Page 2 of 3 · complaints 51–100 of 123

1992 Saturn SL complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1992 record →

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 16, 1999MN

WHEN RIDING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT, SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL UNLATCH AT ANY TIME. PLEASE ADD DETAILS AND VIN#. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Feb 2, 1999UT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 19, 1998MO

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH THREE SEALS AND THE VALVES BURNED OUT, AND IT REDUCED THE POWER. THE DEALER STATES NEEDS ENGINE OVERHAUL. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Oct 30, 1998NY

SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING POWER STEERING, ANTI LOCK BRAKES AND WATER PUMP TO FAIL, RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Oct 20, 1998NY

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE KEY IN THE INGITION AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP AND WAS REPAIED. THE SHOP REPAIRED THE HARNESS AND NOW THE ELECTRICAL ITEM'S DON'T WORK. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Oct 13, 1998FL

ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 6, 1998NY

VEHICLE STARTED TO GRADUALLY VIBRATE DUE TO MOTOR MOUNT BOLT MISSING, AND ONE WAS BROKE IN HALF.SATURN CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 14, 1998NY

THE CAR OVERHEATED DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK CRACKING. DEALER WILL REPLACE DAMAGED PARTS. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Sep 1, 1998FL

ALTERNATOR FAILED, REPLACED AND CONTINUED TO FAIL.

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm3 injured
Filed Aug 19, 1998OK

STEERING KNUCKLE SNAPPED CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. QCAW

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 20, 1998VT

ABS SENSOR AND BRAKE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO BRACKETS WHICH HAVE FALLEN OFF, AND CAUSING CABLES TO SHEAR OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES AND CONTROL. CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE REPAIRS DUE TO WRAPPED ROTORS AND PADS WEARING PREMATURELY, CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TT

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jul 1, 1998NY

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARD INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 17, 1998CO

THE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT TRACKS BROKE , CAUSING THE BELTS TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Wheels
Filed Jun 4, 1998MA

LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

WheelsCrash1 injured
Filed May 28, 1998MA

CONSUMER WAS EXITING ONTO A RAMP ABOUT 30-40 MPH WHEN A WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND BOUNCE OF A CONCRETE WALL. DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed May 21, 1998NJ

SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED DUE TO STIFF POWER STEERING.

Seat Belts
Filed May 11, 1998UT

MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 11, 1998UT

COOLING SYSTEM OVERHEATED 3 TIMES CAUSING AIR DAM TO FALL OFF.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed May 11, 1998UT

FRONT DISC BRAKE PULSATION/VIBRATION.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 1998FL

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTENER BROKE RENDERING SHIFTER INOPERABLE

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 1998FL

SHIFTER CABLE END FASTENER BROKE, RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 23, 1998FL

HEAD GASKET IS VERY POROUS CAUSING LEAKS WHICH MADE WATER FLOW INTO THE OIL AND OIL FLOW INTO THE RADIATOR.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 10, 1998VA

POOR STEERING CONTROL.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Oct 15, 1997WI

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT OR CLOSE. *AK

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 24, 1997KY

DRIVER'S SEAT TWISTED DURING A CLASH, CAUSING BACK INJURY TO PASSENGER. ALSO, LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *AK

Seat Belts1 injured
Filed Aug 18, 1997MN

UPON TURNING KEY IN IGNITION, PASSENGER, OUT OF HABIT, REACHE DOVER RIGHT SHOULDER TO GRAB SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT LIKE SHE WAS IN HER OWN VEHICLE. HOWEVER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WAS OPERATING AT SAME INSTANT, AND CONTACTED WITH PASSENGER'S RIGHT INDEX FINGER, PARTIALLY SEVERING THE TIP. ONCLEAR WHETHER FINGER WAS INJURED BY SOMETHING ON MOTORIZED BELT OR BY SHARP EDGES AT LOCKING END OF CARRIER TRACK. *AK

Electrical System › WiringCrash
Filed Aug 7, 1997TX

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 21, 1997MD

THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT AND OIL TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE COOLANT.

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 20, 1997NJ

MOTORIZED LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE GOT STUCK IN THE TRACK. *AK

Wheels
Filed Jan 30, 1997NY

RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Dec 30, 1996NY

POOR TRACTION ON WET PAVEMENT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 6, 1996NY

ENGINE OIL PUMP FAILURE, INTERIOR WARNING LIGHT DIES NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE WHEN THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE. AK

Wheels1 injured
Filed Oct 18, 1996NY

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HAD COME OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WAS FACING OUTWARD WITH PART OF THE AXLE STILL CONNECTED, RESULTING IN COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball JointCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 9, 1996NY

SUSPENSION FAILURE , THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT CRACKED, WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE SWIRLED TO RIGHT, IMPACT 1:00 POSITION, SPEED 20MPH. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 4, 1996MI

THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Aug 14, 1996CA

DRIVER REPLACED BATTERIES 4 TIMES, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN 2ND GEAR, REPLACED GENERATOR WIRING AS PER SERVICE RECALL, ALSO REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS AND BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 13, 1996MN

PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELT LOCKS DRIVER IN PLACE AND KEY MUST BE TURNE DIN IGNITION TO RELEASE DRIVER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel Cylinders
Filed Jul 10, 1996WI

WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKS. *SD

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 27, 1996MA

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED FROM CENTER AND BROKE INTO HALF, ALSO THE COVERS THAT PROTECT THE MOTORIZED TRACK RUN IN FRONT SEATS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed May 22, 1996VA

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 13, 1996OR

PISTON RINGS FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN OIL EXCESSIVELY. *DH

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 26, 1996NY

MOTORBELT FAILURE CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 16, 1996NY

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE CRACKED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Apr 4, 199600

SQUEAKING SOUND COMES FROM BRAKES AREA; METAL TO METAL LIKE GRABBING NOISE; ROTORS REPLACED; PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1 injured
Filed Mar 26, 1996PA

DRIVER'S BACK REST COLLAPSED WHEN REAR ENDED, CAUSING INJURY. *SD

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 22, 1996WI

PASSIVE RESTRAINTS FAIL TO COMPLETE CYCLE AROUND DRIVER. DRIVER MENTIONS STRIKING HEAD AGAINST BUCKLE THAT HANGS MIDWAY. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 20, 1996OH

THE AUTOMATIVE SEAT WILL NOT WORK THE SEAT BELTS ARE SURPOSE TO SLIDE BY THEY JUST GET STUCK AND YOU HAVE TO PULL THEM. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 20, 1996NJ

SEATBELT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLES WILL NOT FASTEN. TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Feb 13, 1996NY

AFTER BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE-THEY FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING-NO INJURIES WAS SUSTAINED. TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 12, 1996MD

THE ENGINE BOLT BROKE . TT

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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