1992 Saturn SL

Defect. THE GENERATOR ELECTRICAL WIRING IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE GENERATOR.

Risk. SHOULD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OCCUR IN THEGENERATOR, THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, ENOUGH HEAT COULD BE GENERATED TO IGNITE SURROUNDINGMATERIALS. IF THIS OCCURS, AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT WITH OR WITHOUT THEENGINE RUNNING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. THE GENERATOR WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL OPEN AS A FUSE WOULD UNDER CERTAIN EXCESSIVE CURRENT FLOW CONDITIONS.

Defect. THE TRANSAXLE VALVE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. VEHICLES MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK.

Risk. IF THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ORNEUTRAL, IT COULD BE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR COULD STARTIN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR MIGHT MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVE BODIES.

SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE BROKE AT SHIFTER WHILE SHIFTING DURING ACCELERATION ,MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO NO POWER AT WHEELS NEAR MISS OF BIG RIG. HAD TO DRIVE ON SIDEWALK-AND LAWN. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WE WERE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THREE LANES AND THE CAR PULLED US ACROSS THE OTHER TWO LANES, DOWN A VERY STEEP DITCH AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE WE HIT MANY SMALL TREES. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, NOR DID WE EVER TAMPER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS GETTING THE BACK DOOR AND PANEL REPLACED AND THE BACK BUMPER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL. NONETHELESS, MY WIFE AND I NEARLY LOST OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. *JB

1995 SATURN SL2, INCOMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG IN MODERATE FRONTAL COLLISION. *BF PORTIONS OF THE AIR BAG FABRIC MELTED THE INTERNAL COMPONETS OF THE MODULE. *JB

THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AND COLLAPSED DURING A MINOR FENDER BENDER. *MR THE SEAT COLLAPSED. DUE TO POOR INADEQUATE WELDS. *SC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED AND THE DRIVERSIDE SEAT BACK COLLASPED. THE BACK OF THE SEAT SLAMMED DOWN SO HARD THAT IF A PASSENGER WAS SITTING THERE THERE LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. "POOR DESIGN", STATES CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER DRIVER, THE VEHICLES DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ON TO THE REAR BENCH SEAT. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED WITH REAR PASSENGERS BEING INJURED BY SEAT BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND WHEN THE SEAT RECLINED, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING STEERING LINKAGE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTNER BROKE RENDERING SHIFTER INOPERABLE. *AK

ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS IT BEING THE BRAKE BOOSTER DIAPHRAM THAT IS WORN AND LEAKING. THE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE CHECK VALVE GROMMET IS TORN. *JG *AK

FRAME OF DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS WAS A BREAK THROUGH THE STEEL U-CHANNEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT JUST BELOW WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE TUBULAR STEEL TOP PIECE. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NEVER FAIL EVEN UNDER THE STRESS OF A REAR END COLLISION LET ALONE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEFECT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT AND IF IT OCCURED DURING A REAR END COLLISION AN UNECESSARY INJURY WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED.*AK

BRAKES FAILED AND BUMPER IS 36 INCHES LONG AND SIDES HAVE NO BUMPER PROTECTION.

SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT ABLE TO LOCK INTO BUCKLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK STITCHING ON SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE CAME APART. *YD

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY, IT GETS STUCK IN ANY POSITION.ALSO, SINCE JULY 2001 DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR GETS IN OPEN POSITION CLOSE TO WINDSHIELD. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME, BUT WAS REPAIRED 1 YEAR AGO, COSTING $800. COMPUTER CONTROLS DOME LIGHTS/ CHIMES/ LOCKS AND SEAT BELT. SATURN HASN'T HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. *AK

WE MOVED FROM LOUISIANA TO ARIZONA AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED OIL IN COOLANT-REPLACED HEAD GASKET NO NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN HEAD, VEHICLE NEVER OVER HEATED WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. LEFT FRONT SEAT IN A PERMANENT SLANT BACKWARD.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RAN OFF ROAD AND HIT STUMP< BURST INTO FIRE WITHIN SECONDS>AIRBAG FAILED. *AK

ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND BATTERY REPLACED 5 TIMES. NOW EXPERIENCING SURGING, HESITATION AND STALLING, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE AFTER FOUR TRIPS. *AK

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

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RETRACT, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID TRACK WAS BENT.*AK

SINCE 1993 THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO HEAT RELATED ISSUES. CJ

SUN ROOF HAD FALLEN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF THIS SITUATION. *AK

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

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.

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)

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

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED. MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK *SLC

ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. HEAD GASKET PROBABLY RUPTURED.

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 -

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

NO SUMMARY

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.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. JUST GAVE UP ON CONSUMER WHERE NEITHER OF THE FRONT MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ARE WORKING. *AK

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

LEFT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF AXLE CAUSING CAR TO SLIDE ACROSS GRASSED

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

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

WHEN CAR IS IDLING IT GOES TO 2RPM'S THEN BACK TO 1RPM, THEN SERVICE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. *AK

SECOND FAILURE IN THIS SEAT WITHIN ONE MONTH. NO INCIDENT. I THINK THAT CRASH PROTECTION IS LOST WHEN THE SEAT FRAME FAILS.

AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICIED ENGINE WAS BURNING TWO QUARTS OF OIL FROM THE EXHAUST EVERY 2000 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND WAS TOLD THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY THINK IT COULD BE A LEAKING VALVE STEM OR VALVE GUIDES, BUT THEY NEEDED TO DO A COMPRESSION TEST, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT A 1,000. *AK

SATURNED REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE COSTS

SEAT RECLINED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL,

65 DIFFERENT MAJOR REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. SEVERAL WERE REPAIRED WHILE UNDERWARRENTY AND NOW DEFECTIVE AGAIN. DEALER AND COMPANY IS NO HELP.

DURING A RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC. DID AN INSPECTION AND TOLD HER WIPER ASSEMBLY LINKAGE APPEARED TO BE BROKEN AND POSSIBLE THE WIPER MOTOR. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK IS CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME STUCK IN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT POSITION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. UPON COMING TO A STOP, DRIVER'S SEAT JUST BROKE LIKE A RECLINER, AND A PIECE OF MEDAL CAME THROUGH THE SEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BACK OF FRONT SEAT BROKEN, DEFECTED OTHERS IN 1993. *AK