2000 Saturn SC1 Owner Complaints

IGNITION STUCK AND CANNOT START OR STEER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248407

Incident

Nov 8, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MADE A LEFT TURN. SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND SUDDENLY THE WHEELS JERKED TO THE LEFT, SENDING HER INTO A PARKED CAR. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNRESPONSIVE TO STEERING. UPON EVALUATION BY A MECHANIC, THE FRONT LEFT SPINDLE HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO IN THE PROCESS HAD BROKEN THE LEFT SIDE TIE ROD. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO UNDUE STRESS ON THE SPINDLE; IT JUST FAILED OUTRIGHT WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AND HAD TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AT A SHOP 1 WEEK PRIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216710

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

74,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PUSH ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WITH THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT I FELT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVERS SEAT WENT INTO THE FULL RECLINE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT. I CONSIDER BOTH OF THESE FAILURES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146653

Incident

Dec 31, 2005

Mileage

46,000 mi

IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE FROZE UP! UNABLE TO STEER, SHIFT GEARS OR RESTART ENGINE! UNABLE TO TOW CAR TO SATURN DEALER BECAUSE OF LOCATION. TRIED ALL RECOMMENDATIONS & NOTHING WORKS! LOCKSMITH INFORMS ME THIS IS SPECIFIC TO SATURN! ONLY POSSIBILITY THAT MIGHT WORK IS TO DRILL OUT TUMBLER IN IGNITION LOCK! SATURN REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES! SATURN HQ CAN NOT BE CONTACTED BY CUSTOMER!! CAR HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES & WARRANTY NO LONGER COVERS THIS! SEARCHED INTERNET CONSUMERS AFFAIRS & FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SAME THING! OTHERS HAD DAMAGE & INJURIES & EVEN HAD CARS TOTALED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING!!! I WAS INFORMED BY PHONE FROM SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THIS WAS COMPANY "PRIVILEGED INFORMATION" & SATURN REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH MY REQUEST!! OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!! THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED CASE!!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN!! THANK GOD MY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE TIME--THE OTHERS WERE NOT SO LUCKY! ONE GOT WRAPPED AROUND A TELEPHONE POLE, WHILE OTHERS LOST STEERING & ALSO "FROZE UP" JUST LIKE MINE! I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF IN OCT. 2000 THAT PERTAINED TO THIS--IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LOCK OUT CABLE TO THE TRANSAXLE. THIS MAY BE INTERRELATED??? THE KEY SLIDES IN/OUT OF KEY WAY WITH NO FRICTION! SEEMS LIKE TUMBLERS ARE NOT CATCHING. KEY WAY HAS BEEN LOSE & REPORTED TO SATURN DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO ACTION TAKEN!!! THIS HAS BEEN OVER 3 YEARS AGO!!! ONLY REPLY FROM SATURN WAS "RETURN TO DEALER! YEA!! HOW???? ALSO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT??? I CAN NOT EVEN GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE TO HAUL IT DOWN THERE ON A CAR CADDY!!! AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS THAT WRECKED THEIR CAR BECAUSE OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING????? *JB

NHTSA ID

10131204

Incident

Jul 28, 2005

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHEN DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED, "FROM A FAST STOP, ECT..." AND PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE BELT FROM THE BODY. THE BELT IS FED FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR THOUGH A LOOP ATTACHED ON THE HEAD RESTRAINT, WHEN MINIMAL PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE BELT IT TWIST'S THE HEAD RESTRAINT TO A BREAKING/ BENDING POSITION AND ALLOWS WAY TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN EVEN A MODERATE FRONTAL COLLISION WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE HEAD RESTRAINT WOULD BREAK AND CAUSE THE PERSON OCCUPYING THAT SEAT TO STRIKE THE INTERIOR. OR IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT THE PERSON NOT BEING PROPERLY RESTRAINED WITH POSSIBLE AIRBAG INJURY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023611

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

THERE IS A METALLIC SOUND; A MECHANIC SAID THAT THE DRIVER- SIDE FRONT STRUT MAY BE FAULTY; THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT;;MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BRAKE PADS ARE OK; THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING AND WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55MPH; ANOTHER MECHANIC WILL CHECK THE ROTORS AND FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE IS THAT IT SPINS WOBBLY AND THE SURFACE OF THE TIRE IS UNEVEN. TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED WITHIN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT THE STRUT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE TIRE DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

761042

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2-LANE HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN ANTELOPE RAN OUT IN FRONT OF US. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO AVOID HITTING THE ANIMAL AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE ENDED UP AIRBORN AND DROVE OFF A 30 FOOT EMBANKMENT. THE CAR LANDED NOSE FIRST ON THE GROUND. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THANKFULLY, EVERYONE ESCAPED WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED, THIS ALL AFTER ONLY OWNING THE VEHICLE TWO WEEKS. I FEEL THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR LOW IMPACT IN FRONTAL CRASHES. IF HITTING SOLID GROUND NOSE FIRST AT 65 MPH ISN'T LOW IMPACT, I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT IS! *AK

NHTSA ID

721697

Incident

Apr 7, 2000

NONE OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONNAIRE APPLIED TO MY COMPLAINT ON THE SC2. MY MAIN SAFETY CHILD ISSUE WITH THE 3RD DOOR IS THAT IT IS A TRAP WHEN SOMEONE ELSE PARKS NEXT TO YOU AND YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR! I SPECIFICALLY TOOK MY CHILD TO PURCHASE THE SL2 AND HAD IT DEMOED IN AN OPEN AREA VS A CONFINED AREA WHICH DID NOT MAKE MY PROBLEM ARISE TILL I HAD THE CAR IN A TRAPPED CONFINED AREA AND COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND 3RD DOOR TO GET OUT!*AK

NHTSA ID

719468