1998 SATURN SL

We were driving the car and it just stopped. The engine locked up and no one would fix it. We were told we needed a new engine? We only owed 1500.00 on the car and the financing company would not give us time to pay in order to pay for a new engine. Engine had oil and all things it needed. My husband worked for a Vehicle Repair company so nothing should have made it lock up.

The power window regulator went out and had to be replaced. A second regulator on my car is now operating sporadically. Interestingly, the dealer stocks this part all the time.

The coolant trouble light cam on .Cjecked and waw a litle low on coolant so replaced. AS the car was due for service the following week did not check further. During routine main discovered there was oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil system. The Technician diagnosed it as a craked head or block . Either way engine was done for. So replaced with a used Saturn Engine with 39,000 miles on it. Within One Week The same problem appeared in the second engine and had to replace it also.

Paint is peeling.I was made aware of defect that is repaired at no cost for GM cars, but this seems to exclude Saturns. Why is this the norm? We have the same paint defect as the other GM cars.Contacted Saturn and was referred to local dealership. Local dealer said that car no longerunder warranty and therefore, they will not re-paint at their expense.

Engine motor mount failure.

Before buying Saturn SL the dealership told me they had to replace a motor mount and promised me a good running car. Since buying this vehicle "used" in March of 2003 I have taken it to the shop on at least 5 occassions for a vibration in the motor that causes the vehicle to shake and a loud earing ringing humming in the car itself that would cause the steering wheel itself to shake. All but one of the times the dealer told me that it was a 4 cylinder and that is how they sound. Yhey would then reset the service engine soon light and send me on my way. The noise got gradually worse to the point that it was uncomfortable physically to drive it. I recently requested another look at the vehicle, they did in fact finally say " ya that’s bad" and questioned why the service engine soon light had not come on but again replaced the same defected motor mount again. Now I have it back and there is still a noise in the engine that is not right and was told that it is no longer their problem.The vibration isn’t as terrible as it was but my fear is that they never fixed the problem that casued the vibration just a symptom and therefore like when I first bought it it will come back. Thank you for listening

ACCESSORIES: volume knob fell off…not replaced yet. Overhead interior light fell off roof…repaired in August.OTHER:Since around 40,000 miles this car has had a severe vibration, wether from motor or transmission, or ??? is not known. Vibration is so bad that you cannot see clearly out of rearview mirror when in park, or in drive with foot on brake. If you are sitting in car while in park, vibration can actually cause a numb feeling in your butt (I AM SERIOUS…this is not a joke!!!) Other times it is a fight to keep the car to a stop if in drive because of vibration and a "leaping" feeling. Dash panel vibrates terribly loud, and is VERY distracting from this problem too.

1998 Saturn with 49,000 miles needed the whole transmission to be rebuilt. The Valve bodies are kept in stock at Saturn of Route 23 because this is such a common problem with Saturn. The car had been properly maintained, trans service at 25,500 miles. Saturn will take no responsibility in the cost of repairs. I’ve noted that Saturn is on several webb sites with transmission failures documented.

10/01/02 \\\’98 Saturn SL2 – engine started making a loud clunking sound. In checking the oil, we found the dipstick with dried oil on it – obviously, no oil left in the engine. Oil light NEVER came on to advise us. Last oil change done on 08/13/02 with 66,758 miles on the car. Next oil change was scheduled for 11/13/02 or 69, 758 miles. Contacted Saturn but not at all helpful. We can\\\’t afford to fix change the engine.

Coolant around the spark plug nearest the transmission, engine oil is visible in coolant tank. internet search revealed a cracked head due to factory defect in head casting. gm did not issue a recall! *tr

I was driving a person ran a stop sign and i hit the vehicle head on the airbag blew up in my face sounded like a bomb i had burns on my face head hands and fore arms my ribs were bruised and some contusions in back and knees. *tr

When turning off the car, the key gets stuck in the ignition switch between the run and off positions. when stuck the key cannot be turned or removed. the car cannot be started nor can the key be removed. *tr

Vehicle stalled for unknown reason. no check-engine light went on, so the mechanic could not check codes. *tr

Exiting freeway lost control of the car and crashed vehicle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 saturn sl, equipped with summit sienpre 6 tires, size 185/65/r15. the contact stated that he noticed that the rear driver and passenger tires had developed large bubbles in them. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the tires were not replaced. the failure and current mileages on the tire were approximately 30,000. the failure and current mileages on the vehicle were approximately 125,000.

I was a passenger in the 1998 saturn sl1, while approaching an intersection "two cars behind the lead car about to go through intersection" the driver in the on-coming lane decide last minute to make a left hand turn at the intersection in front of the lead car in are lane. which caused a chain reaction of accidents. while the 1998 saturn sl was indeed the last car to hit the "pile up" upon impact i exhaled and tried to relax my body for impact "like i observed on discovery's myth busters" after impact as i was asking my friend "driver" if she was ok. the air bag deployed late! ... if this will happen to me a 300pd grown man id hate to see the out come if a person not of my mass had this happen to them. i feel as if they would have gone through the windshield... life threatening injury's would of most certainly occurred. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 saturn sl2 sedan. while driving approximately 45 mph, the entire instrument panel and exterior lights began to flicker abnormally. the contact stated that the failure would occur intermittently. the contact reference nhtsa campaign id number: 09e012000 (exterior lighting) but his vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and the vehicle was repaired yet the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting further inspection of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

My firestone compact spare tire for a 1998 saturn sl2, which has never been used, shows tread separation. the rubber is splitting apart in the tread area and the belts are showing through. this also happened to a previous firestone compact spare i owned for a saturn. the tire is size t115/70r14 and the serial number is hym7h5a377. the tire is admittedly old, but the extent of damage is alarming considering the tire has not been used. it has been impossible to find a new replacement- tire dealers say to get a replacement from a junk yard, but they would have the same problem. a full size spare will not fit in the trunk's tire well. *tr

My 1998 saturn sl2 has had a (hot engine) fast idle (2000 rpm) condition on and off for years.. i have taken it to the saturn dealer,, then to a gm dealer three times all to no avail.. various sensors have been replaced and the condition persists.. i have spent near $1000. in labor costs, sensors ect and still i have the problem.. *tr

I parked my car, a 5-speed manual, and the parking brake release button popped out, and is now broken so i cannot use the parking brake at all. not safe considering my car is a manual. i am attempting to locate a replacement button, but have not had much luck so far. *tr

When pressing brake and coming to a stop, the car accelerates and pushes forward. you are forced to brake harder and difficult to stop. *tr

I have noted the driver of this vehicle is exposed to unusual activity of radio frequencies (in the 120-140mhz range) and the are pulsing and variable electromagnetic fields in the area of the driver's body. i am concerned with health effects on continued exposures. *tr

1998 saturn sl2 muffler broke off and hit another vehicle while driving 65 mph. *kb ohio traffic crash report # 10-0070-91. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 saturn sl2. while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and shut off. the contact was able to restart the vehicle. the failure occurs when the vehicle has traveled long distances. the dealer is unable to diagnose the cause of failure. the current mileage is 181,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. the vin was unavailable.

Dt*: the contact stated the coolant level indicator light illuminated. when the coolant was checked, the coolant level was low and thickened. on further investigation, coolant had been found mixed into the oil due to the gasket breaking down from contact with the coolant. the oil mixed with the coolant caused sludge build up in the engine. the contact notified the service dealer who recommended flushing the radiator. the manufacturer was notified.

During a rear end collision the back of the driver's seat released to full recline position. leaving me which more severe injuries than i should have sustained. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the frontal airbags failed to deploy when the vehicle's front end impacted the rear of another while traveling 35 mph on a dry blacktop surface. a police report and photos were taken after the vehicle was towed away. one injury was sustained in the accident. the service dealer and manufacturer were notified. updated 10/4/2006 - *nm

Gas leaking. running low on gas after fill up. had car looked at and there are holes in the gas line, running from the engine to gas tank. fuel line is apparently is plastic and is deteriorating. *jb

Cruise control will not disengage by depressing brake, using the off switch, or depressing the clutch. also, when this occurs, the speed slowly but steadily increases. the only way to correct the problem is to turn off the ignition, or press the brake until the car stops and the engine dies. *nm

My new husband and i had just driven over 300 miles the night before on the interstate to our honeymoon destination. the next afternoon, we were traveling on a divided four lane at approximately 50 mph when a tire blew. the tires were relatively new and had little wear. the gentleman at the tire dealership showed us where the tire had just "ruptured" on its on. the tire was made by firestone and was an affinity label. i replaced the damaged tire and the opposite tire on the front (my car is front wheel drive). the remaining two tires on the rear look just like the front tires did, and the salesman recommended we have them checked as well and also recommended they be replaced asap. i have heard of other individuals who have had problems with this same tire (after i made my purchase) and was worried. i feel these tires should be recalled by firestone asap because they are unsafe. *jb

My brother was killed june 24, 2005, in a single car accident. he was driving a 1998 saturn sl on an interstate in mississippi, the saturn went out of control, his seatbelt (which he always wore) and he was ejected from the car. since his death, i've found on nhtsa's site almost 30 different complaints from 1998 saturn sly owners describing serious failures of that cars stability, brakes, steering, and air bags---all of which resulted in the car going out of control. fortunately, the drivers in the 30 complaints i've found all stated that the injuries were not fatal. my brother and our family are not so fortunate. the 1998 saturn sl's failures killed my brother. all of these failures were reported to nhtsa years ago, so his death could have been avoided. nhtsa and the saturn company owe me and my family some answers. and nhtsa and saturn must act now before more people are killed by this fatal car.*jb

1998 saturn sl seat belts are defective.***no answer required***. *mr the drivers seat belt would unlatch while the consumer was driving. *jb

Frequently when the front seat belts are buckled they appear to be secured, but are not and come undone. this is the onlu car i have ever driven that you are not locked into your seat belt when you think you are.*ak

I was in an accident that totaled my car. i was only traveling 15-20 mph when i hit a car with no lights on. i had two passengers in my car. all of us sustained injury because the seatbelts did not lock up and hold us. my back set passenger was on the driver's side and she was rushed to the hospital with facial injuries that left a gash under her left eye and run burn all over her face. my front passenger went flying into the from widshield and his head hit at the top right corner. the belt restrained him inside of the vehicle as it stayed connected to the car but my front passenger only stoped as soon as the seatbelt extended as far as it could. i was driving and was pused down into the airbag by my passenger sitting behind me. i sustanined a small fracure that loosened my two front teeth. my back passenger is the only one to sustain damage from the actual seatbelt and it was arouund her stomach, which see was 7 monthes pregnat at the time. the baby is ok and she was released from the hospital the next morning. *jb

While parking my 1898 saturn sl in a hospital garage, the shift lever went limp without warning. there was no way to operate the transmission. when i removed the console, i discovered that the plastic bushing that connects the manual shift lever to the shift cable was missing. there was no longer any connection between the shift lever and the cable to the transmission. the entire shift cable assembly had to be replaced to fix the problem. saturn told me that the bushing is made onto the cable rather than being available as a separate part. if this bushing had failed in a traffic situation it could have resulted in an accident. the bushing should be designed such that if it brakes; the shift lever will remain connected to the shift cable and just cause sloppy shifting thereby warning the driver that repair is required. i still have the old shift cable assembly. *jb

My 23 yr old son was traveling from ventura, ca at 75 mph on fwy 99 n bound in the middle lane (of 3) at about 1 a.m. in fresno, ca. just before arriving at his exit to hwy 41 n, the rear end began to skid to the left. driver steered into the skid to correct while stepping on the brakes to reduce speed. suddenly the rear end of the car was hurled into the air causing the entire vehicle to go airborne, clearing the third lane (far right lane) and landing on top of asphalt berm and soft, sandy embankment resulting in the car rolling and going airborne, bouncing off the rear end of the car and going airborne yet a third time landing upside down on the shoulder of the freeway with the nose of the car extending into the third lane. driver received minor injuries but chp officers were astonished it was not a fatality. car was totaled. talks with saturn headquarters has only resulted in denial that the spindle could have caused the accident. they insist a tire blowout was most likely the cause. personal investigation revealed there was no blowout. evidence points toward the spindle breaking allowing the wheel assembly to fold down under the car causing it to skid to the left. the application of brakes brought the front end of the car down enough to allow the wheel assembly to catch the frame assembly and pitch the car into the air while tearing out the entire rear wheel well assembly. parts of the wheel assembly were found 40 feet before the impact of the car on the driver's side (which would be impact #2) as it tumbled across the freeway embankment. no one seems to want to further investigate the wreckage including our insurance and saturn.*ak

Cracked cylinder head on 1998 sl1 saturn with 70,000 miles. car was loosing coolant. cost $2,000 in labor to repair, problem seems to appear with other consumers complaining as well. manufacturer should consider this a defect and reimburse for cost of reapir.*ak

Vehicle was not running properly. taken to mechanic who told me that vehicle was 5 quarts low on transmission fluid and vehicle would have stopped running if not taken care of at that time. although vehicle only had 35000 miles on it transmission, which had defect, had to be rebuilt for $2400+.*ak

My wife's '98 saturn sl1 has approximately 80,000 miles on it. about a week ago, she was no longer able to shift out of 1st gear. after taking the center console out, i noticed that a rubber grommet that attached the shift rod to the shift cables had rotted and broken in half. normally, this should have been very easy to replace. a new grommet could very easily be popped in with around 1/2 hour of work. when i approached the local saturn dealers, they said they did not have the .50 cent grommet available, and that the entire shifter cable would have to be replaced (there is nothing wrong with the cables themselves). the person working there said they have to replace the whole cables very often. total cost for the cables and labor is around $600. they do not sell the grommet seperately. getting suspicious, i went on the internet to research the problem. i found many sites with people experiencing the same problem (see http://www.chaosmagnet.com/blog/archives/000112.html, http://www.autoguide.net/cgi-sec/autoparts/messages/msg.cgi?1589.shtml, for example). all could easily have fixed the problem by getting a new rubber grommet. i believe this is a serious problem that saturn needs to do something about. spending $600 for a $5 repair is rediculous and wrong. also, my wife's car is completely out of comission until this can be replaced. many reports from other owners i have read have stated that to get around spending $600, they are using self made fixes. this could be very dangerous to do, and could cause accidents in the future. however, their options are somewhat limited unless they wish to spend a lot of money. again, this problem could be easily rectified if saturn would simply make the grommet available for sale. regards, james langford.

Accessories: volume knob fell off...not replaced yet. overhead interior light fell off roof...repaired in august. other:since around 40,000 miles this car has had a severe vibration, wether from motor or transmission, or ??? is not known. vibration is so bad that you cannot see clearly out of rearview mirror when in park, or in drive with foot on brake. if you are sitting in car while in park, vibration can actually cause a numb feeling in your butt (i am serious...this is not a joke!!!) other times it is a fight to keep the car to a stop if in drive because of vibration and a "leaping" feeling. dash panel vibrates terribly loud, and is very distracting from this problem too.

The car was parked at home saturday night, went to drive it sunday and it made a strange noise. the car was brought to the mechanic who sent it to saturn where it was determined to have a blown motor (the car only has 40,000 miles on it,and the oil was changed regularly). *la

1998 saturn 41,635 miles- bakes pulse and shakey steering- machine rotors new pads 48,343 miles-shakey steering-balance wheels replace suspected bad tire. 64,057 miles-shakey steering-machine rotors, pads okay for now.*mr there is something definitely wrong with the brakes and or the rotors. i have owned many vehicles and never had rotor problems. while at the repair shop i overheard two phone calls from customers with similar complaints.

1998 saturn with 49,000 miles needed the whole transmission to be rebuilt. the valve bodies are kept in stock at saturn of route 23 because this is such a common problem with saturn. the car had been properly maintained, trans service at 25,500 miles. saturn will take no responsibility in the cost of repairs. i've noted that saturn is on several webb sites with transmission failures documented.

Before buying saturn sl the dealership told me they had to replace a motor mount and promised me a good running car. since buying this vehicle "used" in march of 2003 i have taken it to the shop on at least 5 occassions for a vibration in the motor that causes the vehicle to shake and a loud earing ringing humming in the car itself that would cause the steering wheel itself to shake. all but one of the times the dealer told me that it was a 4 cylinder and that is how they sound. yhey would then reset the service engine soon light and send me on my way. the noise got gradually worse to the point that it was uncomfortable physically to drive it. i recently requested another look at the vehicle, they did in fact finally say " ya that's bad" and questioned why the service engine soon light had not come on but again replaced the same defected motor mount again. now i have it back and there is still a noise in the engine that is not right and was told that it is no longer their problem.the vibration isn't as terrible as it was but my fear is that they never fixed the problem that casued the vibration just a symptom and therefore like when i first bought it it will come back. thank you for listening

While accelerating to 40 mph consumer shifted from second to third gear and floor shifter failed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

Shifter arm clutch linkage bushing broke while shifting gear. *jb

While driving/parking seat belt latch unlocked from the belt buckle. consumer was unable to wear seat belt correctly. *ak left front seat buckle were replaced on consumer's expense. dealer wasn't able to explain the main cause of the problem. *la

Saturn sl2 1998 - cracked cylinder head. *ak

Emergencey brake non-functional after 1/8 inch daimeter plastic button retainer broke. ts assembled such that if it fails it is disengauged, resulting in a car that can roll down inclines.*ak

Manual transmission linkage broke. the plastic that locks the ball of the linkage to the socket of the shifter cracked, and became seperated while in operation.*ak

Involved in two collisions with another vehicle, and none of the side airbags were deployed. *la *mr

Rear windows will not go up or down. however, they fall down on low speed, slight impact, unlevel terrain (bumps). i wonder if saturn has any idea how fun it is to stop everytime you pass a bump in the road, get out of the vehicle and manually push the windows back in place; only to have them fall again within the next hour. don't drive your 1998 saturn sl2 in the rain unless you wish to get wet along with everything in your rear seat. it's definately "different in a saturn", that's why i will never purchase one again. *ak

While driving at 65 mph left front tire went flat, consumer lost control, vehicle rolled over, and neither of the air bags deployed . consumer bought vehicle five days prior to accident, and was not sure if there were air bags in the vehicle. *ak

Problems with gear shift on 1998 saturn sl1. *mr the gear shift would not come out of park and the bcsi solenoid was replaced. *scc *jb

For the past 2-3 years i have had a massive oil consumption problem with my saturn sl2 '98. i brought it to two saturn dealerships who told me that i had no leak nor was my car burning oil, in essence that i was imagining this problem. in july of 2003, the problem had gotten so bad that i was adding oil every 100 miles, then the car broke down and i brought it to a saturn dealership. they said it was the timing belt/gasket and i replaced them on their recommendation that it would fix all the problems - cost $1000. the car continues to consume massive amounts of oil and regularly exhibits a burning smell. i brought it to a saturn dealer last week who now tells me that the cam cover is cracked and needs to be replaced; however, he told me that i probably indeed have significant engine damage as a result of my many oil problems that this repair will not fix. i have worked my way up the saturn corporate complaint system and i cannot get anyone to either pay for the repair, reimburse me for the previous repair or even acknowledge the underlying engine problem. originally, i thought that this was a just me getting a "lemon" but after researching the problem my concern is much much greater. specifically, there are numerous (well over 100) complaints on various internet cites about the same problem - everyone has massive oil consumption and many people's engines have actually caught on fire as a result of low oil. they have also tried to get saturn to acknowledge the problem with the engines and to no avail. i am now afraid to drive the car for fear of it catching on fire. i would like the nhtsa to investigate the problems with saturn engines and oil consumption. i am an attorney and plan to pursue my own case against saturn for the cost of my repairs, but really feel like is a safety issue and that saturn or the nhtsa needs to issue a warning to consumers to keep careful watch on their engines. *la

Consumer noticed upon starting vehicle park paw would not shift out of park. dealer has been contacted. *ak this happened on four different occasions. consumer had to rock the vehicle, restart, pump the brakes and giggle the lever before it would release. when changing gear a scrapping sound was heard and saturn stated it would get worse. after four times, consumer had it replaced at a cost of $#144.09. consumer noted saturn would not work on his vehicle maybe because he filled a complaint for shabby work. *ph

I purchased a 1998 saturn sl2 in april of 2002 and discovered after purchase that it had a defective seat belt retractor. when the vehicle was taken to a local saturn dealership i was told that even though this is a very common problem on this model i would be charged for the repair. the dealership was also unable to find the exact part number and wanted to make the repair from a similar but not identical 1996 model. the dealership told me that saturn does not take responsibility for defective safety items such as the retractor because so many of their vehicles have this problem and it has not been officially recalled.

The motor mount failed. dealer notified. *ak the mount probably malfunctioned prior to 52184 miles. the mounts for the vibration was found on the top of the engine in which the mount(s) cracked. *scc the water pump was replaced because a leak was found. *jb

Vehicle accelerates without applying gas, cause undetermined. *ak

While driving, the engine stalled. the dealer replaced the crankshaft senor and coolant temperature sensor, however the engine stalled again. *ak the power steering and ignition switch needed to be replaced. the gear did not shift properly, mainly in first gear. *jb

Consumer called complaining about the ignition module and electrical system. manufacturer was contacted, and stated that they have a recall out, but consumer's vehicle not included due to vin. *ak

While traveling on the highway engine is leaking oil from underneath the vehicle. *ak

My 1998 saturn (1.9)had oil in the coolant. it had a crack in the # 3 cam journal. the car only had 72188 miles. i had followed all their regular service. i knew that they had problems with the head in 1994 and 1995 models. but was told that problem was fixed. cost was $1990. *nlm

Small plastic ring in shifter linkage broke while in traffic leaving car stuck in first gear.*jb

Saturn sl2 was taken to dealership for 15,000 check up on 3/17/, as i was selling to son. car has approx. 15,690 miles on it. service mgr. howard gorman took information. my husband told him the place that changes the oil said to have anti-freeze flushed because we were losing anti-freeze and we could not see leak. mr. gorman after checking car and calling us, performed close to $500 worth of repairs on car, including rotating ties etc. he then told us that car may have a hairline crack in head. this should not happen on a car with this low mileage. i bought the car new at saturn north, 8600 north high st., wortington, ohio. i drive car back and forth to work whick is approx. 8 miles one way. mr. gorman suggested that we take car home and put some miles on the car as it is not driven for long periods of time. it stay in garage and is not left out in weather. he put die in the anti-freezee to check and asked us to bring back in a week and he would recheck. we took the car back on 3/31/03 at this time mr. gorman told us special die came through the head on #4 cylinder position. after taxes it would cost us $3000 to fix. we argued and complained . they told us they would reduce that to $2,268.35 because of the low miles. i then called a christie at saturn headqtrs. after mr. gorman suggested we do this. she took several days to get back to us and today told us saturn would do nothing for us. i feel that for a head to have a crack at 15,000 miles is horrible and wonder how many other cars have had the same problem. this is my second saturn and the first car i traded in had only 16,000 miles on it. it is my work car and i do not drive great distances. this should not have happened.

I was involved in a rear end collision in april 2002. i was hit from behind while waiting at a red light. the back of my seat collapsed thereby rendering the anti-whiplash head restraint ineffective.

The plastic shell of car seat was sharp/knife like, and resulted in a child cutting two fingers. *ak scc

The vehicle stalled intermittently while driving. the cam switch was replaced twice, the idle control was adjusted and the throttle was replaced yet the problem recurred. the vehicle lunged forward when the vehicle was shifted in reverse. the transmission was replaced. *nm

Vehicle stalled on several occasions.*jb ph

Both power windows in rear of car failed. both power windows failed even though they have rarely been used. driver side rear window drops down while driving causing distraction to driver and excessive wind and wind noise in the car. a third power window component was replaced on the front of the car while still under warranty. suspect faulty window regulators as dealer mentioned both regulators would have to be replaced. date is approximate for 1st window. second window failed about 7 months later.

While pulling into a parking space, stepped on the brakes, which failed. car struck the crub and a railing causing the airbags to deploy and the seatbelts to lock very tight. two days prior to purchasing the brakes were squeaking.

The vehicle caught fire while parked, possible electrical problems. ts *jb

Transmision hesitates and jerks before going into any gear. problem has existed for 3 months.dealer was notified, and found a faulty transmission valve.*ak

While driving at 2mph, the airbags deployed without warning, contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak *yh

Vehicle was not able to hold an alignment consumer has had numerous alignments done , but the problem still occurs. steering becomes very difficult to steer when this happens. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *ak

When accelerating transmission doesn't shift into gear. also, battery is leaking fluid, deteriorating wire harness to transmission. dealer stated problem will reoccur because wires do not have a protective covering. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 saturn sl1. the vehicle has goodyear assurance tires, size p185/70/r14. while driving approximately 65 mph, the rear passenger side tire blew out without warning. within one year, six identical tires in various locations failed without warning. the contact took the tires to the dealer and had the first set replaced. shortly after the replacement, the tires failed. the manufacturer did not assist and the technician could not identify the cause of the failure. the contact has possession of the failed tires. the failure and current mileages were 10,000. updated 03/09/09. *lj updated 03/11/09. *jb

Vehicle was hit from rear at 50 mph while in a stop position and driver's seat collapsed backwards. please give any further details. *ak

When seat belt comes through slider to connect across chest belt it is cut. .*ak the belt must be cutting when it is pulled down to be fastened, the cuts are not noticeable because they are obscured by the slider when the belt is retracted and out of sight when the belt is fastened, the consumer retained the damaged part. nlm

Consumer was traveling on highway and by the reflection of light damaged vehicle. consumer will add additional information. *ak

While driving at 25-30 mph sidewall blewout on front passenger's tire. original equipment on a saturn, sl1, 1998. *ak *jb

Consumer was traveling 55mph on wet roads vehicle downshifted into low gear at highway speed. consumer lost control and crashed into a concrete bridge which guided him to a stop. twice vehicle was in shop for clunking, and twice with downshifting added. vehicle in a repair shop to see what damage has been done.*ak the consumer says the dealer should have addressed the symptems of potentially dangerous transmission problem during the 4 service periods. the vehicle was a total loss. the consumer was sekking financial reimbersement for the loss and expenses. *yh

While driving about 30 mph consumer heard a noise, stopped after increasing speed. shortly after, consumer noticed smoke from under hood. parked vehicle,and next morning there was transmission fluid under vehicle, towed to dealer, who found a differential pin had come loose in transmission, and caused a hole in transmission. *ak

Rear lap belt does not lock, when placing a car seat it causes seat not to be properly installed and moves frequently. saturn said lap belt needed to be replaced. it was a common problem. please provide further information.*ak

While driving about 35 mph left rear tire suddenly blewout. firestone infinity p185/65r15. *ak

Pe 00 020/tire tread separtion: reporting tires were cupping and a flat was received after two months of purchase on a 1998 saturn, sl. original equipment, p195/60r15, dot# unavailable. *ak

Trunk will not stay open on an incline or with some head winds. dealer notified and informed consumer that vehicle meets standards, and nothing can be done.*ak

Consumer had brakes resurfaced three times. dealer was saying that consumer was applying brakes too hard. brakes weren't warranty. dealer replaced it as a courtesy to the consumer, and not under warranty. *ak

Vehicle's traction control failed, causing the vehicle to hydroplane and spin out of control and off highway. while spinning, abs brakes failed and caused wheels to lock up.

The consumer state while driving at 40 mph and applying the brake's, the brake's went straight to the floorboard and the consumer had to pump the brake's and the vehicle slow down and came to a stop and the consumer state this is the second time the brake's has fail.

Driving at highway speeds vehicle loses all power and eventually stops, causing a safety hazard. dealer replaced fuel pump, but defect has reoccurred. *ak

Vehicle wanders from side to side when driving at approximately 30-60mph. loud banging noise occurs when going over bumps. high frequency whining from the engine that adds to the noise. also, transmission shifting has too little or too much power. dealer/western region mfr. contacted and cannot remedy the problem. problem still exists. provide further information. *ak

Driving at any speed the vehicle will vibrate and make bucking sounds from time to time. the vehicle has been in the shop eight times for different problems. also, there is a lack of power and grinding noise coming from the vehicle. tide rod end had to be replaced. in addition, consumer had power steering/ window problems. repaired vehicle three times, and they can't determine the problem. vehicle has been in shop eight more times. *ak

Consumer was driving approximately 35-45mph each time this incident happened. the first time was july-98, second time was nov-14, 1998, as consumer drove the wheels began to malfunction for about 4-5 seconds, consumer lost control of steering. the second time, the wheels malfunctioned for approximately. 2-3 minutes, sounded like something fell off or jammed in the wheel area. consumer lost control, vehicle ran off road into a shoulder on passenger's side, and the driver side wheel is leanning outward. also, there is a smell in the wheel/brake area. *ak

Vehicle was in a rear end collision and the driver's/passenger's seats fell back into children's faces ,and the children were injured. dealer has been contacted. *ak

While driving 60 mph the transmission went out without any warning. driver was able to coast to the side of the road safely. the vehicle towed to the dealership where the transmission was replaced. *ak *ml

When traveling 35 mph, going up an incline and vehicle is placed in fourth gear, the vehicle will drop from fourth gear into second and will accelerate. consumer has contacted the dealer. dealer states normal operations. please provide any further details. *ak

Vehicle was rear ended. defect within seatback of driver's and passenger's side caused the seat to collapse backwards, resulting in minor injuries. *ak

While driving at 10 mph and coming to a halt the computer shut down and nothing in the car worked. dealer contacted two times in the same day with the same problem and attempted to remedy the problem. consumer drove the car away with no guarantee the problem would not reoccur. consumer is not satisfied with the situation. several repairs of due to loss of power, however vehicle still experiences problems. transmission experienced problems during shifting, found scuffed valves, replaced valves that were binding. *ak

Throttle: sitting at a stop sign and pulled off and felt like it wasn't getting any gas. put foot on gas pedal, and suddenly it stuck open and stayed. had to put in neutral and turn car off and restart. *ak

No summary. dt

Seat belt will not tighten or release, consumer took vehicle to dealer several times but was told there was nothing wrong. *jb

Consumer states door seals failed on numerous occasions, dealership replaced under warranty. *jb

Consumer states cruise control failed. *jb

Consumer states horn failed. *jb

The brake rotors warp easily, they are either insufficiently thick or cooled. nlm

Consumer states the vehicle looses 30% of power at random times. nlm

Consumer feels the horn button is very small and hard to locate, someone backed into him and had trouble finding the horn. *slc

Driver's side seat belt twist to where it won't recall and is diffecult to buckle. i received a safty recall in 2000 and took it to the dealer in lafayette, in to have it replaced. it wooked ok for about a year and then it acts up again. dt

Consumer was involved in an accident where the seatbacks broke, 2 people were injured in the accident. *slc

Rotors warped and were replaced 9 within 9 months after buying vehicle brand new, replacement part was defective and replaced one month later, in february of 2001, rotors were warped and replaced again. *slc

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Cracked cyl head, oil & coolant were mixing together. *ak

I check my car weekly. with no warning or tell tale signs, i found water in the crankcase and oil in the radiator. i had the car towed to my mechanic and he claims i have either a blown head gasket or a cracked engine head with estimated repairs in excess of $2, 000.00. i called the dealership and was told the car has a warranty of 36,000 miles or 3 years and i am out of warranty due to time.*ak

Cylinder head cracked in engine after approx. 85000 miles. all engine oil leaked from the automobile as a result. engine was covered with oil upon inspection but luckily, did not ignite. needed to be replaced with new engine at a cost of $2400 as repairs would have been risky and at a higher cost.*ak

The front rotors have been replaced twice in 57000 miles. something is wrong when this happens this often with this little amount of mileage. *ak

My mother and i were driving south on i-95, mile marker 277 (north of daytona) with the cruise control set for 72 miles per hour. i was in the right lane, and as i approached a car going slower, i applied the brakes to release the cruise control. it would not turn off, so i moved to the left lane and tried repeatedly to release it. i was about the hit the rear of the car infront of me, and it seemed like i was accelerating rather than decelerating. i could not slow down so went into the median strip, and still was unable to slow down.it seemed i was unable to even depress the brake pedal. it seemed frozen. it was rough going, and i was afraid of going into the northbound lanes, so i steered the car to the right, and seemed to slide across the nearest lane into the side of a u-haul truck. the impact spun us around and we came to rest in the median strip.

I too have had repeated brake problems with my sl1. the first time saturn replaced them because at 25,000 miles, they should not be bad. then at 45,000 miles it happened again! the service man told me it was because i was "riding" the brake. of course it was my fault - not! i argued with him, but lost. had to pay almost $400 dollars for a brake job that was already replaced and should have been under warranty. i asked him if i was going to be changing the rotors again in 30,000 miles, he said no. it should last till 50,000 miles. guess what?!? 25,000 miles later, it is having the same problems. not only that, i now have a cracked/blown head gasket to which after many inquiries, seems to happen alot in the sl1 models. we'll see what happens, but needless to say i will not be investing in "a different kind of car company" anymore.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Clutch was in perfect conditions, faliure was in the pressure plate that operates the clutch. parts department told me that this was not un-common for manual transmitions on sl1 from 96-99 and when new parts were purchased at the dealer, there had been a design change which increased the total cost for the repair. why was a new design implemented if there was nothing wrong with the old one. just in hawaii/oahu there has been about half a dozen of low milage manual trans with clutch system falires.

Caution: saturn automatic transmision may be dangerous if it hesitates and clunks into gear or downshifts inappropriately. saturn's computer diagnostic system may not detect dangerous transmission control condition. saturn corp. policy on paying dealer for diagnostic work for warranty items may discourage dealer from further investigating possibly dangerous conditions.*ak

My daughter is able to release the clip on the five point restraint of the new carseat we just purchased. we had the same model before but the clip was different. i would like to have the clip removed from the market because i believe that it is a danger to children. the make is cosco and the model is the alpha omega edition.

Car overheated with no warning and smoke spilled out of front. coolant burst out of container and flooded car and ground. technician found that the sensor broken and wires removed but could not offer any explanation. car has not been in accident and has not been tampered with. the only people with access to engine is saturn technicians.

When i don't let the car warm up for a while the gas pedal sticks and will not come back off of the acceleration unless you pull it up or if it releases for some strange reason.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicles. *ak (tiresize: p28565/r15)( dot number: tire size: p28565/r15 )

No summary listed for above vehicles. *ak( dot number: tire size: p28565/r15 )

No summary

Traveling on i-5 so @ approx 72mph left rear tire blew out. original stock tire on saturn. luckily vehicle didn't fishtail or go out of control @ freeway speeds. saturn dealership referred me to firestone. firestone claimed no credit towards new tires; replaced all four at this time. tire had multiple gashes/holes & tread coming apart. had to drive on rim till got to shoulder 2 lanes over. don't know if lucky i was in a low profile vehicle so avoided the problems the suv's have or not? due to long commutes will not purchase this type of tire. have had better results from other brands.damage of $120 is only 1/4 cost of complete set of tire replacement of $467.87 paid. (tiresize: p185/65hr1)( dot number: tire size: p185/65hr1 )

This vehicle is believed to have been in an accident. we want to find out for sure! no safety defect mentioned. *ak

Not long after we purchased the vehicle, the brakes made noise and caused the steering wheel to vibrate upon braking. brought in the vehicle for service and they said the rotors were warped, they cut them down. since then the brakes have made noises and the rear wheels lockup upon initial driving daily. each time the vehicle was brought in for regular oil changes, we complained about the noises, at 10.209 miles &16,284 miles, but they always said nothing was wrong. now the brakes are still making noises when you first start the vehicle. also, now the steering wheel vibrates upon braking, more at higher speeds, causing harder braking at times when quick braking is needed. upon slow rolling stops, like coming to a light, the car surges, like the brakes are grabbing at certain points then releasing. sometimes braking in normal city roadways, the brakes don't respond when quick braking is needed to avoid dangerous situations. it's like the brake pedal is tough to press.

The tread separated from the belts. i have seen this on retreads but never new tires. it is as if you took a knife and cleanly separated the tread above the belt.( dot number: w2ep tire size: p175/70r14 )

I was involved in a two car accident on 5/10/00. another car pulled out infront of my saturn, which caused a collision. i was doing 30-35 miles per hour at impact. both air bags deployed, and the seatbelts restrained, but not completely. the passanger side completely pulled away from the vehicle casing. the part the belt loops around cracked, and the passanger did not receive any mark from the seatbelt, which makes me think the belt did not function correctly. i was the driver and received a large bruise from my shoulder to my breast bone, from the shoulder restraint, but my seatbelt system only seperated where the two casings conect. i am consered that if in another accident at a higher rate of speed, the seatbelts will not hold passengers, or myself in place. that they will seperate from the car again. i was wondering if any other saturn owners have reported problems with their seatbelts. in speeking with the repairshop, it sounds like they will just pop the casings back into place. is this the correct way to handle this? should i contact saturn? any information you can provide would be greatly apreciated. thank you for your time. melissa. *ak

Plastic button broke , parking brake would not remain engaged. *ak

Spring that holds trunk open is too weak, most noticeable with factory installed spoiler. has hit me in the head several times. dealer sugested prop-rod to hold trunk open. trunk will not stay open if parked on small incline or slight headwind. if a child was reaching into the truck, it could severly injure there back.*ak

I have had it in several times for them to fix it. they put in a delay blower to fix the problem. it has been bad from the start. one of their salesman has said there is a problem but the service dept says there is not. the car had to be towed once because of it

Rotors warped, causing rocking of car during braking at 16,000 miles and again at 32000 miles.

Saturn tells me, "it has to get worse before we can tell what's wrong." no safety defect (s) listed in the summary. *ak

The component in question has not failed and probably won't. i feel the design of the knob which allows the shoulder belt anchor point to be adjusted up / down could have been better. i am tall, so i sit with the seat all the way back. this "knob" is located exactly beside my temple while i'm driving. if i were to be hit from the driver's side, i have visions of this knob doing serious injury to my skull and what little brain i have in there. i think the knob needs to be redesigned (an adjustable shoulder anchor point in the new nissan altima is much less intrusive.)

No summary

All the complaints that i have made are already listed on your list except the winshield fluid pump. when i took the car in regarding the rattling noise they couldn't hear so they told me too bring it in if it becomes more noticable.

Please take note that the state and zip code incorect , i had to improvise as i could not filled out this questionaire and i writing from canada. my postal code in canada is l0l 2p0. on 21 nov 1998 , during the 35000 km(22000 miles) scheduled maintenance i reported to the dealership that the front brakes of my saturn were pulsating when braking (my odometer reading was 22303 miles(35686 km) . during the servicing the dealership discovered that both front rotors (discs) were warp and as corrective actions covered under warranty, the fronts brake pads were sanded, both front rotors were machined and both front calipers were serviced. base on our driving habits (85 % hwy driving) and considering the last 5 vehicles i drove i find this situation rather abnormal on a brand new car. on 17 aug 1999, at 60662 km (37913 miles) same probleme reoccured i reported to the dealership that my front brakes were pulsating. the service manager suggested that the rottors be machined again to which i refused as it is not cover under waranty anymore. i indicated to him that it is abnormal that the rotors warp like this. is answer was that in accordance with saturn there is no problem or any defect with brakes component. i have raise my concerns higher within the saturn companie in canada but it seem they wash their hand and shift the blame on atmospheric condition and our driving habits. i have researched in your database and i have foud that there were svc bulletins # 96-t-40 a, (nhtsa item # sb049187) and svc bulletin #98-t-40-a (nhtsa items sb601049) relating to brake problems. my saturn was built in aug 97. in my opinion it not normal that rotors warp and caused brake to pulsate. in accordance with your database i am not the only one having problem with the brake of my saturn. this is a serious safety problem, if brake rotors warp easily & pulsate and cause the brake efficiency to decrease. may be contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. thanks

Cracked head cylinder at 16k miles without any unusual or harsh driving. car had to be towed to the dealer. no oil was left in the car -- it was in an "undriveable" condition. the service dept was shocked this happened on a twin overhead cam engine & thus didn't even stock the part to fix the car. dealer also said there was no engine damage, although i find that hard to believe since the car was driven for some time without realizing the problem. *ak

Battery.

Spark plug wire failed resulting in decreased power. yh

Coolant light failed. mjs

Seat belt failed. mjs

Windshield wiper blade failed.

Two firestone tires wrre flat. yh

Seat belt buckle did not fully engage and became stuck, when forcefully disengaged, the buckle didn't engage at all. yh

Power steering pump failed. yh

Power steering box failed. yh

The problem in a nutshell is unexpected/unpredictable apparent loss of braking.

Power window motor.

Generator failed. yh

Window washer spray nozzle failed. yh

Power windows failed. nm

Power window regulator failed. mjs

Lumber support for the seat failed. yh

Rear window shield wiper failed. yh

Windows failed. yh

Turn signal failed. *yc

Dome light (bulb) failed. *yc

Defect with owner's manual. *yc

Door seal malfunctioning. *yc

Left rear door light assembly failed, fell off on the rear floor. *yc

Dome light assembly switch failed. *yc

Parking brake switch failed.

Fuel injection system failed.

Power windows failed.

Sun visor failed.

Starter failed.

Transmission failed.

Valve replaced due to failure. *yc

The coolant overflow tank cap not tight. yh

Transmission failed. yh

Washer fluid nozzle was replaced, due to failure. problem still exist. *yc

Battery / alternator / generator assembly failed. *yc

Vehicle experiencing noise in the front end. dealer could not find anything wrong and advised consumer that there is no adjustment on front brakes and the rear brakes adjust themselves. however consumer found out that the rear brakes do not adjust themselves and have to be adjusted manually. this happened 3 times. vehicle also losing brake pedal going 2/3 of the way to floor. dealer found left front wheel rotor was worned. consumer replaced brake pads and rotors. *tt the calipers were sticking and the dealer was not willing to replace it. *yh

Vehicle experiencing noise in the front end. dealer could not find anything wrong and advised consumer that there is no adjustment on front brakes and the rear brakes adjust themselves. however consumer found out that the rear brakes do not adjust themselves and have to be adjusted manually. this happened 3 times. vehicle also losing brake pedal going 2/3 of the way to floor. dealer found left front wheel rotor was worn, consumer replaced brake pads and rotors. problem no longer exist. maufacturer notified. *tt

Rotors warped very frequently after service, causing the brake and the front end of the vehicle to vibrate and creating serious safety hazard. yh

Design location of the horn made it hard for the consumer to find during an emergency resulting in an accident.

Seat belt failed to restrain passenger during an accident.

Transmission jerking and experiences unwanted surges almost resulting in collisions.

Design of the head light switch is located on the turn signal dial allowing for accidental disengagment while engaging the turn signal.

Transmission converter housing was pourous and allowed transmission fluid to leak out. the converter housing had to be replaced, with new gaskets, filter and sealant.

Window weather stripping too loose causing visibility problems due to condensation.

Ignition key sticking due to faulty brake lock shift and cable park interlock.

Gas gauge failed due to faulty sending unit.

Idle control valve failed causing stalling.

Front end misaligned, resulting in pulling.

Engine experiencing knocking problems.

Fan motor and blower failed.

Tape player failed twice.

Brake light bulb failed.

Air bags failed to deploy during frontal collision.

When the truck lid is raised in rainy weather, water drips into luggage compartment due to design.

Upon applying steady pressure the brakes release a couple of seconds after initial application.

Front suspension out of alignment causing the vehicle to pull to the right while driving.

Doors out of alignment causing persons to slam the doors for them to latch.

Turn signal requires excessive effort to activate due to design.

Tie rod came apart due to missing/omitted nut and cotter pin.

Front seat belt attachments are too low, when sitting in seat it is very difficult to see release button.