1994 Saturn Sl Owner Complaints

THE FBI WAS MY FIRST CHOICE. THE CAR OVERHEATS FROM A COLD START AFTER I JUST FILLED UP THE COOLANT AND DROVE THE CAR FOR A FEW FEET IN 2 MINUTES FROM START. THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING. I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS EATING THE BATTERY LOAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME MAKING THE CAR LOSE POWER WHEN I CHECKED THE READING ON THE CARS INSTALLED VOLTMETER. THIS AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE. THIS EXTREME HOT TEMPRETURE CAUSES THE COOLANT TO BOIL AND OVERFLOW EVEN IF I AID IT WITH A REWIRED RADIATOR FAN ON I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATERPUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE HELP CAPTAIN AMERICA. THE RECEIPT FROM THE ATTACHED FILE IS THE LATEST.THIS CAR IS POSSESSED.

NHTSA ID

10876661

Incident

Jan 27, 2016

FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR WILL TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE ENGAGED, AND, IF LEFT ALONE, WILL RANDOMLY REENGAGE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAN CAUSE A SURGE OF ACCELERATION (AS MUCH AS ONE CAN EXPECT FROM A SATURN, ANYHOW) IF SPEED HAS SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532626

Incident

Jul 20, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BIG O BIG O ASPEN TIRES (205/70/R14 DOT U9T9 TX30103). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000.

NHTSA ID

10410032

Incident

Jun 18, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

I HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MY CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON A HEAVILY TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE TOTALLY REBUILT WITH A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND IT ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. I PAID OVER $1000 DOLLARS FOR THE REBUILT ENGINE INCLUDING LABOR AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN,I THINK ITS LUDICROUS BECAUSE MANY MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT SATURNS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY TIMING BELTS. NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN WITH NOT MANY OPTIONS. NEED SATURN TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10289905

Incident

Oct 25, 2009

I OWN A 1994 SATURN SL1 . THIS MODEL OF CAR EMPLOYS "AUTOMATIC" STYLE SEAT BELTS, THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN BY SLIDING UP THE TRACK. WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE BY SLIDING BACK ON THE TRACK. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC OPERATION DRIVEN BY A MECHANICAL MOTOR. THE TRACK OR SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM HAS FAILED, AND THE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL WHAT SO EVER. I FEEL THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A WORKING SEAT BELT??? SATURN IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER." THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND ARE REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH ME. IN THE MEANTIME I AM DRIVING AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A SEAT BELT!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED? I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SATURN DIRECTLY AS WELL TO NO AVAIL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10247213

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

68,322 mi

VEHICLE DRIVER SEAT SLIPS BACKWARDS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE FOLLOWING RECALL 99V045000, YET DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246930

Incident

Sep 19, 2008

Mileage

117,000 mi

SHIFTER CABLES BROKE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO SHIFTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222344

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

Mileage

100,230 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT MECHANISM FAILED SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN RECALL # 99V045000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10190383

Incident

Mar 7, 2007

Mileage

134,000 mi

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. ONLY THE LAP BELT IS OPERATIONAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166002

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

170,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION - GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE TO SHIFT CABLE -- BROKEN BUSHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MANUAL FLOOR SHIFTER WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT CABLE. THE CABLE FALLS OFF THE SHIFTER LINKAGE. SATURN PARTS (OEM) WANTS TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY FOR ~$200 (PLUS 3 HOURS LABOR TO INSTALL IT) -- SHOULD BE A $5 FIX FOR THE BROKEN PLASTIC BUSHING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG SATURN OWNERS. (SEE HTTP://WWW.CHAOSMAGNET.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/000112.HTML ). *JB

NHTSA ID

10163429

Incident

Jul 20, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUCKLE BETWEEN THE LEGS FOR THE HARNESS WILL UNLATCH WHEN PULLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. THIS IS AN EVENFLO 3252245P1 MANUFACTURED MAY 25, 2005.

NHTSA ID

10155076

Incident

Apr 11, 2006

Mileage

223,000 mi

1. NORMAL DRIVING, THE VIBRATION FROM NORMAL ROAD BUMPS OR POT HOLES. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS ON THE LOWER SIDES WHERE EXTREME STRESS EXHISTS, DANGER EXHISTS OF WEAKENED ROOF SUPPORT AND GLASS INJURY IF A COLLISION OCCURS. 3. MUST BUY NEW WINSHIELD BECAUSE ALL THE USED VEHICLES IN THE AREA HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE DESIGN WAS USED FOR ONLY THAT YEAR MODEL AND THE WINSHIELD WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE AUTO RESULTING IN A WEAK DESIGN. THE WINSHIELD PRICE IS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE WINSHIELD.

NHTSA ID

10127209

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED INTIL 2001 BY THE LOCAL DEALER WITH A USED ENGINE THAT LEAKED OIL EVERY WHERE I PARKED, MY COMPLAINTS YIELDED NO RESULTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, COOLING FAN FAILED AND IN AUGUST 2004, THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE OTHER USED ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE AND ALSO BROKE, SO TODAY I AM CARLESS AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN TIMING CHAINS. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING?*AK

NHTSA ID

10112407

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND CHILD SITTING IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TOLD THE FATHER THAT THE SEAT BELT CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. HOWEVER, ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT REMAINED UNSTITCHED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105089

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

Mileage

69,870 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093917

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

WHILE SLOWING FOR A STOP LIGHT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS SLAMMED FORWARD THEN BACKWARDS INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE ONTO THE REAR SEAT. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10066677

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

155,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A SPEED OF 50-55 M.P.H. *JB

NHTSA ID

10054964

Incident

Nov 21, 2003

THE VEHICLE FAILED NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055821

Incident

Jan 26, 2004

EMAIL FWD FM FHWA INQUIRING HOW TO HAVE A 1994 SATURN SL2 INSPECTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HER DAUGHTER WAS INJURIED.*MR *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10053422

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING BOTH SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT . DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044332

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

I OWN A 1994 SATURN, WHICH I PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1993. THE SPARE TIRE IN THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED. IT STILL HAS THE LITTLE BAR THINGS ON IT WHICH STICK UP. I RECENTLY HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN AND CHECKED THE SPARE AND OTHER TIRES AND WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK AND LIFTED OUT THE SPARE, IT HAD BLOWN UP. THE RUBBER WAS SHREDDED AROUND THE PLACE IT EXPLODED. WE TALKED TO SATURN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID TOO BAD ESSENTIALLY. SO I THOUGHT I'D WRITE TO YOU. LIKE I SAID, THE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED. YES, I KNOW ITS HOT IN PHOENIX, BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT THE DANGER I COULD HAVE BEEN IN IF I DID NOT TO CHECK THE TIRE AND BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY LEAVES ME KINDA SHAKY. THE TIRE IS ONE OF THOSE SMALLER DOUGHNUT ONES, # 1115 70R/14, RADIAL TEMPA SPARE. I STILL HAVE IT. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE FROM SATURN THOUGH, TO BE SAFE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON THIS. WHEN YOU TEST THESE FOR QUALITY CONTROL, DO YOU EXPOSE THEM TO HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME? THIS PROBABLY DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, THOUGH SATURN SAID THEY HAD SEEN A FEW OF THESE. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THEY HAD NOT TOLD YOU ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS. BETTY GREGAR 3623 E WINCHCOMB PHOENIX, AZ. 85032 602-971-7128 OCTOBER 7, 2003. *JB

NHTSA ID

10041265

Incident

Jul 12, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10034084

Incident

Aug 13, 2003

AS A RESULT OF BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. *AK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10022969

Incident

Jun 11, 2003

Mileage

162,700 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS MAKING A WIERD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SEATBELT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031296

Mileage

115,932 mi

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED TO WORK. MOTORIZED PORTION DOES NOT RETRACT OVER SHOULDER AS IT SHOULD. WHY IS THIS MY PROBLEM TO FIX? IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10028575

Incident

May 14, 2003

Mileage

125,000 mi