1998 SATURN SL Complaints

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

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