1996 Saturn SL complaints

AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND WHEN PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL,VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY HASDBEEN REPLACED. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO 70 MPH. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS ACCELERATOR PEDAL POPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. *AK *PH

I REPLACED MY BRAKES AND ROTORS TODAY. THE MECHANIC WANTED TO SHOW ME THE MESS THAT THEY WERE. I LOOKED AT THEM AND HE POINTED OUT HOW UNUSUALLY DESTROYED THE INSIDE PADS ARE. HE SAID HE RARELY SEES ANYTHING THAT BAD. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND SOME DAYS I REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET IT OUT OR GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS JUST HANGING ON BEFORE THE RUST OVERRUNS IT. *LA

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. *JB

REAR LIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT - SATURN DEALER SAID THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD BEEN BUTT-SPLICED. SINCE ONLY SATURN WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THIS WAS UNEXPLAINABLE. IT SEEMS, HOWEVER, MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THE BUTT-SPLICING IS BEING DONE BY SATURN AND BEING BLAMED ON THE CONSUMER -- AND CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER. I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM AFTER BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICE, TWICE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD HER AUTOMOBILE INSSPECTED ,AND WAS TOLD THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. SHE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER SATURN OWNER WERE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. WHAT COULD SHE DO ABOUT IT?*AK

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT MIXED TOGETHER BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. *AK *TS *JB

HORN FAILED AS IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID #98V307000. DEALER DENIES VIN PART OF RECALL. NHTSA WEB SITE LISTS "Z" FOR SATURN MODEL, WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. DEALER REQUIRED ME TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF HORN.*AK

THE ENGINE OIL AND THE ANTIFREEZE IS MIXING TOGETHER IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THE ENGINE CYCLINDER BEAD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.*AK

UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSES FROM SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE; REPAIRS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED PER CALIFORNIAS LEMON LAW FOR OUR 1996 SATURN SL1 WITH ONLY 46K MILES. ROTE TO GM & SATURN CEO'S. THEY LIE AND DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CRAPPY PRODUCT. WE WILL NEVER BUY AMERICAN AGAIN!PER MY RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THERE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT OF GOODWILL TO REIMBURSE AND FIX THE BELOW AFOREMENTIONED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN BUILDING OUR SATURN VEHICLE. THE FAILURES WE NEED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ARE: 1.STARTER REPLACEMENT: $211.08 + 45.17 = $256.25; WE WERE BROKEN DOWN AND HAD TO GET FIXED IMMEDIATELY AT A PEP BOYS SHOP, 2.NEW INTERSTATE BATTERY: $108.15; WE WERE BROKEN DOWN AND HAD TO GET FIXED IMMEDIATELY AT A CHEVRON SHOP, 3.TRANSMISSION GASKET PARTS AND LABOR: $ ~150. (TBD); ALREADY PAID AND IN SATURN DATABASE; TRANS. SEIZED UP NOW AND NEEDS $3000 WORK; SATURN WON'T PAY FOR REPAIRS, 4.ALTERNATOR PARTS AND LABOR: $176.61; WE WERE BROKEN DOWN AND HAD TO GET FIXED IMMEDIATELY AT A PEP BOYS SHOP, THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT SATURN NOW IS: 5.RADIATOR PARTS AND LABOR (SATURN WORK ORDER ESTIMATE SO# 123412): $417.16 6.OIL GASKET PARTS AND LABOR (SATURN WORK ORDER ESTIMATE SO# 126859): $ TBD 7.REPEAT TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND GASKET PARTS AND LABOR (SATURN WORK ORDER ESTIMATE SO# 126859): $ TBD, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE 18 MONTHS AGO AND IS LEAKING AGAIN! ALSO COMPLETE REBUILD/ $3000.8.FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM

1996 SATURN SL1'S HAVE A PROBLEM REFERRED TO AS "DELAYED ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE, CAUSING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION WEARING EXCESSIVELY, ALLOWING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW AROUND A POPPET BEFORE ENGAGING. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SO ARE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACES. SATURN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM THOUGH THEY HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE PROBLEM AND AT ABOUT $1000 PER REPAIR PER VEHICLE SATURN HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. *NLM

MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AT TIMES IT MUST BE SHOVED TO GO IN TO AND OUT OF REVERSE, FIRST, AND THIRD GEARS. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE AND IS AT LEAST REMOTELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30 SECONDS OR SO TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY ANY EXTERNAL SOURCE. *JB

1996 SATURN - ENGINE OIL LEAKS INTO COOLANT. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. 1997'S UNDER 100,000 MILES SATURN WOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT NOT 1996'S. *NLM

THE VEHICLES HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 98 V 307 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GRINDS. SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET IT INTO GEAR. ALL COMPONETS OF THE CLUTCH ARE FINE. *JB

THE HORN HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB

NAR 02/28/2003 MR MALFUNCTIONING ENGINE. *CB

I PURCHASED MY SATURN SL2 NEW IN 1996. AFTER 70,000 MILES IT STARTED USING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF OIL. OIL CONSUMPTION STARTED TO ECLIPSE 1 QT. FOR EVERY 500 MILES. MY OIL CHANGE SERVICE SAID SATURN ENGINES WERE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD RINGS. I TOOK TO SATURN DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A NEW ENGINE. I REPLACED ENGINE WITH A SATURN ENGINE WITH 23,000 MILES. AFTER ANOTHER 40,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE EXHIBITED THE EXACT SAME BEHAVIOR. I NOW NEED TO PURCHASE A THIRD ENGINE.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD.

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. RANDOM ACCELERATION ONE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. CC SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO DECEL BUTTON. CC SYSTEM WILL DISENGAGE WITH SYSTEM SET TO OFF. ACCELERATION ON FAILURE IS STRONG, BELIEVED TO BE A FULLY OPEN THROTTLE ON FAILURE. MR

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 1996 BRAND NEW FROM STAMFORD SATURN CAR DEALER. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED THAT MY CAR IS USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER MONTH. I REPORTED TO MY CAR DEALER THAT MY CAR IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY MONTH, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR TO THEM FOR OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY FOR SIX MONTH. I DID NOT BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER AT THAT TIME. AFTER SIX YEARS, MY CAR WAS USING 3 QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN TEN DAYS. I CALLED SATURN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE LOCAL SATURN CAR DEALER FOR HELP. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO DO TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE. I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO THE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE; AFTER THE TEAR DOWN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT, I EITHER HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED FOR $3000.00 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4300.00. I DECIDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH NEW ENGINE. THE SATURN REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT MY CAR HAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, I EXPLAINED TO THEM THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR TO USE UP 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN TEN DAYS. IN THE BEGINNING, THE SATURN REPRESENTATIVE AGREED IF THE CAR HAD OIL CONSUMPTION OR MANUFACTURER DEFECT THEY WOULD HELP WITH THE REPAIR COST. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THEY ARE NOT HELPING ME WITH THE REPAIR COST. PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND I HAVE FAMILY WIFE AND TWO YEAR OLD SON, MY WIFE CANNOT WORK FULL TIME BECAUSE SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SON. TO PAY $4300.00 IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE, PLEASE HELP. I PAID THE DEALER WITH MY AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD.*AK

WHEN GOING FROM A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED TO A LOW RATE OF SPEED (65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR 40 MPH TO 15 MPH) THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES, THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP WITHIN THE NORMAL DISTANCE . WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND SLOWING TO A RATE OF ABOUT 15 MPH ENTERING A HIGHWAY RAMP, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE WET ROADWAY WHCIH CAUSED ME TO SKID AND GO UP ONTO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAD APPROX. $2500 WORTH OF DAMGE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE 5 PEOPLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO ROADWAY CONDITIONS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 20 MPH SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN AHEAD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT THIS TIME. AGAIN, IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER.*AK

THERE IS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AND OIL IS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

ENGINE HAD A CRACKED HEAD WHICH WAS CAUSING LOSS OF OIL. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AND WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

AT 65 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL FELT HARD, AND WOULD NOT DEPRESS. DASH INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CRACKED HEAD CYLINDER CAUSED BY OIL MIXING WITH COOLENT. SATURN REFUSED TO HONOR SUPPLIMENTAL WARRANTY PROVIDED IN TSB 99P01. *AK

IN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT CAR--FORTUNATELY WHILE PARKED--THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY WENT LOOSE IN MY HAND. DISASSEMBLY REVEALS THAT THE COUPLING AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR STICK HAS A PLASTIC CLIP WHICH HAS BROKEN. A CALL TO SATURN OF HONOLULU PRODUCED THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN "GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE LATELY". THE FIX REQUIRES NEW "CABLES" AS THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH BROKE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE "CABLE"--WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A BAR TRANSLATING THE FORCE OF GEAR STICK FORWARD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY VEHICLES AS HE STATED IT COULD REPEAT EVEN AFTER THE CABLES ARE REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL IT COULD LEAVE THE DRIVER IN THE WRONG GEAR OR WORSE NOT IN ANY GEAR AND PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PIECE WHICH I WILL BE HAPPY TO E-MAIL.*AK

ON 7/20/00, 9/21/00, 8/14/01, AND 7/26/02, THE DOORS ON THIS VEHICLE DID NOT CLOSE AND SECURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DOORS MUST BE TIED SHUT WITH ROPE TO SECURE THEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS ONE INCIDENT, THE LEFT REAR DOOR OPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. PASSENGERS COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY!! SATURN STATES THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. CURRENT INCIDENT OF 7/26/02 WILL BE BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION. SATURN OF DANBURY, CT ALSO PERFORMED WORK ON VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM ( 8/14/2001). AT THIS TIME, BOTH REAR DOORS HAD ASSEMBLY AND DOOR HANDLES REPLACED. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 7/26/2002, THE PASSENGER RIGHT-FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT SECURE. PASSENGER MUST RIDE IN REAR SEAT. VEHICLE IS GARAGED YEAR ROUND AND MAINTAINED BY SATURN DEALERSHIPS IN STAMFORD AND DANBURY, CT. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK THE CURB AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE MECHANIC CUT THE AIR BAG OUT OF STEERING WHEEL AND SHOWED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT DEPLOYED CORRECTLY, HALF OF THE AIR BAG HAD STAYED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HALF THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG OR ITS DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, AND SHE THINKS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SATURN TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST. *YD

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUIT, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY COMPUTER FAILURE .*AK

MY TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING FROM LONG BEACH, CA. TO PHOENIX, AZ. WHICH IS ABOUT SIX HOURS AWAY. ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX MY TIRE BLEW OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED 2 - 3 TIMES. I EXPERIENCED MINOR INJURIES TO MY HEAD AND OTHER PLACES ON MY BODY. I ALSO EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH THAT AFFECTED MY MEMORY AND CONCENTRATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT ON THE SLANTED WINDSHIELDS CAUSING A BLINDING REFLECTION ON THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASH. *JG

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED.

CONSUMER STATED THE BENCH SEATS COLLAPSED DURING A FRONT END COLLISION, THE COLLAPSED SEAT PUSHED CONSUMERS CHILD INTO BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

ACCELERATOR ENGAGED & WOULD NOT DISENGAGE & STEERING CONTROLS FAILED. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND TO CRASH INTO CONCRETE WALL.

SPINDLE BROKE OFF WHILE SWITCHING LANES ON THE FREEWAY. WE SPUN ACROSS ALL LANES AND CRASHED INTO MIDDLE DIVIDER WALL.*AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED APPROX. 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT BECAUSE OF A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWED THE OIL AND COOLANT TO MIX. THIS NOVEMBER 2001 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE MORE. A CRACKED CYCLINDER HEAD, OIL AND COOLANT MIXED. SATURN CORP. PAID FOR 1/2 ($720) THE COST OF THE REPAIR BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY THE OTHER HALF. HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN REPORTED WITH OTHER SAME OR SIMILAR MODELS?*AK

WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED US. OUR 22-MONTH OLD SON WAS IN HIS CAR SEAT IN THE REAR, BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER OUR VEHICLE WAS HIT, THE SEAT LATCH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RELEASED. THE SEAT FULLY RECLINED, STRIKING OUR SON IN THE FACE. HE SUFFERED BROKEN BONES IN HIS FACE AS A RESULT. IF THE SEAT LATCH HAD NOT RELEASED, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED DURING THE CRASH.*AK

LOSS OF COOLANT DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN A COOL DAMP SPOT. HORN STARTED TO BLOW ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN HORN THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED DURING A 40MPH TURN ON A PAVED MOUNTAIN ROAD, TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 101F. TIRES WERE NOT UNDER INFLATED, THEY WERE ROTATED THE DAY BEFORE.*AK

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

HORN ASSEMBLY FAILED IN SAME MANNER AS RECALL, SATURN CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IN TOW WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED, THERE WERE NO INJURIES (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 15 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, CONSUMER REALIZED IT WAS BROKEN WHEN IT WOULD NOT ADJUST PROPERLY, SATURN SAID THE SEAT WAS UP TO STANDARD. *MJS

FIRESTONE TIRE, P175/70R14, EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.