1998 SATURN SL Complaints

SEAT BELT BUCKLE DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE AND BECAME STUCK, WHEN FORCEFULLY DISENGAGED, THE BUCKLE DIDN'T ENGAGE AT ALL. YH

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

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND EXPERIENCES UNWANTED SURGES ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

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

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

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

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.

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

WINDOW WEATHER STRIPPING TOO LOOSE CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DUE TO CONDENSATION.

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