1998 Saturn SL

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/26/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  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

• 12/21/1999· SEATS

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE SEATBACKS BROKE, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  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

• 12/20/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  SATURN TELLS ME, "IT HAS TO GET WORSE BEFORE WE CAN TELL WHAT'S WRONG." NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

• 12/18/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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

• 12/13/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/12/2003· AIR BAGS,TIRESCrash

  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

• 12/06/2000· TIRES

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P28565/R15 )

• 12/04/2004· POWER TRAINCrash

  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

• 12/03/2002· SEAT BELTSCrash

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 11/22/2002· SEAT BELTS

  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

• 11/21/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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.

• 11/21/2000· SEAT BELTS

  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

• 11/16/1998· WHEELSCrash

  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

• 11/15/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. TS *JB

• 11/12/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE BY SLAMMING ON BREAKS BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH

• 11/12/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION JERKING AND EXPERIENCES UNWANTED SURGES ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

• 11/05/2003· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 11/05/1998· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY

  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

• 11/04/2003· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 10/30/2014· POWER TRAIN,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

• 10/29/2005· TIRES

  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

• 10/27/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  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.

• 10/27/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DESIGN OF THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED ON THE TURN SIGNAL DIAL ALLOWING FOR ACCIDENTAL DISENGAGMENT WHILE ENGAGING THE TURN SIGNAL.

• 10/23/2014· AIR BAGSCrash

  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

• 10/23/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  THE PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL IS UNEXPECTED/UNPREDICTABLE APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING.

• 10/22/2012· TIRES

  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.

• 10/22/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 10/19/2004· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 10/19/2001· SEATSCrash

  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

• 10/17/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  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

• 10/17/2000· TIRES

  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 )

• 10/15/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  NO SUMMARY

• 10/15/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ROTORS WARPED VERY FREQUENTLY AFTER SERVICE, CAUSING THE BRAKE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND CREATING SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. YH

• 10/15/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE ENGINE DIES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER DID NOT RECTIFY FAILURES.

• 10/08/2003· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 10/08/1998· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 10/03/2006· SEATS

  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

• 10/01/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY

• 09/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED STALLING AND SHUT DOWN DUE TO TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES. MJS

• 09/28/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SENSOR... WHEN IN REVERSE CAR TAKES OFF WITHOUT MY NEED FOR ACCELERATION. I USE BRAKE TO CONTROL MY SPEED. WHEN GOING TO DRIVE CAR LURCHES FORWARD BRAKE NEEDED, SPEED UP TO 25 MPG. SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. CONTINUES AT LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS.. DOES NOT IDLE DOWN... EXHAUST PIPE .. CRACK IN SEAM WELD.. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $300.00 FOR NEW PIPE, $ 206.00 FOR THE PART. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS IN THE PIPE AT DEALERSHIP....IN WAITING ROOM. *AK

• 09/27/2013· STRUCTURECrash

  EXITING FREEWAY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CRASHED VEHICLE. *TR

• 09/26/1999· SEAT BELTS

  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.)

• 09/24/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  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

• 09/24/2001· POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 09/24/2000· TIRES

  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

• 09/22/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN PASSENGER DURING AN ACCIDENT.

• 09/19/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  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.

• 09/15/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  THIS VEHICLE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE WANT TO FIND OUT FOR SURE! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

• 09/11/2003· SEAT BELTS

  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.