1997 Saturn Sl Brakes Problems

I HAVE A 1997 SATURN SL2. THE "BUTTON" ON MY PARKING BRAKE HANDLE POPPED OFF THE OTHER DAY (03/27/2006), RELEASING MY PARKING BRAKE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON A STEEP HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR, OTHERWISE THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED AWAY. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A TINY PIECE OF "PLASTIC" IS ALL THAT HOLDS THE PARKING BRAKE IN PLACE. ONCE THE BUTTON IS BROKEN, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. I REALLY THINK THIS WARRANTS A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154263

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

I BOUGHT A NEW 1997 SATURN , PAID CASH AND 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. PUT BRAKES ON, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR (6/7/97). SATURN DID NOTHING REGARDING THIS. THEY SAID I WAS NOT USE TO THE BRAKES. TAPPED THE BACK OF A VAN. 2.) HAD GRAND CHILD IN CAR, BACKING INTO GARAGE BRAKES DID NOT HOLD AGAIN. HIT SAND BAGS HUSBAND HAD IN GARAGE THAT STOPPED CAR. SOME NUT CAME FROM ANOTHER STATE, SISN'T DRIVE EVEN 2 MILES AND SAIDM THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES!!!!! I WORKED IN A VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (C.V.S.) IN CHICAGO, IL, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INSPECTION WAS NOT RIGHT. WROTE TO EVERBODY, NOT HELP FROM NOBODY!!!!! I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A SATURN TO ANYONE!!!THEY ARE LEMONS!!!I PUT A SIGN IN MY CAR SAYING DON'T BUY A SATURN, YOU'LL GET A LEMON LIKE MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

10082762

Incident

Jun 7, 1997

Mileage

10 mi

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC

NHTSA ID

898710

Incident

Oct 20, 2001

SINCE 1999 THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAVE BEEN TURNED AND THEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH 3 SETS OF NEW BRAKES THAT WERE BAD WHEN TAKEN OFF, ALONG WITH THAT TIRE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE. NOW THERE IS A SEVERE VIBRATION THEN FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER AND RPM'S GO CONTINUOUSLY UP AND DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDENS UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

751296

I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 1996. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALL OF WHICH I AM TOLD IF THEY CAN'T FIND IT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I STOPPED TAKING MY CAR TO THEM BECASUE THAT WAS WHAT THEY TOLD ME - I HAVE LOGGED COMPLAINTS TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ONLINE AND THEY TOLD ME I CAN NOT HAVE COPIES OF THOSE RECORDS - RECENTLY, I WAS LEFT STRANDED AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW $3800.00 ENGINE, MY HUSBAND WENT AND GOT THE CAR - IT WORKS FINE!!!!!!!!! NO NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WHEN I SOPKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AND OWNER THEY SAID OOPS BDA DIAGNOSIS - WHAT ID I HAD PAID THAT MONEY TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPAIRED? THEY STILL SAY THERE ISN'T AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MY CAR AND IF I WANT I CAN BRING IT UP WHENEVER THE ELECTRICAL GUY IS THERE NEXT. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SATURNS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELEIVE THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND BY "NOT FINDING IT" THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR CAR DIES FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE FRREEWAY - OR YOUR BRAKES COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE MOVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT....... - I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

747465

I HAD TO HAVE CONSTANT SERVICING DONE W/CAR IN SHOP OVER A 1 YR PERIOD FOR UP TO 1 WK @ A TIME W/ FAILURE IN SYSTEMS LISTED BRAKES & TIRES NOT COVERED W/WARRANTY THOUGH ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE ANOTHE DEALER SERVICED CAR ORIG. DEALER WOULD NOT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 175-75-14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 175-75-14 )

NHTSA ID

745867

HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, OIL PAN GASKET, SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT, AND COOLANT LIGHT ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON, WORK COMPLETED BY DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID

785360

Incident

Mar 13, 2001

ALL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE DISAPPEARED BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

NHTSA ID

864785

Incident

Jun 29, 2000

DUE TO DESIGN REAR DISC BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CORROSION. THIS, IN RETURN, RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *AK THE CALIPERS ON THE REAR DISC BRAKES CORRODE REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKES. *YH

NHTSA ID

864027

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

RRED ONE YEAR AGO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE FIXED IT. NOW IT IS FALLING AGAIN. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS MORE LIKELY TO FAIL WHEN HEADLAMP IS OFF. IN ADDITION, I ALSO SAW OTHER CARS OF SAME MODEL HAD THE SIMILAR FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ID

721409

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

DURING A LEFT TURN DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ITS ENTIRE RANGE WITHOUT SLOWING OR STOPPING THE CAR. THE BRAKES WHERE THEN PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS, THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY USE OF THE PARKING BRAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

721095

Incident

Apr 4, 2000

ABS BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION, PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED DURING IMPACT INJURIES DUE TO FAILURES. YH

NHTSA ID

550684

Incident

Jan 16, 2000

ERRATIC PROBLEM WITH BRAKE GRINDING / SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP THREE TIMES, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND THAT WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER KNEW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOKINTO THIS MATTER AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

851138

Incident

Sep 15, 1999

ONGOING PROBEM WITH TRANSMISSION NOT CHANGING GEARS PROPERLY ON ANY SPEED, AND SLOW RESPONDING FROM A STOP POSITION/TAKE OFF, HESITATION. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE, AND WILL BE TRADING IT IN WITHIN A FEW MONT ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE PASSING IT ON . *AK

NHTSA ID

850779

Incident

Oct 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE W/EMERGENCY BRAKES ON OF HAD NO KNOWLEDGE. WAS COMING OFF FREEWAY & WAS APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. STARTED TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER & FOUND BACK BRAKES BURNT OUT. ORGINIAL BRAKES CHECKED & WAS NOT BURNT OUT. OWNER HAS BRAKE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

847508

Incident

Jul 21, 1999

DEFECTIVE FAN BELT TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ABS WHILE MAKING U-TURN. *AK

NHTSA ID

844630

COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE, CREATING UNSTABLE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO RADICAL VIBRATIONS THROUGH STEERING SYSTEM. DEALER SOLUTION AND MANUFACTURER'S "BAND-AID" SOLUTION - CHANGING ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WITH INFERIOR PARTS THAT CONTINUE TO FAIL (4 TIMES FRONT, 2 TIMES REAR; MOST RECENT - FRONT ROTORS CUT). MANUFACTURER'S EXPLANATION OF FAILURE ON 2 OCCASIONS: CAR IS NOT SUITABLE FOR NORTHEAST, CAR IS USED FOR LONG TRIPS TOO OFTEN (84 MILE ROUND-TRIP COMMUTE), AND DRIVER USING BRAKES TOO MUCH, CAUSING THE FAILURE IN MANUFACTURER'S EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY: FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO SOFT BRAKING SYSTEM/NO BRAKES, INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO RADICAL PULSATION IN STEERING SYSTEM WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE, & FINANCIAL BURDEN ONCE BRAKES ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

708257

Incident

Feb 19, 1998

BRAKES CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCE NOISE AND REQUIRE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO ENGAGE.

NHTSA ID

544496

WHILE DRIVING ALONG ON A DAMP DRAWBRIDGE, PROCEEDED TO PUT ON BRAKES THEN THE CAR PLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT BETWEEN 50 TO 60 FEET STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

828106

Incident

Sep 16, 1998

BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN DAMAGES TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

537936

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE REAR BRAKES WON'T ADJUST.

NHTSA ID

534080

Incident

Jan 22, 1998

SUNVISOR CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

534043

Incident

Jan 23, 1998

BRAKE FAILURE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

531147

Incident

Dec 22, 1997

BRAKES,MASTER CYLINDER; DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 73MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET, CAR CROSSED INTERSTATE GOING SLOWELY, TAPPED BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE, PUMPED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. BY THIS TIME VEHICLE WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE C OULDN'T GET VEHICLE TO STOP. TRYING TO GEAR CAR DOWN TO REDUCE THE SPEED, GOT OVER ON RIGHT HAND SHOULDER OF ROAD AND BRAKES CAUGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

814010

Incident

Jun 25, 1997

EXITING STREET FROM DEAD END WHERE CONSUMER LIVED 11 YEARS, ATTEMPTED TO SLOWLY STOP, BRAKES REJECTED, THEN SLAMMED ON BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN, A CAR CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE, CONTINUED TO MOVE THEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKES GRABBED. *AK

NHTSA ID

813531

Incident

Jun 15, 1997