SATURN Complaints

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2007 OUTLOOK XR STARTED EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT OPERATION. I TRIED TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP ONCE, BUT BY THEN THEY HAD COME BACK ON. A FEW WEEKS LATER, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THIS TIME, I HAD THE SHOP LOOK FURTHER INTO THE PROBLEM. AS IT TURNED OUT, BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT HARNESSES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND MY MECHANIC REPORTED THAT ONE EVEN APPEARED TO HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. WE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR OUR OUTLOOK, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SEEN ONLINE REPORTS OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE MUCH STURDIER AND THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T REOCCUR, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE METAL AND/OR WIRING ON THE FIRST HEADLIGHT HARNESSES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GM ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE AND FOR US TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST WE'VE ALREADY INCURRED. *TR

THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN THE RUN POSITION. I COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FROM THE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. FORTUNATELY, AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THROUGH THE DEALER, THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXCESS OF $500.00. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE, NOW, A YEAR LATER AND AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS (DIFFICULTY REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF) AS WERE EXPERIENCED BEFORE THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED LAST TIME. THIS PROBLEM, AFTER MUCH ON-LINE RESEARCH, IS AN ISSUE WITH SATURNS FROM 2005-2007. AS MOST INDIVIDUALS NOTED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SIX MONTHS OR MORE AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, THROUGH THEIR DEALERSHIP. MECHANICS ARE NOTING THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY, IN THAT EACH TIME THE KEY IS TURNED SMALL BITS OF METAL FROM THE KEY ARE FLAKING OFF INTO THE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP, TYPICALLY IN THE ON POSITION. THANKFULLY, FOR ME, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED CLOSE TO HOME. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR I AM AGAIN ANTICIPATING WILL TAKE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL BE DOING MYSELF OR SEEKING THE SERVICES OF A 'SHADE TREE' MECHANIC, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ON-LINE THROUGH EDMONDS AND OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITES, I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY PARTS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THIS POOR ENGINEERING SHOULD NOT BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ANY CONSUMER. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. HOWEVER, GM INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WAS COVERED. THE CONSUMER DISPUTED THAT, SAYING HIS VEHICLE DID HAVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPDATED 09/29/14

2003 SATURN ION . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOOR. THEN IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. THEN HALF OF THE DASH WENT BLACK. THE NEXT WINDOW WOULD GO UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WITH NO CONTACT OF ANY TYPE. THEN THE CONTROLS TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK/OPENING DEVICE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS ANY LONGER OR LOCK THE TRUNK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO BEING IN PARK, SO THEREFORE, SHE HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE O2 SENSOR AND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER PROPERLY REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. *JB

THE HEADLAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT IN JULY 2011 AND WE HAD IT REPLACED AT A GM DEALERSHIP. SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2011 ROLLS AROUND AND THE SAME HEADLAMP IS OUT AGAIN! FUNNY THING, AS I'M DRIVING AROUND TOWN I'M NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM (RIGHT SIDE EVEN) ON OTHER GM VEHICLES OF THE SAME BODY STYLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. A PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UPON AVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,256. UPDATED 10/27/11*BF UPDATED 3/30/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATE 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE ERUPTION OF FLAMES. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD COMPLICATIONS OPENING THE DOOR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE CONTACT WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOW STATION AND WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,072.

MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOOSE POWERSTEERING. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND I HAVE STEERING AGAIN. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN LIKE ONCE A WEEK, NOW IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT PARKED AND RUNNING UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE HOUSING IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATLEY TEN MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,500.

THE SATURN VUE I OWN IS A 4 CYLINDER AND THE HEATER CORE IS CRACKED JUST AS GM'S DOCUMENT ID[XXX] DESCRIBES. I STARTED TO SMELL ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE VENTS, ON ABOUT 9-3 WE HAVE GONE TO A RESTAURANT THAT NIGHT AND WHEN WE CAME OUT TO GO HOME, THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED UP, I TRIED TO USE THE DEFROST SETTING TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT, I HAD NO RAG TO WIPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD SO I WIPER IT WITH MY HAND TO GET SOME VISIBILITY, I WAS FORCED TO STOP SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY HOME TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD BY HAND. I CALLED SATURN GM CONCERNING THE ISSUE AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO A GM DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE HEATER CORE IS CRACKED. GM CLAIMS THEY HAVE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM TO FIX THIS ISSUE SO THE HEATER CORE WILL NOT CRACK BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN THE PROGRAMS GROUP. THE PROGRAM REROUTES THE HEATER HOSES SO THAT INTERNAL PRESSURE BUILD UP IS REDUCED TO A SAFE LEVEL AND PREVENTS THE HEATER CORE FROM CRACKING THE PROGRAMS NUMBER IS #09206A. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2009 AND WAS TO END 1-2011 BUT IT HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO 1-31-2012. AS I SAID ABOVE THEY CLAIM THAT THE DEFECT IS FOR A GROUP OF VUES WITH SERIAL NUMBERS 8S500002 TO 8S645537 WHICH WOULD NOT INCLUDE MY CAR. IF YOU READ #09206A IT DESCRIBES WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO MY HEATER. THEY STATE IN THIS DOCUMENT " WE HAVE LEARNED THAT YOUR 2008 MODEL YEAR SATURN VUE, EQUIPPED WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A HEATER CORE THAT COULD EVENTUALLY FRACTURE DUE TO PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS WITHIN THE HEATER CORE. IF THE HEATER CORE FRACTURES, YOU WOULD NOTICE A STRONG COOLANT SMELL, VAPOR OR MIST COMING OUT OF THE HEATER VENTS, AND OR AN OILY FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD." THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY VUE CONFIRMED BY THE GM DEALER AND REPORTED TO GM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR