1995 Saturn SL complaints

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, AND PROCEEDING THROUGH TRAFFIC, TOOK EYES OFF THE ROAD AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. ALSO, ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED. A TSB WAS ISSUED ON THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING, ENGINE CUTS OFF. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CAN'T FIND CAUSE. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY AND THE SEAT-BACK SLIPS REARWARD WHEN MINOR FORCE IS APPLIED. I CONTACTED SATURN (ROBERT HALL) REGARDING REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V045000. HE STATED THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT AT THEIR COST. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE COMPANY'S POSITION IS THAT THE SEAT-BACK RECLINER MECHANISM IS A "WEAR PART" AND THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS 5-YEARS OLD, THIS KIND OF WEAR IS EXPECTED. I DISAGREE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 11/94. THE ORIGINAL RECALL COVERED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED 1/94 -8/94. IF ANYTHING, MY CAR IS NEWER AND THE MECHANISM SHOULD HAVE LESS WEAR. MR HALL FURTHER STATED THAT THE HIGH MILES INDICATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE EXPECTED TO FAIL. AGAIN, I DISAGREE. THE SEAT-BACK MECHANISM IS GENERALLY ADJUSTED ONLY ONCE EACH TRIP (OFTEN NOT AT ALL). UNLESS THE PART IS DESIGNED TO FAIL THROUGH NORMAL WEAR, IT SHOULD NOT FAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE THE AVERAGE TRIP LENGTH IS LONGER, AS OCCURS ON THE RELETIVELY LONG COMMUTES IN ALASKA. MR HALL STATED THAT THE PROBLEM "LOT" OF FAULTY SEAT-BACK MECHANISMS WAS FOUND AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT THE FACTORY ON MY CAR. ONE MORE TIME, I DISAGREE. I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUED TO INSTALL FAULTY SEAT-BACK RECLINER MECHANISMS AFTER AUGUST 1994. I REQUEST THAT THE ORIGINAL RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE AND ANY OTHER THAT SUFFER FROM THE SAME SA

WHILE IDLING IN PARK POSITION ENGINE BEGAN RACING ON ITS OWN ACCORD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DEALERSHIP ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. PUT IT IN PARK AND GOT THE SERVICE MANAGER TO OBSERVE. HE HAD NO EXPLANATION. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. NOT SURE OF THE DAMAGES OR IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON FEB. 24, I WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE IMPACT PUSHED MY CAR INTO THE INTERSECTION AHEAD OF ME. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HOWEVER, MY DRIVER'S SEAT WAS FORCED INTO THE FULLY RECLINING POSITION AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE - NOT EVEN A SCRATCH. MY 2-YEAR DAUGHTER WAS SEATED IN HER CAR SEAT, LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, OR IF THE CHILD CAR SEAT WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE FORCE OF THE FRONT SEAT SUDDENLY AND FORCEFULLY RECLINING ONTO HER LEGS. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF TRANSPORTING MY DAUGHTER IN MY SATURN. AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAVE MOVED THE CAR SEAT TO THE CENTER POSITION. BUT THE SEAT DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY THERE - IT MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EVEN IN THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS HIT THE EDGES OF THE CAR SEAT WHEN THEY ARE RECLINED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DUE TO A ENGINE PISTON WEARING OUT. *AK

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND LOST POWER. PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO FIND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND PARTS OF THE HOUSING ON THE HIGHWAY.ALSO FOUND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSMISION PARTS FARTHER UP THE ROAD. *AK

VEHICLE IS BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL WHICH HAS CAUSED ENGINE TO LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE PADS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON ITS OWN ACCORD, WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

DRIVER IS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN ANY POSITON WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH OR WITHOUT THE IGNITIN BEING ON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEABACKT REST TO COLLAPSE; SITUATION ALMOST CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. DRIVER SUSTAINED LOWER BACK INJURY AND NUMBNESS IN LEFT LEG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE AS PART OF MFR. RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE REAR DEFROSTER FAILED CAUSING, WINDOWS TO FROST.

CAR LOSES POWER /A SLIGHT GAS SMELL /CAR CUTS OUT/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/ STARTS AGAIN AFTER A FEW TRIES/ CAR HAS BEENSERVICED 4 TIMES/IT RUNS WELL SOMETIMES/ THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN/MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS/WHEN HE HAS CAR IT DOES NOT DO IT/HE DOES SEE GAS ALL OVER ENGINE A FEW TIMES/

AFTER BARELY TWO YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY; IT NOW SELDOM WORKS. BEFORE THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES, THE SUNROOF WOULD GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION WHENEVER IT WAS USED. EVENTUALLY, AFTER A SATURN DEALER CLAIMED IT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE SUNROOF BECAME PERMANENTLY STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR . THE DELAER HAS CHANGED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES FIVE TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO SATURN THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH 3RD GEAR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1600. TO FIX. WE WENT FOR A SECOND OPINION AT THE HEMET CA. AAMCO. THEY VEIFIED THE PROBLEM AND "REPAIRED" IT FOR $1000. AT THE TIME IT SATIFIED US AS SATURN TOLD US IT WOULD BE $1600. JUST TO LOOK AND MORE IF THE PROBLEM WAS BIG. UNFORTUNATELY THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO SLIP AGAIN. WE HAVEN'T CALLED AAMCO YET. WE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN VEHICLE! WE GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM THE AAMCO PEOPLE THAT THIS WASN'T AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD RUN UP AGAINST. I AM SOMEWHAT DISATISFIED WITH THE SATURN CAR AND PEOPLE AS WE'VE HAD TO DO A LOT MORE WORK ON THE CAR THAN EXPECTED AND DEFINATELY MORE THAN THEY LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ADVERTISING. SHAME ON ME FOR BELEIVING THEM! WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 3 TIMES WITH NO EXPLANATION, REPLACE A MOTOR MOUNT, AND REPLACE A BELT TENSIONER. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILES IT IS NOT HEAVILY USED. PLEASE SEND ANY INFO YOU CAN. THANKS!

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END COLLISON AT A SPEED OF 30-35 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT WILL COLLAPSE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A VERY MINOR CRASH WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 15 MPH. DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED. PLEASE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHENEVER IN SLOW TRAFFIC. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED HER CAR WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE .

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL BACK WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY. OCCUPANT HAD TO APPLIED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, AND PUT IT IN "PARK" POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK.ET.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AFTER REACHING 65MPH. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD COME ON PRIOR TO SHUTTING OFF. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED & 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON 27 MAY 1999 & NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME. *AK

BRAKE LINES EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 40 MPH, CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE. *AK

ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE MOUNTS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE WAITING ON TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE ;CAUSES DRIVER SEAT TO FALL BACKWARD AND INJURY CONSUMER BACK. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED.

NOT COVERED UNDER EXISTING RECALL PER DEALER,BUT SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER RECALLED MODELS OF SAME YEAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE NOISE WAS HEARD AND VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON STEERING GEAR BOX FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. RECALL 94V170. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, IT'S BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES. IT OVERHEATED, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AND THEN THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT.

THIS PART WAS OBVIOUSLY RECALLED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION, HOWEVER, SATURN OF FREDERICKSBURG DENIES THAT THEY HAVE TO FIX IT. INSTEAD, THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS WRONG FOR A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND THE DEALER CAN OFFER NO CAUSE, SEALED TRANSMISSION

THERE IS A RECALL ON 94-95 SATURNS FOR THIS UNUSUAL PROBLEM. OUR VIN IS ABOUT 60 NUMBERS OFF FROM THE LIST. IT IS TOO WIERD OF A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SAME THING THAT'S BEING RECALLED. SATURN WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY ARE REQUIRING US TO PAY A FEE EQUAL TO AN EXTENDED WARRENTY DEDUCTIBLE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY REFUSED TO AT LEAST EXAMINE THE SUSPECT PART AND PROVE TO US IT IS NOT IN THE RECALL. PLEASE HELP.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING PIN OR ROD TO BREAK OFF RESULTING IN HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASING.

ENGINE HEAD WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK IN THE 5TH JOURNAL. CAR RUNNING NORMALLY, WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE PRESENCE OF OIL IN THE COOLANT. NO TRAUMA OCCURED TO THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN CRACK. ALL SUGGESTED REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. LIGHT DRIVING WITH NO INSULT TO VEHICLE TO STRESS ENGINE. REPAIR INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE HEAD AND ENTIRE COOLANT SYSTEM.

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 T

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

SEAT LATCH FAILED DUE TO WEAK PLASTIC MATERIAL (WHICH BROKE), CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE.

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.

THE COST TO HAVE THE SEATBELT REMOVED AND REPLACED $119.27

ENGINE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON; VEHICLE HAD OIL AT PREVIOUS CHECK, AND NO OIL SPOTS WERE SEEN. YET, AFTER TRAVELLING 1/4 OF MILE, ENGINE DIED AND MECHANIC REPORTED NO OIL AND NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *AK

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BOLT WAS STRIPPED OFF,CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER RETAINING NUT ON LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED.