Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
FIRST PROBLEM IS DOOR CHIMES WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. SECOND PROBLEM IS DOME LIGHT STAYS ON IN FRONT OR REAR POSITION WITH ALL DOORS SHUT. THIRD PROBLEM IS NO POWER AT ALL TO THE CAB WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR, AND THEN MY PASSENGER OPENED AND SHUT THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND THE POWER CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO RESET THE CLOCK AND RADIO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. WHEN I LOOKED UP A RECALL THIS IS WHAT I FOUND.: RECALL DATE:12-07-1998 UNITS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:64,199 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:98V307000 DEFECTIVE PART OR COMPONENT:COMMUNICATIONS:HORN ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION:VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED OR SERVICED WITH A HORN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD FAIL. THE HORN COULD EITHER BECOME INOPERABLE OR ACTIVATE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HEAT CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HORN ASSEMBLY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER COLE GILMORE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL1. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN ACTIVATES WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HEAT CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD OCCUR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND IS WAITING FOR AN INSPECTION. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2 SEDAN. ON MARCH 16, 2008, THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW WITHOUT WARNING. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS DISCONNECTED TO STOP THE HORN FROM BLOWING. THE NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VIN; HOWEVER, THEY LATER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE HORN. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR IN THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN, RECALL NUMBER, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
1996 SATURN SL2. HORN TURNS ON BY ITSELF AND WON'T TURN OFF, HAD TO UNPLUG IT. HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAD THE HORN SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE. I'VE ALMOST BEEN RUN OFF THE ROAD A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I COULDN'T HONK THE HORN WHEN SOMEONE WAS CHANGING LANES AND DIDN'T SEE ME. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR HORN MORE THAN 3 TIMES. *JB
HI, I HAVE A 1996 SATURN WITH VIN NUMBER [XXX] AND THERE IS A RECALL NHTSA RECALL NO. 98V307/ GM RECALL NO. 98C01 THAT APPLIES TO SATURNS OF MY MODEL BUILT FROM JULY 1995 TO FEBRUARY 1997. ACCORDING TO SATURN THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO VIN NUMBER RANGING FROM [XXX]TO [XXX], WHICH MY VEHICLES DOES NOT FALL. ACCORDING TO SATURN, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT 12/1995, WHICH WOULD BE DURING THIS PERIOD. SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE PLANT FOR WHICH THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPLY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT I MAY NOT BE THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT FELL THROUGH THIS CRACK. MY HORN IS EXHIBITING THE EXACT FAILURE (HORN STICKING ON) THAT THE RECALL IS FOR. SATURN HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE THROUGH THE NHTSA? THANKS. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
RECALL 98-V307. SATURN REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR A REPAIR THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE FALLS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECALL DOCUMENTS, IT SHOWS VEHICLES ALL AROUND MY VIN BUT NOT MY VIN. I HAD THE TWO PARTS IN QUESTION REPLACED 5/20/03 DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXACT SAME SYMPTMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL OCCURED TO MY VEHICLE. THE HORN WOULD SOUND WITH NO ONE AROUND. I FINALLY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN MANUALLY. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT FAILED BUT I HAD IT FIXED ON THAT DATE.
HORN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN ENGAGED. THERE WAS RECALL 98V307000 ON THIS ISSUE BUT THIS MODEL AND YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
I OWN A 1996 SATURN SL1 THAT I PURCHASED USED IN DECEMBER OF 2000. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HORN SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT SERVICED TWICE AND THE HORN IS BROKEN FOR A THIRD TIME. I REPLACED A FUSE IN SPRING 2001, BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. IN DECEMBER OF 2002 THE HORN WENT OUT AGAIN, SO IN MAY OF 2003 HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE ENTIRE HORN ASSEMBLY. THIS LASTED UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2003 WHEN MY HORN STARTED GOING OFF WILDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CAUSING THE LOCAL POLICE TO RESPOND AND GIVE ME A WARNING FOR A NOISE VIOLATION. IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA I AM REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OPERATIONAL HORN TO GET MY VEHICLE INSPECTED, WHICH IS CURRENTLY COSTING ME AN $66/YEAR IN REPLACEMENT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR PARTS TO FIX MY HORN AGAIN, WHEN I CAME ACROSS A RECALL NHTSA: 98V-307, GM RECALL: 98C301. THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE SW MODELS OF THE 1996 SATURN LINE. WHY DOES THIS ONLY APPLY TO THIS MODEL? THE EQUIPMENT AND THE CONFIGURATION ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL, AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC COMPLAINT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE ALTERNATOR FAILSEDWITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
I REPLACED MY BRAKES AND ROTORS TODAY. THE MECHANIC WANTED TO SHOW ME THE MESS THAT THEY WERE. I LOOKED AT THEM AND HE POINTED OUT HOW UNUSUALLY DESTROYED THE INSIDE PADS ARE. HE SAID HE RARELY SEES ANYTHING THAT BAD. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND SOME DAYS I REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET IT OUT OR GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS JUST HANGING ON BEFORE THE RUST OVERRUNS IT. *LA
HORN FAILED AS IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID #98V307000. DEALER DENIES VIN PART OF RECALL. NHTSA WEB SITE LISTS "Z" FOR SATURN MODEL, WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. DEALER REQUIRED ME TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF HORN.*AK
THE VEHICLES HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. *NLM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 98 V 307 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
THE HORN HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE QUIT, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY COMPUTER FAILURE .*AK
DRIVE BELT AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, VALVE BODY COVER AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. *YH
VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY IN A COOL DAMP SPOT. HORN STARTED TO BLOW ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN HORN THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HORN ASSEMBLY FAILED IN SAME MANNER AS RECALL, SATURN CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *AK
ONE TIME AT A STOP SIGN, PRESS THE BRAKING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT NO BRAKING EFFECT. AFTER ADJUSTING THE REAR DRUM OR DISK, PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT. THE CAR'S ALTERNATOR WAS DEAD AFTER ONLY 36000 BUT DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CAR START TO SHAKING FROM THE START TO END OF BRAKING PROCESS. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.*AK
SQUEALING NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA IN RAINY WEATHER, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE DRIVE BELT DUE TO IT BEING DRY AND CRACKED. *SLC
1,2,3. BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. FIRST KNOWN PROBLEM WAS ABOUT 08/99 WHEN DEALER FOUND PITTED & BLISTERED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. REPLACED THEM "AS A FAVOR" SINCE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (LESS THAN 36,000 MILES). I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT LOWER GAS MILEAGE AND FEELING LIKE CAR WAS "DRAGGING" AND HAD BEEN TOLD EARLIER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS - USE A LOWER GEAR. IN JUNE, 2000, I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE DISK WAS GLOWING RED AFTER A 36 MILE FREEWAY DRIVE. LATER, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET UNDER THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER WAS FROZEN IN THE "ON" POSITION. WD40 AND MUSCLE FREED IT, BUT IT HAD TO BE LEFT OFF AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER FOUND THE DISKS TO BE WARPED, CALIPER RUINED AND FRONT DISKS ALSO WARPED. PADS WERE NOT TERRIBLY WORN ON THE FRONT. I HAVE ROUTINELY GONE 50,000 ON PADS IN PREVIOUS CALLS; THE REAR PADS ON THIS CAR HAD LESS THAN 15,000!! AGAIN, DEALER IMPLIED IT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT A DEFECT BY SATURN. #4. SPEED CONTROL - DEVICE BEGAN ERRATIC FUNCTION - SPED UP AND SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING; AT TIMES WOULDN'T TURN ON. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NO NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM. #5. IGNITION SWITCH - STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY IN TURNING ON OR FULLY OFF (LOCKED POSITION). FIRST TOLD BY DEALER IT MUST BE JAMMED WITH KEY SHAVINGS-IF KEY SHOWS BRASS COLOR, MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A GROOVE IN THE SWITCH HOUSING-DUE TO USE OF A "HEAVY KEY CHAIN BY PREVIOUS OWNER". I PAID 50% - LOOKS LIKE CHEAP, SOFT METAL HOUSING-DESIGN FLAW. #6. HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT AROUND 26,000 MILES - 3 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER WHAT WILL FAIL NEXT - ALL OF THESE COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT.
DUE TO DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. ALSO, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *AK
RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT PREMATURELY. RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER HAD ADVISED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON OTHER VEHICLES, BUT HAD NO REMEDY. CONSUMER HAS SEEN 3 OTHER VEHICLES WITHSAME PROBLEM OF THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BURNING OUT. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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