1997 Saturn Sl Interior & seats Problems

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO START CAR. AFTER A FEW TRIES, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED ONLY TO HAVE MOUNDS OF SMOKE ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE SWITCH WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WE REMOVED DASH COVERS AND IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK, AND LOWERED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FIND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD WHAT WAS A BLACK WIRE THAT WAS MELTED BARE FOR A COUPLE INCHES, AND DISFIGURED THE ENTIRE WIRE, AND MELTED THE INSULATION TO OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HARNESS. JUDGING BY THE DAMAGE OF DONE TO THE WIRE, IT APPEARS THAT THE MOST HEAT WAS IN AN AREA WHERE THE WIRE WAS CLOSEST TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LEADING ONE TO BELIEVE THAT IT WORE THROUGH AND GROUNDED ITSELF TO THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH LED TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE WIRE AND SUBSEQUENT SMOKE/FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147402

Incident

Jan 9, 2006

1997 SATURN SL2. STARTED ENGINE, IT RAN A FEW SECONDS, THEN STOPPED WITH ELECTRICAL SMELLING SMOKE FLOWING FROM UNDER DASHBOARD INTO CAR. AFTER IT STOPPED, IT COULD STILL BE CRANKED OVER BUT WOULD NOT FIRE AND RUN. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PUSHED IT INTO OUR GARAGE, WHERE IT STILL SITS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118425

Incident

Dec 2, 2004

Mileage

77,000 mi

NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A FAULT. ON MARCH 26, 2005 MY WIFE WENT TO START THE CAR AND NOT ONLY WOULD IT NOT START, BUT SMOKE STARTED COMING UP FROM THE DASHBOARD. UPON HAVING IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE IGINITION SWITCH HAD FAILED AND HAD BURNT OUT THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAR HAS 48849 MILES ON IT. THIS JUST DOES NOT MAKE ANY REASON, AS SHOULD IGINITION SWAICHES GO BAD ON A LOW MILEAGE CAR AND CAUSE SO MUCH ADDITIONAL DAMAGE?

NHTSA ID

10116044

Incident

Mar 26, 2005

Mileage

48,849 mi

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. DEALER STATED WIRING HARNESS MELTED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065427

Incident

Mar 28, 2004

Mileage

64,443 mi

WE EXPERIENCED A DASHBOARD FIRE IN OUR 1997 SATURN SL1 IN THE FALL OF 2003. MY WIFE TURNED THE KEY, STARTED THE CAR, SHIFTED TO REVERSE, AND BEGAN BACKING UP WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT, THE CAR JOLTED TO A STOP, AND THE INTERIOR IMMEDIATELY FILLED WITH ACRID SMOKE. THE KNOXVILLE SATURN DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING--NOT CHEAP. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY-RELATED EVENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056916

Incident

Oct 16, 2003

Mileage

54,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO MY VEHICLE. EARLIER THIS WEEK I PURCHASED A USED SATURN FROM A DEALERSHIP IN FULL WORKING CONDITION. WHEN I CAME HOME TO SHOW THE REST OF MY FAMILY THE VEHICLE, WE ALL WENT FOR A RIDE. MY BROTHER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND MY MOTHER IN THE BACK SEAT. AFTER ARRIVING BACK TO MY HOUSE MY BROTHER AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE, WHILE MY MOTHER STRUGGLED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME SHE PULLED THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE LOCK BUTTON DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HANDLE WOULD CATCH AND REMAINED LOCKED. MY BROTHER AND I WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE VEHICLE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE EITHER UNTIL ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AFTER NUMEROUS UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS. THIS FRIGHTENED OUR FAMILY QUITE A BIT AND POSES A POTENTIALLY LETHAL SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR PASSENGERS THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SATURN FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY $85/DOOR TO HAVE THEM TAKE APART THE DOOR TO APPROACH THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR AND AN IRRESPONSIBLE ATTEMPT ON THEIR PART TO RESOLVE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008157

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

61,335 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE BACK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARD.DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE PEDAL,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM.RESULTING IN BACK INJURIES. MR

NHTSA ID

8021152

Incident

Oct 18, 2002

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015057

Incident

Jul 29, 2002

SEATBACK FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE PUT IN THE RECLINEPOSITION/ UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

764385

Incident

Jul 17, 2002

AT START UP HORN SOUNDED, THEN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013733

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

MANUAL SEAT TRACK WILL NOT LOCKING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TAKE OFF AND BRAKING WOULD CAUSE IT TO LOCK IN PLACE. I WAS ADJUSTING IT THE OTHER DAY BEFORE DRIVING AND IT BROKE. NOW IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

755352

Incident

Dec 4, 2001

THE SUBMARINE SEATING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL CAR SEATS. MANUALS DO NOT GIVE SUGGESTIONS OR NUMBER TO CONTACT TO HAVE SEAT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALSO, FOR SMALLER ADULTS, THE REAR SEATS ARE DIPPED SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS DON'T GIVE A PROPER FIT.*AK

NHTSA ID

748272

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION WHERE A SUV HIT ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT FORCED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT CAUSING MAJOR FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING THE REAR IMPACT CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN TO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSING ABDOMINAL AND BACK INJURIES. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

736809

Incident

Nov 9, 2000

CONSUMER WAS REARENDED AND WAS SMASHED IN BETWEEN TOW CARS. AT POINT OF IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS INTO BACK SEAT, CAUSING NECK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

874349

Incident

Oct 30, 2000

WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS ADJUSTED THE RIGHT SIDE DOES NOT LOCK. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED THE SEAT WILL JERK . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

857359

Incident

Feb 22, 2000

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP, AND ALLOW OCCUPANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. BACK SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MECHANIC HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857060

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

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

THE BACK OF THE REAR SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD AFTER A SUDDEN STOP.

NHTSA ID

609525

Incident

Nov 20, 1998

AT A DEAD STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT FROM THE REAR, AND BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED.CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

846357

Incident

Sep 15, 1997

SEAT BACK FAILED IN REAR END COLLISION PASSENGER SEAT RECLINED INTO REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

707180

Incident

Oct 3, 1997

WE WERE HIT STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND REAR-ENDED BY SOMEONE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT MY FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED AND BOTH MY FIANCE AND I SUFFERED FROM SORENESS AND NECK PAIN. EACH DAY WE ARE GETTING BETTER BUT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SEATS COLLAPSED.

NHTSA ID

703706

Incident

Feb 9, 1999

TRUNK LATCH FAILED, CAUSING TRUNK TO UNEXPECTEDLY SLAM SHUT ON HEAD OF PERSON WHILE THAT PERSON WAS USING THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ID

781754

I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR OF MY CAR WHICH CAUSED BOTH FRONT BUCKET SEATS TO SNAP TO A FULL RECLINE POSITION. AS A RESULT OF LAYING FLAT ON MY BACK I COULD NOT TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. I HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE BACK INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

700086

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

BOTH BUCKET SEATS WENT TO A FULL RECLINING POSITION WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ID

781011

Incident

Sep 15, 1998

IN A REAR END COLLISION THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK AND RESULTING IN INJURIES. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT ADJUSTER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

826954

Incident

Aug 1, 1997