1998 SATURN SL Complaints

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

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.

SMALL PLASTIC RING IN SHIFTER LINKAGE BROKE WHILE IN TRAFFIC LEAVING CAR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR.*JB

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

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.

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

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

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

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