1996 SATURN SL Complaints

CRACKED HEAD CYLINDER CAUSED BY OIL MIXING WITH COOLENT. SATURN REFUSED TO HONOR SUPPLIMENTAL WARRANTY PROVIDED IN TSB 99P01. *AK

IN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT CAR--FORTUNATELY WHILE PARKED--THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY WENT LOOSE IN MY HAND. DISASSEMBLY REVEALS THAT THE COUPLING AT THE BASE OF THE GEAR STICK HAS A PLASTIC CLIP WHICH HAS BROKEN. A CALL TO SATURN OF HONOLULU PRODUCED THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN "GETTING QUITE A FEW OF THOSE LATELY". THE FIX REQUIRES NEW "CABLES" AS THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH BROKE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE "CABLE"--WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A BAR TRANSLATING THE FORCE OF GEAR STICK FORWARD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY VEHICLES AS HE STATED IT COULD REPEAT EVEN AFTER THE CABLES ARE REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL IT COULD LEAVE THE DRIVER IN THE WRONG GEAR OR WORSE NOT IN ANY GEAR AND PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PIECE WHICH I WILL BE HAPPY TO E-MAIL.*AK

ON 7/20/00, 9/21/00, 8/14/01, AND 7/26/02, THE DOORS ON THIS VEHICLE DID NOT CLOSE AND SECURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DOORS MUST BE TIED SHUT WITH ROPE TO SECURE THEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS ONE INCIDENT, THE LEFT REAR DOOR OPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. PASSENGERS COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY!! SATURN STATES THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. CURRENT INCIDENT OF 7/26/02 WILL BE BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION. SATURN OF DANBURY, CT ALSO PERFORMED WORK ON VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM ( 8/14/2001). AT THIS TIME, BOTH REAR DOORS HAD ASSEMBLY AND DOOR HANDLES REPLACED. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 7/26/2002, THE PASSENGER RIGHT-FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT SECURE. PASSENGER MUST RIDE IN REAR SEAT. VEHICLE IS GARAGED YEAR ROUND AND MAINTAINED BY SATURN DEALERSHIPS IN STAMFORD AND DANBURY, CT. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A GAS STATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STRUCK THE CURB AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE MECHANIC CUT THE AIR BAG OUT OF STEERING WHEEL AND SHOWED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT DEPLOYED CORRECTLY, HALF OF THE AIR BAG HAD STAYED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HALF THAT WAS STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG OR ITS DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, AND SHE THINKS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SATURN TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST. *YD

MY TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING FROM LONG BEACH, CA. TO PHOENIX, AZ. WHICH IS ABOUT SIX HOURS AWAY. ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX MY TIRE BLEW OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED 2 - 3 TIMES. I EXPERIENCED MINOR INJURIES TO MY HEAD AND OTHER PLACES ON MY BODY. I ALSO EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH THAT AFFECTED MY MEMORY AND CONCENTRATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT ON THE SLANTED WINDSHIELDS CAUSING A BLINDING REFLECTION ON THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASH. *JG

CONSUMER STATED THE BENCH SEATS COLLAPSED DURING A FRONT END COLLISION, THE COLLAPSED SEAT PUSHED CONSUMERS CHILD INTO BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

ACCELERATOR ENGAGED & WOULD NOT DISENGAGE & STEERING CONTROLS FAILED. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND TO CRASH INTO CONCRETE WALL.