1997 Saturn SL complaints

CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION.

RANDOMLY, USUALLY ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS, I WILL START MY CAR. IT WILL START, BUT IT STARTS "FUNNY." IT DOESN'T HIT THE USUAL HIGH RPMS AND WILL IDLE LOW. IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT WILL USUALLY RUN WITH LOW RPMS. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, IT WILL IDLE LOW AND SOMETIMES STALL. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT OR COLD. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5-10 TRIES TO START THE CAR AT ALL. OF COURSE, MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY SATURN OF GAITHERSBURG, SATURN OF SILVER SPRING, AND GRAEVES AUTO IN OLNEY.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1997 SATURN SL STOPPED AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN. AD TO TO AN EMERGENCY PULL OVER WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUT MY WINDOW. LUCKY TO FIND A SPOT WHILE NOT BEING HIT BY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *AK

ALTERNATOR FELL OFF BROKE FROM ENGINE BRACKET. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK

WE BROUGHT OUR SATURN INTO THE OAKLAND, CA DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED SOME LEAKS AND CLUTCH / GEAR ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS. INITIAL QUOTE FROM THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER FOR REPAIR IS $2600.00+. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 12/31/02, AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE 94,904 MILE MARK. AT THE 91,328 MILEAGE MARK, THE DEALER PERFORMED AN "87,000 MILE" SERVICE, NOT A "90,000 MILE" SERVICE. WHY DIDN'T THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORM MY DAUGHTER THAT THE "90,000 MILE" SERVICE WAS DUE, WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION SERVICE? FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THIS APPEARS TO BE A CASE OF THIS DEALERSHIP NOT TRAINING THEIR SERVICE ADVISORS PROPERLY TO ADVISE A CUSTOMER REGARDING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE 94,904 MILE MARK, AND IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT IF THE DEALER HAD PERFORMED THE "90,000 MILE" SERVICE WHEN THE CAR WAS AT THE 91,328 MILEAGE MARK AND INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION THESE PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND REPAIRED WHILE THE CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SATURN HAS ISSUED AT LEAST ONE DOZEN SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF THIS TRANSMISSION SEVERAL TARGETED TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF TRANSMISSION LEAKS AND REPAIRS. DOES THIS SATURN DEALER HAVE A PATTERN OF NOT INFORMING FEMALE CUSTOMERS ABOUT RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE? IS THIS AN ISSUE AT OTHER SATURN DEALERS? IS THIS A CASE OF GENDER BIAS SINCE THE MALE SERVICE ADVISOR DID NOT COMMUNICATE THE FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS TO A FEMALE CUSTOMER? MAINTENANCE WORK BY THE SATURN OAKLAND

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO MY VEHICLE. EARLIER THIS WEEK I PURCHASED A USED SATURN FROM A DEALERSHIP IN FULL WORKING CONDITION. WHEN I CAME HOME TO SHOW THE REST OF MY FAMILY THE VEHICLE, WE ALL WENT FOR A RIDE. MY BROTHER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND MY MOTHER IN THE BACK SEAT. AFTER ARRIVING BACK TO MY HOUSE MY BROTHER AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE, WHILE MY MOTHER STRUGGLED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME SHE PULLED THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE LOCK BUTTON DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HANDLE WOULD CATCH AND REMAINED LOCKED. MY BROTHER AND I WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE VEHICLE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE EITHER UNTIL ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AFTER NUMEROUS UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS. THIS FRIGHTENED OUR FAMILY QUITE A BIT AND POSES A POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR PASSENGERS THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SATURN FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY $85/DOOR TO HAVE THEM TAKE APART THE DOOR TO APPROACH THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR AND AN IRRESPONSIBLE ATTEMPT ON THEIR PART TO RESOLVE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TORQUE AXIS MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AT 30,000 MILES AND AT 60,000 MILES. MR SCC

GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR THE REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CAR CAUSING A CRASH. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE BACK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARD.DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE PEDAL,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM.RESULTING IN BACK INJURIES. MR

APPROXIMATELY TWO QUARTS OIL CONSUMPTION EVERY 3000 MILES. PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS '92 SATURN SL1 AND MY CURRENT CAR '1997 SATURN SL2.*AK

HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. *AK

THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE SHIFTED CABLE BUSHING (WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC) BROKE PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. NLM

SEATBACK FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE PUT IN THE RECLINEPOSITION/ UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR.*AK

AT START UP HORN SOUNDED, THEN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER: FOUL SMELL LIKE CAT PEE/AMMONIA AFTER USING A/C. REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER; THEY REMOVED A/C PARTS AND CLEANED EVAPORATOR, ETC BUT SMELL PERSISTS. UNSAFE FOR OWNER'S HEALTH TO USE A/C; ODOR CAUSES HEADACHE AND BREATHING TROUBLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD WAY TO HARD AND THAT WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ON COMING TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK, AND THIS WAS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO RADIATOR FLUID. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD BURN UP. *AK *YH

VALVE BODY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUT INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WE GOT CAR FROM SATURN OF WARWICK LEASED THEN BOUGHT OUTRIGHT . THE SERVICE ISSUE WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL WAS DONE AT THE SATURN OF SEEKONK LOC. IT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE. ON JAN, 16, 2002 WE HAD TO BRING THE SATURN IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WE STARTED THAT DAY LOOSING ANTI FREEZE QUICKLY THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT BUT DID NOT OVER HEAT, MEANWHILE THE REGULAR HEAT CONTROL DIDNT WORK 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND WE HAD IT SHEDULED FOR SERVICE THAT COMING SAT. WE DROP IT OFF, CAR RUNNING HOT BUT NEVER OVERHEATED THE TECH ONLY PUT THAT IN HIS REPORT . KEEP IN MIND WE HAD NO SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY DEALER LETTING US KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE RUN SLUGGISH, NOT STARTING AT ALL ETC. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN 900 MILES UP AND BACK OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS. THE TECH CONTACTS DAVID MY HUSBAND THE NEXT DAY TO TELL HIM THE PROBLEM . THE TECH STATES WE HAVE A CRACKED HEAD AND EVEN THOUGH ITS OUT OF MANF. WARRANTY SATURN WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY SUDDENLY I GET A CALL AT MY WORK THE SERVICE TECH SAYS FOUND MORE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH ENGINE THAT IT HAD BEEN BURN OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TOGETHER WHICH NO EVIDENCE OF THIS EXISTED, DIDNT SEEM RIGHT STATING WE REALLY NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH RUNSABOUT $3200.00 AND THEY SAY THEY WONT REPLACE IT INSTEAD REBUILD IT IF WE MAKE A DONATION OF $600. TO SATURN. WE KNOW THIS WASN'T RIGHT FROM THE START THEY COULD'NT TELL US WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD BLAMED IT ON POOR MAINT. AND CLAIMED TO BE DOING US A

HEAD GASKET LEAKING - REPLACED (COST ABOUT $1200). *AK

CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE BETWEEN LUBRICATION PORTS AND COOLING SYSTEM, RESULTING IN CONTAMINATION OF COOLING SYSTEM WITH OIL.

VEHICLE HIT A CURVE AT 10 MPH CAUSING AIR BAGS TO UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE PASSENGER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY BROKE, DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE ON 12/30/2001 MILEAGE 120,000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. VEHICLE IS BURNING MORE OIL THAN REQUIRED. ALSO CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHERE OIL IS GOING ,VEHICLE IS NOT LEAKING NOR SMOKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID TEST ON ENGINE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG.*AK

MANUAL SEAT TRACK WILL NOT LOCKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TAKE OFF AND BRAKING WOULD CAUSE IT TO LOCK IN PLACE. I WAS ADJUSTING IT THE OTHER DAY BEFORE DRIVING AND IT BROKE. NOW IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AT ALL.*AK

THIS VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL--I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2,000 TO 3,000 MILES BUT I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY WEEK--THERE IS NO OIL LEAK THAT IS VISIBLE AND ON ACCASSIO I HAVE HAD NO OIL BUT THE DAY OR SO BEFORE IT IS READING THAT THE OIL IS FULL. *AK

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WAS THE FORWARD GEARS WHICH FAILED AND WERE NOT WORKING. DEALSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, 15 INCH TIRE, CLAIM 18-0556-875. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, 15 INCH TIRE, CLAIM 18-0556-875. *SLC

SINCE 1999 THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAVE BEEN TURNED AND THEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH 3 SETS OF NEW BRAKES THAT WERE BAD WHEN TAKEN OFF, ALONG WITH THAT TIRE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE. NOW THERE IS A SEVERE VIBRATION THEN FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER AND RPM'S GO CONTINUOUSLY UP AND DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDENS UP.*AK

THE REAR SEAT BELTS(OUTBOARD) DO NOT FIT A SMALLER ADULT(5 FT) PROPERLY. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO ADJUST THEM.

THE SUBMARINE SEATING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL CAR SEATS. MANUALS DO NOT GIVE SUGGESTIONS OR NUMBER TO CONTACT TO HAVE SEAT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALSO, FOR SMALLER ADULTS, THE REAR SEATS ARE DIPPED SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS DON'T GIVE A PROPER FIT.*AK

I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 1996. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALL OF WHICH I AM TOLD IF THEY CAN'T FIND IT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I STOPPED TAKING MY CAR TO THEM BECASUE THAT WAS WHAT THEY TOLD ME - I HAVE LOGGED COMPLAINTS TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ONLINE AND THEY TOLD ME I CAN NOT HAVE COPIES OF THOSE RECORDS - RECENTLY, I WAS LEFT STRANDED AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW $3800.00 ENGINE, MY HUSBAND WENT AND GOT THE CAR - IT WORKS FINE!!!!!!!!! NO NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WHEN I SOPKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AND OWNER THEY SAID OOPS BDA DIAGNOSIS - WHAT ID I HAD PAID THAT MONEY TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPAIRED? THEY STILL SAY THERE ISN'T AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MY CAR AND IF I WANT I CAN BRING IT UP WHENEVER THE ELECTRICAL GUY IS THERE NEXT. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SATURNS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELEIVE THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND BY "NOT FINDING IT" THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR CAR DIES FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE FRREEWAY - OR YOUR BRAKES COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE MOVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT....... - I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *AK

FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO RE-ENGAGE AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. NLM

SATURN ARE AN EASY CAR TO STEAL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SO THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2000 MODELS. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH FOR 109.46 DOLLARS.

WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT SIDE ,AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO CHECK TIRES SIZEP18565R15, DOT# NOT AVAILABLE. TIRES WERE ROTATED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIND PROBLEM IN TIRES. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AGAIN. VEHICLE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. DEALER STATED LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A DEFECT. CONSUMER CONTACTED SEARS, AND SEARS ROTATED TIRES AGAIN, AND COULDNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE. *AK THEY REPLACED THE TIRE THE NEXT DAY. *YH

CONSUMER REQUESTING THAT AN ON/OFF SWITCH BE ADDED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG.

THE WHINE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. *YH

I HAD TO HAVE CONSTANT SERVICING DONE W/CAR IN SHOP OVER A 1 YR PERIOD FOR UP TO 1 WK @ A TIME W/ FAILURE IN SYSTEMS LISTED BRAKES & TIRES NOT COVERED W/WARRANTY THOUGH ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE ANOTHE DEALER SERVICED CAR ORIG. DEALER WOULD NOT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 175-75-14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175-75-14 )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON, CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T LET UP. SHE TURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF, AND SHE APPLIED BRAKES. IT TOOK TEN MINUTES TO STOP.*AK

TRAVELING EAST ON I-75 BETWEEN NAPLES, FLORIDA AND FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M. I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO SEE TREAD FLYING UP FROM UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW MY FRONT LEFT TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY. I COULD EVEN SEE THE STEEL RADIALS EXPOSED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2EPBCA466 TIRESIZE: 175/70 R14)

THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN STEERING, AND THERES AVERY LOUD POPING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL.*AK

VEHICLE'S FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CLOCK EVEN RESETS. CAUSING CAR TO SHUT OFF. POWER STEERING/ BRAKES/ RADIO/ AIR CONDITIONER/ HEADLIGHTS, ETC. FAIL. BEGAN AROUND 30,000 MILES. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED, DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

TRUNK LID FAILS TO STAY OPEN, FALLS ON HEADS AND NECKS.. *AK