1997 SATURN SL Complaints

WHILE DRIVING, THE SHIFTED CABLE BUSHING (WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC) BROKE PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. NLM

SEATBACK FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE PUT IN THE RECLINEPOSITION/ UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR.*AK

AT START UP HORN SOUNDED, THEN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER: FOUL SMELL LIKE CAT PEE/AMMONIA AFTER USING A/C. REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER; THEY REMOVED A/C PARTS AND CLEANED EVAPORATOR, ETC BUT SMELL PERSISTS. UNSAFE FOR OWNER'S HEALTH TO USE A/C; ODOR CAUSES HEADACHE AND BREATHING TROUBLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD WAY TO HARD AND THAT WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ON COMING TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK, AND THIS WAS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO RADIATOR FLUID. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD BURN UP. *AK *YH

VALVE BODY IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUT INTO REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WE GOT CAR FROM SATURN OF WARWICK LEASED THEN BOUGHT OUTRIGHT . THE SERVICE ISSUE WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL WAS DONE AT THE SATURN OF SEEKONK LOC. IT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE. ON JAN, 16, 2002 WE HAD TO BRING THE SATURN IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WE STARTED THAT DAY LOOSING ANTI FREEZE QUICKLY THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT BUT DID NOT OVER HEAT, MEANWHILE THE REGULAR HEAT CONTROL DIDNT WORK 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND WE HAD IT SHEDULED FOR SERVICE THAT COMING SAT. WE DROP IT OFF, CAR RUNNING HOT BUT NEVER OVERHEATED THE TECH ONLY PUT THAT IN HIS REPORT . KEEP IN MIND WE HAD NO SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY DEALER LETTING US KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE RUN SLUGGISH, NOT STARTING AT ALL ETC. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN 900 MILES UP AND BACK OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS. THE TECH CONTACTS DAVID MY HUSBAND THE NEXT DAY TO TELL HIM THE PROBLEM . THE TECH STATES WE HAVE A CRACKED HEAD AND EVEN THOUGH ITS OUT OF MANF. WARRANTY SATURN WOULD FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY SUDDENLY I GET A CALL AT MY WORK THE SERVICE TECH SAYS FOUND MORE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH ENGINE THAT IT HAD BEEN BURN OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TOGETHER WHICH NO EVIDENCE OF THIS EXISTED, DIDNT SEEM RIGHT STATING WE REALLY NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH RUNSABOUT $3200.00 AND THEY SAY THEY WONT REPLACE IT INSTEAD REBUILD IT IF WE MAKE A DONATION OF $600. TO SATURN. WE KNOW THIS WASN'T RIGHT FROM THE START THEY COULD'NT TELL US WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD BLAMED IT ON POOR MAINT. AND CLAIMED TO BE DOING US A FAVOR BY ONLY CHARGING 600.00 TO REBUILD ENGINE WHICH WE KNOW WAS THE COST OF THE NEW HEAD DEALER COVERING UP. THIS IS WHY THEY MADE IT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE DOING A FAVOR THE CAR WAS MAINT. AND ENGINE HEADS JUST DONT CRACK AT 70,000 MILES. PLANT PERSON IN TENN. JUST AGREED WITH DEAIER. PLS CHECK EDMUNDS.COM SATURN REPAIR COMPL. PLSCK WE ARENT ONLY SNOW JOB REC. PLS. CAN YOU HELP US? WE WANT OUT OF THE CAR STILL OWE $4000. WHO WOULD BUY WITH THIS ISSUE CAN YOU HELP SOLVE.*AK

CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE BETWEEN LUBRICATION PORTS AND COOLING SYSTEM, RESULTING IN CONTAMINATION OF COOLING SYSTEM WITH OIL.

VEHICLE HIT A CURVE AT 10 MPH CAUSING AIR BAGS TO UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK