SATURN Complaints

WHILE RETURNING ON A TRIP AND USING THE TURN SIGNAL NORMALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE TURN SIGNAL SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS WORKING AT ABOUT TWICE THE NORMAL RATE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TURN LIGHTS WERE COMING ON. ON ONE PARTICULAR INSTANCE, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE TURN SIGNAL GOT EXTREMELY WARM TO THE TOUCH AND SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE SWITCH. THERE WERE SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS DURING THIS TRIP AND ON SUBSEQUENT DAYS, BUT ONLY THE ONE IN WHICH THE SWITCH ACTUALLY SMOKED (WHICH IS WHY I INDICATED A FIRE ABOVE). WHEN I CALLED SATURN (GM DEALERSHIP) ABOUT THIS, THEY MENTIONED THAT A SIMILAR SWITCH WAS UNDER RECALL, BUT NOT THIS ONE. AFTER HAVING REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, I HAD ASKED IF SATURN WANTED THE DEFECTIVE UNIT. SURPRISINGLY, SATURN DIDN'T SEEM TOO CONCERNED AND ASKED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP, IN TURN, TOLD ME THAT ALL THEY COULD DETERMINE IS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH AND TO CONTACT SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE. I AM QUITE CERTAIN THAT IF WE HADN'T CORRECTED THE ISSUE (WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE) THAT A MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD'VE BEEN CAUSED, AND THAT THIS SWITCH DESIGN IS FAULTY AND MAY POSE A SAFETY (THERMAL) CONCERN. I HAVE KEPT THE OLD SWITCH AND WILL GLADLY PROVIDE IT TO NHTSA IF REQUESTED TO DO SO. I DIDN'T FEEL IT SAFE TO KEEP USING THE OLD SWITCH, AND WHILE THE COST WAS RATHER MINIMAL TO HAVE IT REPLACED, I'M SURPRISED THAT SATURN DIDN'T OFFER TO REIMBURSE ME AND AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, DIDN'T REQUEST THE FAULTY PART TO BE RETURNED. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS SINCE REPLACING THE SWITCH, WHICH CERTAINLY CORRECTED IT. THE PART NUMBER LISTED ON THE OLD SWITCH IS SHOWN AS BEING AR339790736/22679804. IN ORDER TO NOT CAUSE THE SWITCH TO GO INTO THE MODE DESCRIBED ABOVE, IT WAS BEST TO NOT USE THE TURN SIGNAL ANY MORE THAN POSSIBLE. *TR

DURING A RAIN, WATER STARTED POURING OUT OF THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT COVERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WATER WAS LEAKING OUT OF HEADLINER BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND DOOR. IT IS DRIPPING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE SIDE NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ONTO THE FLOOR. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL DAMAGE THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND MAKE THE AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS FAIL. PLEASE HELP GET THIS RECALLED!!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR HAS A DEFECT IN WHICH THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE DOES NOT DRAIN PROPERLY. WHEN THE HOSE BECOMES CLOGGED, THE WATER DRAINS INTO THE DASH AREA OF THE CAR, FILLING THE BLOWER MOTOR WITH WATER THE WATER, WHEN SATURATED, LEAKS INSIDE THE CAR, ONTO THE FLOORING. THE WATER THEN SITS IN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND SOAKS THE FLOOR PADDING AND OTHER WIRES ALONGSIDE THE FLOORING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED ON OTHER SATURN OUTLOOKS. THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, IS NOT NOTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES MAINTENANCE (NOR IS MAINTENANCE SUGGESTED). THE DEALERSHIP THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO FOR SERVICE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, DID NOTE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM, AND NEEDS REGULAR FLUSHING. THEY QUOTED A PRICE OF $1500.00. UPDATED 08-16-12 *BF

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND I NEED TO PAY $1200 TO REPLACE IT. AT 3 YEARS OLD AND BARELY 50K THE AIR BAGS NOT WORKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS A BIG DEAL! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT VEHICLE STALLED WHENEVER BRAKING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE EXACT FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR THREE WEEKS BUT LATER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT SECURED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,762.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT HE COULD TAKE THE KEY OUR OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING SECURED IN PARK. THE CONTACT TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SECURED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM REGARDING POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR RECALL. DROVE WITH NO POWER STEERING 40 MILES TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP.TOWED IT HOME 4 DAYS LATER. THE CAR HASN'T STARTED SINCE. I WAS AWARE OF THE PASS LOCK PROBLEM AND TOLD THE DEALER THE CAR MIGHT TAKE A FEW TRIES TO START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOW CROOKED AND THE KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM. FOR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD FIX IT. HE CLAIMS HE DID THE WORK REQUESTED. I WOULDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THE CAR HASN'T STARTED SINCE. DRIVE IT IN AND TOW IT OUT ...NOW THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR YOU!!! A FREE REPAIR COST ME THE USE OF MY CAR AND 200 IN GAS AND TOW EXPENSES. WONDER IF I HAVE POWER STEERING??? HARD TO TRUST A DEALER THAT STATES" I NEVER TOUCHED THE COLUMN,YOUR PUMP IS UNDER THE HOOD" PUMP??? EVEN I KNOW THERE IS NO PUMP OR POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,623.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,479.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHIFTED INTO PARK BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.