2001 SATURN SL Complaints

The problem is with the Firestone Tempa Spare T115/70 R14 spare tire. This tire came with the car when new, and has never been used. Tire date of manufacture is 42 2000. I periodically check its air pressure, but it has never been out of the spare tire well. I checked the pressure 1 week ago, and found a large bulge in the tread, along with broken cords, both steel, and polyester (see photos). The inner tire liner has not ruptured, and the tire still holds air. One month ago I checked the pressure, and it looked completely normal. If I had a flat tire then, I would have put it on the car without hesitation. I suspect that it would have failed on the road leading to a possible disaster. My reason for alerting NHTSA is that I suspect there are many compact spare tires in people's trunks, in the same condition, just waiting to cause trouble. I brought it to a Firestone store and they showed no interest in it. I have removed the tire from the steel wheel, and you are welcome to have it to inspect. I live about 25 miles south of Chicago, IL. When you look at the attached photos, numbers 1-3 show the tire on the steel wheel with the tire inflated, number 4 shows the tire deflated, and off the wheel.

MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.

MY KEY COMES OUT THE IGNITION IN THE RUN POSITION, WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. THIS STARTED ABOUT THE YEAR OF 2009 AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. I HAVE 165,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW.

I HAVE TROUBLE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE STARTED THE KEYS CAN FALL OUT OF THE SWITCH. PLEASE ADD THIS TO THE IGNITION RECALL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TOWARDS THE ON POSITION, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INDICATE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FUEL CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 7/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, WHEN SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. UPDATED 08/06/15*JB

AFTER THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER IT WILL NOT ENGAGE AND TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE LOCK REMAINS STUCK IN THE "OFF" POSITION. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME CONSISTENTLY WORSE. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SATURN'S VEHICLES. *TR

OUR DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/9/2014. A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND HIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE SATURN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. OUR DAUGHTER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TR

I TOOK MY SATURN IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION AND STARTING MY CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING AND COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THEY REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND CODE CYLINDER AND SECURED THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. NOW THE SAME IGNITION PROBLEM IS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE. IT TAKES A SERIES OF SHAKES OF MY KEY AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EVEN START THE CAR! I HOPE THAT I WON'T GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE WHEN THIS CAR WON'T START!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD TURN ON AND THE WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE BY IT SELF AND THE CAR TURN OFF AND WON'T START AGAIN UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT IS OFF. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT HAPPENED WILE DRIVING WITH MY SON INSIDE THE CAR. *TR