'T IN THE 'CUSTOMARY LOCATION'. I FOUND IT BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I HAD ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONCENTRATING ON THE OTHER DRIVER'S ACTIONS, I WAS UNAWARE THAT 'CRUISE WAS ENGAGED'. IN THE NEXT MOMENT, THIS DRIVER SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (FOR WHICH SHE WAS TICKETED AND FINED). I TRIED TO STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THE CAR SPED UP. I HIT HER CAR WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERENED THAT ANOTHER DRIVER (PARTICULARILY OWNERS OF OLDER MODEL SATURNS WHO PURCHASE NEW SATURNS) WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME SITUATION BUT WITH MORE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICES AND WRITTEN THEM A NOTE (WITHOUT RESPONSE). THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON SAID THEY WOULD DO EACTLY WHAT I DID. SHE OWNS AND DRIVE THE PRIOR YEAR SATURN. SHE SAID THE LOCATION OF THE HORN IS AUTOMATIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT TOOK ME 3-6 MONTHS TO NEVER ENGAGE THE CRUISE IN MY SEARCH FOR THE HORN. THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE LOGGED WELL OVER 200,000 MILES IN THE OLDER MODELS. THANKS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890127June 11, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SEAM WHERE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM STEERING COLUMN HAS DEVELOPED A 3/4" TEAR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WITH CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS INFORMED THAT TEAR WAS DUE TO "A PUNCTURE." DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER IN ANY REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889924June 6, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LOSS OF MOTOR OIL IN ENGINE, NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A ROD FAILURE. SEEKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561477June 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE WHINE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746314June 3, 2001
CHILD SEAT:HARNESS RETAINER/CHEST CLIP
MY DAUGHTER IS ABLE TO RELEASE THE CLIP ON THE FIVE POINT RESTRAINT OF THE NEW CARSEAT WE JUST PURCHASED. WE HAD THE SAME MODEL BEFORE BUT THE CLIP WAS DIFFERENT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CLIP REMOVED FROM THE MARKET BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DANGER TO CHILDREN. THE MAKE IS COSCO AND THE MODEL IS THE ALPHA OMEGA EDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746284June 2, 2001
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FREEWAY TRAFFIC SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. I STOPPED BUT WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. I SUSTAINED MINOR BACK, HIP, BRUISED STOMACH MUSCLES AND KNEE INJURIES THAT I FEEL WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED OR MUCH LESS SEVERE HAD THE SEAT BACK HELD. I'M HAVING A PROBLEM COMPREHENDING GMS CONTENTION THAT THE SEAT BACK YIELDING IS A DESIRABLE RESPONSE TO THIS OR ANY SITUATION (AND THE FACT THAT THEIR PRODUCT ADHERES TO ALL RELEVANT STANDARDS, ETC).*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#746235June 1, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO SECOND GEAR FROM BOTH THIRD AND HIGH AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPMS AND RAPID SPEED REDUCTION AND HANDLING DIFFICULTIES CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS ON CURVES. SERVICE NOTIFIED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIND CAUSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889424May 30, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, NOR REDUCED SPEED. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. AFTER THAT MASTER CYLINDER DID NOT WORK. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#889302May 29, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING DRIVER UNRESTRAINED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746047May 29, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THIS MODEL OF SATURN HAS A FLEXIBLE RUBBER BUMPER. IF THE CAR IS PARKED HEADED INTO A CURB, THE BUMPER HAS A TENDENCY TO CUP OVER THE FRONT CURB AS THE CAR SETTLES INTO PLACE. THERE IS NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER WHEN THIS HAS OCCURED. THEN, UPON BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT BUMPER TEARS AWAY FROM THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR THREE TIMES IN TWENTY MONTHS AND IN THREE DIFFERENT PARKING LOTS, DESPITE MY EFFORTS TO AVOID PARKING SPACES THAT HEAD INTO A CURB. WHEN IT OCCURS THE BUMPER DANGLES AN INCH OR TWO BELOW THE FRONT FRAME UNTIL IT IS REATTACHED BY THE GARAGE. THE MOST RECENT TIME, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM THE PARKING LOT, WHEN THE BUMPER BECAME TANGLED IN THE WHEEL OF THE CAR. I HAD TO STOP ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO DISENGAGE THE BUMPER AND ATTEMPT TO WEDGE IT INTO A PLACE WHERE I COULD LEAVE THE ROAD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRAGILITY OF A BUMPER THAT PULLS LOOSE IN TYPICAL PARKING SPACES, AND WITH THE RISK THAT OCCURS ONCE THE BUMPER IS PULLED LOOSE. SATURN TELLS ME THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE BUT ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746010May 28, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I BRAKE IT BRAKES THEN LETS GO AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN AND KEEPS DOING THAT UNTIL I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY TRANSMISSION I THINK JERKS MY WHOLE CAR. AND THAT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THYE CAR IN REVERSE. I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A '9194 SATURN SL2 AND THEY HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO GOT TO DRIVE ONE OF THEM AND THERE CAR DOES EVERYTHING MINE DOES AND BOTH OF OUR GLOVE BOX LATCH HAS BROKE AND DOES NOT LATCH.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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