1999 Saturn SL complaints

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO REMEDY AND CONSIDERS THIS A TRAIT OF THE VEHICLE. *MJS

THE BRAKES WITH ABS (I HAVE EXPERIENCE DRIVING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKING) TEND TO PROVIDE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, WHERE NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED. DURING BRAKING, THE BRAKES WILL FEEL AS IF THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY APPLIED, SO MORE PRESSURE IS PLACED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, EVENTUALLY DEPRESSING IT FULLY, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER BRAKING RESPONSE. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS GLIDING ON ICE AND SIMPLY SLIDES TO A STOP IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO STOP AT ALL AND FEELS, INSTEAD, AS IF IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE ROLLING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE SATURN DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM, YET THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS (IDENTICAL SATURN CARS PROVIDED WHILE THIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS, THEY HAD HIGHER MILEAGE AND STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT). THIS ISSUE HAS RESULTED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER 40 MPH (3/8/99 @ 596 MILES) AND HAS RESULTED IN AT LEAST TWELVE OTHER NEAR COLLISIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SANDED THE FRONT PADS (6,554 MILES), REPLACED THE FRONT PADS (11,385 MILES  BRAKES WERE GRINDING, FOUND FRONT ROTORS AND PADS TO BE OVERHEATED AND GLAZED, ONLY 40% REMAINING ON PADS), AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS (6,554 AND 11,385 MILES). THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO IN AGAIN TO HAVE ITS BRAKES INSPECTED AND ROTORS

FRONT ROTORS ARE MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE DEALER HAD ADVISED CONSUMER TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT DUE TO "FLAKING PROBLEMS" WITHIN THE ROTORS. AS PER MECHANIC FRONT ROTORS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE DISINTEGRATING. WEAR OUT OF ROTORS AND BRAKES COULD CAUSE AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *AK

POSITION OF HORN BUTTON IS TOO LOW ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND TOO SMALL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FIND OR USE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. MANUFACTURER HAS IMPROVED THE DESIGN IN NEWER MODELS, BUT NOT FOR OLDER MODELS.*AK

REPORTING PROBLEM WITH MANUAL SEAT LATCH, UNABLE TO LATCH SEAT IN PLACE; SEAT CONTINUE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH UNTIL HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO SECURE SEAT. *AK THE DRIVER CAN'T REACH THE PEDAL WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BACK. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I CAME TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE RAMP AT A RED LIGHT, THE AUTO STALLED, I TRIED TO RESTART IT WITHOUT SUCCESS, I THEN SAW BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BY THE THME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTED, AS WAS THE FENDERS AND FRONT BUMPER. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS STARTED TO WARP AT ~15000 MILES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I MOSTLY CLUTCH-BRAKE AND THOSE 15000 MILES WERE NOT CITY TRAFFIC. THE DEALER QUICKLY TURNED THE ROTORS UNDER AT NO CHARGE TO ME, HOWEVER I FEAR THAT THEY MAY FAIL AGAIN. I SUGGEST THAT THIS MAY BE A DESIGN ISSUE. *AK

WHEN LIFTING THE TRUNK CONSUMER'S FINGER WAS CUT ON A SHARP EDGE NEAR THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WHERE RECEIVED EIGHT STITCHES. *AK *ML

I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND TRUN LEFT, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED, I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING DIFFICULTIES WHEN TURNING KEY WHICH WAS REPLACED SEPT.3,99. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC

SECOND OCCURRANCE: 7-26-99 REPORTED TRANS. BUCKS WHEN ACCELERATING. TRANSAXLE-RESET ADAPTIVES, SAID NOTHING WRONG. 08- 25-99 LOST REVERSE GEAR AGAIN..DEALER REFUSED TO SUPPLY PAPERWORK FOR WORK PERFORMED. SAID NOT IN COMPUTER YET. AFTER 3 CALLS, MAILED HAND-WRITTEN WORK-ORDER POST-MARKED 9-10-99. TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED COMPUTER PRINTOUT.

HIT FROM BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS JAMMED TO THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS WOULD FLIP OVER WHEN RETRACTING. WOULD JAM IN TOP GUIDE. THIS CAUSES THE BELTS TO GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR FRAME. THE BELTS WOULD ALSO BE TWISTED WHEN RETRACTING OUT TO BE USED. POOR DESIGN. A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO HAS NO CORRECTIVE SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS (SHOULDER BOLT) FELL OFF, POSSIBLE ERROR IN ASSEMBLY, WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY WHEN MANUFACTURED. *YC

I WISH THE STATE HAD MORE STRINGENT LEMON LAWS. I WILL HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES NOW, AND I FEEL THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR IVE ONLY HAD FOR 6 MONTHS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST NOW AND HAVE REOCCURRED OR PROBABLY WILL. SATURN SHOULD DEFINITELY PRODUCE BUT BETTER CARS IF THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BUY THEM... I CERTAINLY WON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE OR ANY GM PRODUCT. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED SATURN DIRECTLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS I HAD DEALINGS WITH ANOTHER SATURN. FURTHERMORE, BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEEMS TO BE A HASSLE. I HAVE TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO GET MY "LEMON CAR" FIXED REPEATEDLY FOR MINOR PROBLEMS WHICH ARE REALLY ANNOYANCES. NO DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.

SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY TRY TO FLIP OVER WHEN RETRACTING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THEY CATCH IN THE DOORS AND CAN BE EASILY DAMAGED. WHEN THEY FLIP OVER, THEY THEN FIL OVER THE OCCUPANT TWISTED UNTIL THE SIDE PILLAR IS OPENED TO STRAIGHTEN THE FABRIC AT THE RETRACTOR. EVEN WHEN NOT FLIPPED, THE FRONT BELTS TEND TO COME TWISTED OVER YOUR BODY. I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE YOU MUST PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO HOW YOU PUT ON AND TAKE OFF THE BELTS TO AVOID TWISTING THEM. IT'S A POOR DESIGN, AND MY 1996 & 1997 SATURNS DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFER NO SOLUTION SINCE THE REDESIGN OF THE FRONT BELTS ALLOWING VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT CREATED THE PROBLEM. MANY CUSTOMERS WILL WEAKEN THE BELTS BY CATCHING THEM IN THE DOORS OVER AND OVER. I DON'T THINK TOO MANY WILL PAY TO REPLACE THEM. IF THE TOP BELT CLIP WERE REDESIGNED, THE TENDENCY TO TWIST MIGHT BE REDUCED. I HOPE YOU CAN CONVINCE THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. IT'S NOT ONLY ME. ALL USERS OF MY VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BELTS IN FRONT. THANK YOU. *AK

DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN RPM GAUGE STARTED TO GO DOWN, DECELERATION OCCURRED AND CAR STALLED. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART CAR RESULTED IN IT REPEATEDLY STALLING. WHILE TRYING TO RESTART RPM'S WERE GOING TO HIGH BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY STALLED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP AND IDLER AIR CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED.

I OWN AND OPERATE TWO 1999 SATURN MODELS LS1 VEHICLES AT AAA DRIVING SCHOOL. THEY ARE USED FOR TEACHING BEHIND-THE- HEEL DRIVING INSTRUCTION. BOTH INSTRUCTORS, SEVERAL STUDENTS AND MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH THE TURN SIGNAL/HEADLIGHT SWITCH COMBINATION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATING. THE HEADLIGHT ON/OFF SWITCH IS LOCATED ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL ARM. TO TURN IT ON THE OPERATOR MUST TURN IT COUNTER CLOCKWISE THROUGH TWO POSITIONS. THIS HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS VERY LITTLE TENSION, REQUIRING NOTHING MORE THAN A LIGHT "FLICK" COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO TURN ON. THE TURN SIGNAL HOWEVER, IS ANOTHER STORY. IT REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 2-4 LBS. OF PRESSURE TO ENGAGE. THE ARM OF THE TURN SIGNAL IS ALSO VERY SHORT IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SIZE STEERING WHEEL. APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES SHORTER THAN OTHER TURN SIGNAL ARMS IN COMPARABLE VEHICLES. THIS "SHORTNESS" REQUIRES THE OPERATOR TO REMOVE THE LEFT HAND FROM THE WHEEL, GRASP AND PULL DOWN OR PUSH UP. (UNLESS THEY HAVE LONGER THAN NORMAL FINGERS) AT NIGHT, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE "ON" POSITION AND THE OPERATOR/DRIVER REMOVES HAND FROM WHEEL TO ENGAGE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THEY INADVERTANTLY TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. ALSO REQUIRING AN OPERATOR/DRIVER TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENGAGE/DISENGAGE THE TURN SIGNAL WHICH IS DONE WHEN CHANGING LANES IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. THE POUNDS OF PRESSURE REQUIRED IS EXCESSIVE IN BOTH ENGAGE/DISENGAGE FUN

SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL AND FUEL SYSTEMS).

TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FALILED, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SECOND TIME, WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME THIS SCENARIO HAPPENED THE DEALERSHIP TOWED VEHICLE ,AND THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DAVID- MECHANIC AT SATURN OF ERVING TEXAS--972-790-7400. *AK

VEHICLE REAR ENDED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. DRIVERS' SIDE SEAT BACK LET GO, AND SEAT BELT RELEASED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THIS WAS A LOW IMPACT COLLISION,AND NO INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF SEAT AND BELT HAD HELD UP DURING COLLISION. *AK

WHEN SNOW BUILDS UP ON THE WINDSHIELD THE THE WIPERS BECOME INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE BOLTS HOLDING THEM COME LOOSE. DLR SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL. *AK

WHEN FLOOR GEAR SHIFT IS TOUCHED OR BUMPED,THE SHIFT WILL POP OUT OF GEAR SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *AK