SATURN Complaints

ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITH ORANGE BUICK GMC ORLANDO. I HAD THEM DO TWO RECALLS ON MY '05 SATURN: THE IGNITION SWITCH (WHICH WAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM), AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST (WHICH I'D HAD _ZERO_ PROBLEMS WITH PRIOR, IT WAS DONE AS A PRECAUTION). AFTER THE STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED, I STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING CODES ON STARTUP WITH NO ASSIST (TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN ON CLEARS IT). THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR AGAIN. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NOW THEY'RE SAYING THE STEERING COLUMN IS SUSPECT, IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOW FUNNY THAT THE COLUMN WOULD HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THEIR TECHS FOR BOTH THE MOTOR AND IGNITION REPLACEMENTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER ANOTHER RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,752.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,600.

WHEN IT RAINS MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK WILL CONTINUE TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. MY BATTERY DRAINS DOWN FOR NO REASON AND MY RADIO WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN. I HAVE RECENTLY STARTED SMELLING AN EXTREMELY FOWL SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES. THE SPEAKERS IN MY CAR WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT IN MY CAR THAT IS CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS.

ENGINE CRADLE LEFT FRONT RUSTING AND HOLES NOW NOT PASSING VERMONT STATE INSPECTION AND I HAVE HAD AND LIVED IN THE SALT BELT FOR 11 YEARS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL SECONDARY TO SAFETY ISSUES???

UPON RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE#14063 IGNITION REPLACEMENT AND #14113 IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND IGNITION KEY FOR VEHICLE FROM G.M. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALLS PREFORMED IN DOING SO DEALERSHIP REMOVED HAND CONTROLS FOR DISABLED DRIVER. HAND CONTROLS WERE NOT PLACED INTO PREVIOUS STATE AS VEHICLE WAS FIRST BROUGHT IN. DEALERSHIP IS NOT CERTIFIED TO INSTALL, REMOVE, MODIFY OR MAINTAIN HAND CONTROLS FOR DISABLED DRIVER. DEALERSHIP FAILED TO NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNER OF HAND CONTROL REMOVAL TO PREFORM RECALLS. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REINSTALL IN ORIGINAL POSITION UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE HAND CONTROLS HAD BEEN MODIFIED INTO AN UNSAFE OPERATING POSITION BY DISABLED OWNER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO OWNERS HOME LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM DEALERSHIP. WHERE IT WILL REMAIN UNTIL IT CAN BE TOWED TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP TO MODIFY HAND CONTROLS INTO PROPER POSITION FOR DISABLED OWNER TO SAFELY OPERATE VEHICLE. AS OF NOW VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE FOR SAFE USE BY OWNER.

I WAS STOPPING TO TURN RIGHT AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CARS BREAKS STOPPED WORKING. MY CAR RAN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THEN STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT UP 6 TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. THEN FINALLY IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I WENT TO START MY CAR LATER THAT DAY AND NOW IT REFUSES TO START. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR SHAKES, THERE'S A VERY LOUD TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND, THE ABS LIGHT FLASHES, THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IS ON. IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SECTION OF THIS FORM, IT ASKING ME TO ENTER THE VEHICLES MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. IT'S A SATURN L200 2002 BUT IT'S NOT GIVING ME AN OPTION FOR THE 2002. ONLY THE 2003.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,012.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES AND "SERVICE AIR BAG" APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND MUST BE CLEARED AFTER EACH START. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS NOW RENDERED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE AT ALL TIMES AND POSSIBLY AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE ENTIRE SRS SYSTEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SKYS AND PONTIAC SOLSTICES. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX (AROUND $800-$1000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR) AND APPARENTLY THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS AN EQUALLY SHORT LIFE EXPECTANCY AND SEEMS TO DEVELOP THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR MOST OF THOSE THAT HAVE REPLACED IT THUS FAR (ACCORDING TO RESEARCH DONE ONLINE). THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION PARTICULARLY SINCE THESE 2 SEAT CARS ARE QUITE SMALL WITH PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THEREFORE MAKING THE AIRBAGS A NECESSITY IN A COLLISION. GM, AS WELL AS THEIR DEALERS ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT APPEAR TO BE DOING NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. CLEARLY IT IS NHTSA'S DUTY TO FORCE THEIR HAND AND MAKE THEM RECALL THESE CARS AND REPLACE THESE PARTS WITH A REDESIGNED PART THAT WILL WORK PROPERLY AND THAT HAS AN ACCEPTABLE SERVICE LIFE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE ROADWAY, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME JARRED AND MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH LANES; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDER, AND LOWER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.