1999 Saturn SL complaints

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING AND BRAKES ALSO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED BY #5 CYLINDER BY CAM JOURNAL ON A 1999 SATURN SL-1 4 DOOR SEDAN WITH 54,950 MILES. DEALER COST WAS $2,100.00, SATURN COVERED $700.00. DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT YET HAD THE REPLACEMENT HEAD ASSEMBLY IN STOCK. *JB

WHILE DRIVINT BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MPH RIGHT AXLE SPINDLE BROKE, DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RESONATOR CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE RESONATOR CRACKED. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE RESONATOR WELDED BUT THE DEALER SUGGESTED A NEW RESONATOR BECAUSE THEY WERE REDESIGNED AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD ONES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER REALIZED THERE WAS A FLAW WITH THE RESONATORS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

I HAVE BEEN ADDING COOLANT CONSTANTLY. I TOOK CAR FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING. SATURN ISSUED A BULLETIN 01-T-07 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SENSOR PROBLEM. THEY WILL ONLY REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER IF IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I AM UPSET BECAUSE I CONTINUE TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT I PROBABLY DON'T NEED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND.*AK

SATURN WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK AND WATER IN THE OIL. OVER HEATING REALLY BAD THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND NOT START UNTIL COOL, AND IT BOILS OVER IN THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK. OCTOBER '03 HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND THE HEADS SENT OFF FOR SERVICE, ONE MONTH LATER, ITS BACK TO LEAKING OIL IN THE COOLANT AND WATER IN THE OIL. OXYGEN SENSOR WENT OUT, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED AND SO DID THE IGNITION MODULAR, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JB

1999 SATURN SL1 -OVERHEATING, WATERPUMP, RADIATOR FAN MOTOR, THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR ALL REPLACED WITH FACTORY PARTS. STILL OVERHEATING. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED HEAD - SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS EXPERIENCED ON EARLIER MODELS WHER THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO SIX YEARS/100,000 MILES. *AK

EXPLOSION IN TRANSMISSION OF 1999 SATURN SL2. *JB

ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN REMOVING FOOT FROM THROTTLE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. *LA

A MIXTURE OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE WERE NOTED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD WAS CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD AND COOLING SYSTEM HOSES ONLY. NOW 10,000 MILES LATER I AM HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE INFORMED ME THAT THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE IS GONE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT THE DEALER (SATURN OF MORRISTOWN, NJ) SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE INSTEAD OF JUST THE TOP HALF. *LA

AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AT 4 YEARS, 4 MONTHS. NEW COMPRESSOR NEEDED, ACCORDING TO BOTH SATURN DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE. NOT YET REPLACED. WAITING TO SEE IF THERE IS A HIDDEN SERVICE BULLETIN BY WHICH SATURN WILL REPLACE AT REDUCED COST.

I PURCHASED A 1999 SATURN SL2 W/ 23,000MI. AT 60,000MI I BEGAN TO FEEL A JUDDER/VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO A SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WE'RE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD NON-OEM BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED AND AFTER APPROXIAMETELY 65,000MI, BEGAN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WITH THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT MY ROTORS KEEP WARPING. THE REPAIR SHOP CUT THE ROTORS "SLIGHTLY" AND NOW AT 70,000MI I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS DEFINIETLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ROTORS DO WARP BUT THEY SHOULD LAST FOR APPROX. 70,000MI, AND I SHOULD NOT BE FEELING THE JUDDER/VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ENGINE WAS VERY LOUD, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO FOUND NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THREE QUARTS WERE ADDED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT. TWO DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING. THE CONSUMER ADDED COOLANT, BUT DRIVING UNDER THREE MILES VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT OIL AND COOLANT WERE MIXING TOGETHER IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK

THE IGNITION CYLINDER IN THE STEERING COLUMN JAMMED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP; THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER/LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS ONLY 47,616 MILES.*AK

ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 50587 MILES.*AK

COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING.*MR THE CONSUMERS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING IN THE DASH. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL DEVELOPMENT LOOP HAD LOW RESISTANCE AND THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE AS TO WHY THE LIGHT CONTINUE TO FLASH ON AND OFF. *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED WAS HEARING POWER STEERING 'WHINING'. WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO RIGHT IT DID NOT RESPOND, NOR DID IT TURN TO THE LEFT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *PH. LAST FEBRUARY THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *AK AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" FROM ILLUMINATING, THE MECHANIC FINALLY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER FELT THE RECALL SHOULD GO BACK A FEW MORE YEARS. *PH *JB

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP MOTOR REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

COSCO MODEL 02-452 WAL, MANUFACTURING DATE UNKNOWN. WHEN THE BOOSTER SEAT WAS INSTALLED USING THE VEHICLE SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE BELT WAS STUCK. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD GO INTO THE BELT POSITIONER TO BUCKLE THE CHILD TIGHT, BUT IF THE CHILD MOVED, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER MOVED AND REMAINED LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE SHOULDER BELT TO NOT RETRACT. *SCC *JB

THERE WAS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT" ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WANTED $66.50 AN HOUR TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

BAD BEARING IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION- ESTIMATE AROUND $1000-OPTIONS: TAKE TIS ONE APART OR BUY USED TRANSMISSION- THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR THIS NEW- CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 48000 MILES YET. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30MPH, STARTING HEAR A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOOK IMMEDIATELY TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND PROBLEM WITH DEFECTED FRONT AXLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS CONSUMER WAS TOLD HUMAN ERROR, SEAL WASN'T PACKED WITH ENOUGH GREASE AT THE FACTORY. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR HALF OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS WHICH TOTALED $240.30. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS FAILURE IS REAR AND HAPPENS IN OLDER MODEL VEHICLES AND EVEN THAT IS REAR. *PH

AFTER BOTH MY CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT TIMES TOLD ME THAT I HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCING INCRESASED EXHAUST NOISE (I HAD IT CHECKED), I RAN ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN "HIGHWAYS" MAGAZINE (GOOD SAM CLUB) THAT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES. I OWN A 1999 SATURN L-SERIES AND IT IS SHOWING ALL THE SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V231000. THE CAR HAS BEEN SLUGGISH AND VERY HARD TO START ALONG WITH THE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. THIS MODEL/YEAR SATURN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL...THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT ALSO! WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEALER IN MARCH, 2001, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE BUT IT DID NOT IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FOURTH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THIS VEHICLE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS HAVING TWO "WARPED" FRONT WHEEL HUBS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF INTERMITTENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT 65 MPH. DEALER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE HUBS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. SATURN CUST SVC REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY MFG DEFECT. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 5000 MILES [NO SLIPPING OR SHUDDERING FLUID NOT BURNT AND LEVEL HAS NEVER CHANGED] JUST QUIT LIKE THAT WITH NO WARNING!! MY DELEMIA HELP!! =I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM THE ONTARIO SATURN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE AS NEW- EVEN THE COMPLETE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT 1 TRACE OF DUST AND IT HAD 40,202- MILES ON IT = I ASK HOW IT COULD BE SO CLEAN AND NEW LOOKING =REPLY- THAT THE CARS ARE MAINTAINED BY THERE! SERVICE DEPT. CAR HAS 45,724 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT HAS NO REVERSE THEY WANT 550.00 FOR LABOR AND 3400.00 FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANS AXLE I PAID $ 8798.00 5 MONTHS A GO AND HAVE NO IDEA THAT A ECONOMICAL CAR COULD BE SO ---- = ---- EXPENSIVE!! PLUS THERE CHARGING 18 % ON MY LOAN SO IVE ONLY PAID 186.00 OFF THE BALANCE OF THE LOAN CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT . DONT KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED BUT MY PAYMENTS ARE STILL DUE ! BUT I HAVE NO TRANS TO MAKE IT TO WORK!! PLEASE !! HELP!! *AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING IN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG.*AK

STEERING WHEEL HOUSING CAME LOOSE.*AK

RUBBER GRIP ON STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE.*AK

SHIFT CABLES BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY LEAVING VEHICLE DISABLED. MILEAGE WAS 50700.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

CLUTCH STARTS SLIPPING SUDDENLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 5MPH VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE TO 8MPH. *TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS ARE MADE OF A POLYMER PLASTIC. THE DOORS ARE RIVETED UNDERNEATH WITH POLYMER TO METAL. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS ARE DETERIORATING AND FALLING APART. THE DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "STUCK" CLOSED DUE TO THE CONDITION AND FORCING THEM TO OPEN IS EXPEDITING THE DETERIORATION.*AK

RESONATOR TUBE HAS A CRACK IN IT. *NLM

DEFECTIVE BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKAGE, AND ENGINE STALLED. PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED

FRONT END SHAKES AND AMOUNT INCREASES AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN APPLIED. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RECENTLY THE CV AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. MAKES VEHICLE FEEL UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. *JB TURNED INTO PARKING SPACE AND BUMPED UNDER CAR ON CURB. BENDING THE SWAY BAR BRACKET BUT DID NOT TOUCH CAR BODY OR BUMPER.*TS

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE FRONT SEATS RECLINED BACKWARDS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT THAT ENDED UP BREAKING. IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE COME ACROSS 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MANUFACTURER(SATURN).*JB

THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED.*JB

1999 SATURN SL2 WITH 30,500 MILES TRANSMISSION EXPLODED.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SHIFT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE MAKE SOME VIBRATION, CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED HAS BEEN HISTORY OF PROBLEMS IN THE LAST PAST THREE YEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CAN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DON'T STAY FASTEN. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVER NOT BEING SECURED IN THE SEAT IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM, CAUSE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSEN AS TIME GOES ON. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS