Saturn SL Complaints

2,218 consumer complaints on file.

#544329March 9, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TRUNK LID CLOSES TOO EASILY, LID COLLAPSED ON CONSUMER ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE HEAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#704047March 4, 1999
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE SUDDENLY, OVER A DISTANCE OF A FEW BLOCKS. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER, TURNING INTO A GRINDING METAL NOISE. THE CAR THEN TOTALLY STALLED OUT, LOSING ALL POWER, AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD DUE TO A DOWNHILL SLOPE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HOUSER'S AUTOMOTIVE, INC., OF BROOKHAVEN, PA (610) 874-9285. THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HOLE IN ITS CASING ABOUT SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER AND THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS COULD LITERALLY BE SEEN. WHEN THE MECHANICS PUT THE SATURN ON THE HOIST, THEY EXAMINED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAW THAT A PIN, OR ROD, ABOUT 3/4 INCH THICK, HAD BROKEN AND MOST OF IT WAS MISSING. THE ONE END OF THE ROD WAS GONE, AND THE HOLE ON ONE END OF THIS INTERNAL COMPONENT WAS EMPTY, BUT THE OTHER END OF THE ROD WAS STILL IN PLACE ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE ROD IN THIS MIDDLE INTERNAL COMPONENT. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD TOTALLY LEAKED OUT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAVED THE TRANSMISSION AND I ALSO TOOK PICTURES THAT CLEARLY SHOW THE MISSING CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CASING HAD BROKEN ON ITS UPPER SIDE AGAINST THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE PENETRATED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR CAUSING SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY TO MY FAMILY. LUCKILY IT BROKE THROUGH THE DOWNSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING, FACING THE ROAD AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY BODILY HARM TO ANYONE. THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD NEVER SEEN HAPPEN BEFORE. SATURN HAS TOTALLY DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, EVEN DENYING ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW SATURN TRANSMISSION THAT WAS INSTALLED, SINCE NO REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE SATURN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835446March 3, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE TOO THIN, BECOME WARPED AT EVERY 10000-15,000 MILES WHICH CAUSES A BRAKE PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703979March 3, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AND HAD THE BREAKS WORKED ON TWICE. REPLACED BREAK PADS BOTH TIMES AND NEW ROTORS THE LAST TIME. I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS ARE TOO THIN ON ALL OF THESE CARS, AND THAT THE METALLIC BREAK PADS ARE WARPING THE ROTORS. TRIED ORGANIC BREAK PADS, SEEMED TO HELP, BUT STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. EXTREME SURGING WHEN TRYING TO STOP NOW. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS ENGINEERING DEFECT. I CANNOT AFFORD $200.00 EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR NEW BREAKS, SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. (CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS?!?!?!?, I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND SATURN DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR DEFECT IN ENGINEERING.)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835267February 26, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-60MPH. LOUD BANGING NOISE OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. HIGH FREQUENCY WHINING FROM THE ENGINE THAT ADDS TO THE NOISE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HAS TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH POWER. DEALER/WESTERN REGION MFR. CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#781978February 26, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703706February 24, 1999
SEATS
WE WERE HIT STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND REAR-ENDED BY SOMEONE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT MY FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED AND BOTH MY FIANCE AND I SUFFERED FROM SORENESS AND NECK PAIN. EACH DAY WE ARE GETTING BETTER BUT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SEATS COLLAPSED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#544073February 23, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE HORN MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO FIND DURING AN EMERGENCY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543985February 22, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEAT LATCH FAILED DUE TO WEAK PLASTIC MATERIAL (WHICH BROKE), CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703612February 22, 1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
AUTOMATIC SEATBELT HARNESS MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. AT TIMES THE HARNESS HAS FROZEN PART WAY THROUGH THE TRACK OFFERING THE DRIVER NO PROTECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703614February 22, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
MY CAR HAD 26,653 MILES ON IT, BEING ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCCURED, FEB.10, 1999. THE EGR VALVE WENT, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND NO EARLIER SIGNS OF FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY, WHEN CAR STALLED. THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" LIT. I BARELY GOT VEHICLE OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED CAR LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT TO AN OPEN PARKING LOT (APPROX 1 MILE), WHERE IT COASTED TO A STOP, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NEXT MORNING, FEB 11, 1999, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CLARENCE FOR REPAIR. BECAUSE CAR WAS OFF 3 YR WARANTEE, I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS, REPLACEMENTS, AND LABOR. I FELT THIS WAS UNWARANTED, AS THE EGR SHOULD NOT HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE IN A VEHICLE, WITH LOW MILEAGE. HEAVY CARBON BUILD-UP TO EGR VALVE, NEEDING IT'S REPLACEMENT. THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE CLEANED FOR SAME REASON. ALSO REPLACED: 2 COILS, AND 4 PLUG WIRES. CAR NOT RUNNING ROUGH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT DATE. NEW INFORMATION LEARNED INDICATES THAT SATURN & GM, HAVING TROUBLE WITH EGR VALVES PREMATURELY NEEDING REPLACEMENT DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP. THANK YOU, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. DLK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703516February 19, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE HEAD HAS AN INTERNAL CRACK IN IT WHICH ALLOWS THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COOLANT. I REALIZED THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS OIL IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. I WENT TO SATURN OF FT. LAUDERDALE, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY(I HAVE53,000MILES). I WAS ALSO TOLD IF I WANTED THEM TO FIX IT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $300 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND IF IT WAS A CRACKED HEAD, IT WOULD COST ME AT LEAST $1200. IF I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR DIAGNOSES I WOULD HAVE 24 HOURS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OFF THEIR PROPERTY , DISASSEMBLED. THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY DENNY MCGEE (954)760-6340, SERVICE MANAGER FOR SATURN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF I HAD NOT FOLLOWED EVERY SERVICE REQUIREMENT THAT SATURN DESCRIBES IN THEIR HAND BOOK I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY COMPENSATION. AT THE MOST THEY MIGHT PAY FOR PARTS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR. I AM VERY ANGRY! I AM A TEACHER, AND I COULD NOT AFFORD TO GAMBLE THAT SATURN "MIGHT PICK UP PART OF THE PRICE" MR. MCGEE SAID THEY MAY ONLY PICK UP 10%. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE PART. THE CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CRACK IS BETWEEN TWO CHAMBERS WHERE THE OIL AND COOLANT CIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE. HE OBTAINED USED REPLACEMENT PART AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS PART ALSO HAD A SIMILAR CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ENGINE PART? I AM VERY DISILLUSIONED WITH THE SATURN COMPANY. THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL AND RUDE IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND I WANT THEM TO HELP PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE CAR THAT THEY SOLD ME! PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, HEATHER RYAN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543937February 18, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL AND FUEL SYSTEMS).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834827February 16, 1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN RIDING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL UNLATCH AT ANY TIME. PLEASE ADD DETAILS AND VIN#. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703219February 12, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOR APPROX. 7 MONTH PERIOD, CRUISE CONTROL ERRATIC. WHEN ON HIGHWAY, WITH CRUISE POWER ON, AND PRESS SET SPEED, CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATES TO APPROX. 72+ MPH AND CRUISE WOULD DISENGAGE SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER EACH INCIDENT LIKE THIS, CRUISE WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. TYPICAL BEHAVIOR: GET ON HIGHWAY, GET TO 60 - 65 MPH, TURN CRUISE CONTROL POWER ON, PRESS TO SET SPEED, AND CAR ACCELERATES RAPIDLY. ALL THIS BEHAVIOR STOPPED SPONTANEOUSLY IN DECEMBER, AND NOW CRUISE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. I AM WORRIED THAT BEHAVIOR, WHICH LASTED 7 MONTHS, WILL RE-OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703222February 12, 1999
SEATS
I WAS REAR ENDED & AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT MY SEAT COMPLETLY RECLINED. WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL BECAUSE MY HANDS CAME OFF THE WHEEL. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN & WAS TOLD FROM BODY SHOP THIS WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. BUT I WAS LATER TOLD NO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THERE CARS. MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS WITH ME IN THE ACCIDENT. LUCKLY SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACKSEAT & NOT BEHIND MY SEAT WHICH COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED HER!! I WOULD APPRICIATE IT IF THIS COULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I'M TRULY AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834736February 11, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543806February 9, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831415February 9, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME OFF AND ON, AND THE OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF THE PISTONS. WHEN THE CONSUMER TAKES OFF,SMOKE COMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR. SATURN AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#834445February 3, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEATS FELL BACK INTO CHILDREN'S FACES ,AND THE CHILDREN WERE INJURED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

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