1999 SATURN SL Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH AS THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, SWERVED OVER A LANE THEN OFF THE HIGHWAY, HITTING THE CURB AND ENDING UP IN A GRASSY AREA. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND COURTESY PATROL ARRIVED TO ASSIST IN CHANGING THE TIRE. THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO IMMEDIATELY GET ME ON MY WAY, SO THE COURTESY WORKER THREW MY TIRE INTO THE TRUNK AND I LEFT. WHEN I GOT TO THE TIRE STORE WE EVALUATED THE TIRE AND 40% OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATION. THE CAR HAS MAINTENANCE DONE EVERY 3000 MILES, SO TIRES WERE ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: W2EPBCA428 TIRE SIZE: P17570R14 )

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 RESURFACED AT ONLY 22,500 MILES (BRAKING QUALITY IS DEGRADING AND THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, PULSATES, AND VIBRATES DURING BRAKING). NEITHER MY WIFE OR I FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL STOP EVERY TIME AND HOW MANY CAR LENGTHS IT WILL TAKE TO FINALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKING PROBLEM IS SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL IS SWITCHED TO THE ON POSITION, EVEN IF IT IS NOT ACTUALLY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLES SPEED.

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

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