2001 Saturn Sl Electrical Problems

I HAVE SOO MUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR

NHTSA ID

11081170

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

127 mi

MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.

NHTSA ID

10826037

Incident

Sep 19, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TOWARDS THE ON POSITION, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INDICATE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FUEL CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 7/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, WHEN SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. UPDATED 08/06/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10714333

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

142,000 mi

AFTER THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER IT WILL NOT ENGAGE AND TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE LOCK REMAINS STUCK IN THE "OFF" POSITION. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME CONSISTENTLY WORSE. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SATURN'S VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651903

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

118,025 mi

I TOOK MY SATURN IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION AND STARTING MY CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING AND COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THEY REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND CODE CYLINDER AND SECURED THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. NOW THE SAME IGNITION PROBLEM IS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE. IT TAKES A SERIES OF SHAKES OF MY KEY AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EVEN START THE CAR! I HOPE THAT I WON'T GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE WHEN THIS CAR WON'T START!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10641435

Incident

May 29, 2012

Mileage

135,169 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10633730

Incident

Sep 4, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD TURN ON AND THE WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE BY IT SELF AND THE CAR TURN OFF AND WON'T START AGAIN UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT IS OFF. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT HAPPENED WILE DRIVING WITH MY SON INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628666

Incident

Aug 26, 2014

Mileage

185,084 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10588074

Incident

Jan 2, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

FOR SOME TIME NOW MY HORN IS UNRELIABLE. I WAS BEHIND A CAR THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AND WAS TRYING TO ALERT THEM OF MY PRESENCE AND MY HORN WOULD NOT WORK. I REPEATEDLY KEPT PRESSING THE HORN ICON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY THAT A PERSON WALKING NOTICED AND ALERTED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. ANOTHER TIME I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS DISTRACTED WITH SOMETHING IN THEIR CAR AND THE LIGHT WAS GREEN AND I HAD CARS LINED UP BEHIND ME, I TRIED TO BLOW MY HORN TO ALERT THEM OF THE LIGHT CHANGE, NO HORN. AGAIN PRESSED HORN ICON REPEATEDLY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD SAY THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN 2009 AND PROGRESSED WITH SPORADIC AVAILABILITY UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I HAVE TOO MANY INSTANCES TO NAME WHERE I NEEDED MY HORN AND IT FAILED TO WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND AM WAITING THEIR REPLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584561

Incident

Apr 21, 2014

Mileage

36,000 mi

SOMETIMES MY SECURITY LIGHT GOES ON-WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IN ORDER TO START CAR UP I HAVE TO LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS, WAIT 20 MINUTES THEN START UP THE CAR. IT NOW HAS 117000 MILES ON IT AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND SHAKES AT ANYTHING OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR

NHTSA ID

10453448

Incident

Mar 30, 2007

Mileage

13,000 mi

SATURN 2001 ION IGNITION - CAR WON'T START BECAUSE KEY WON'T TURN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURNS AND IS A BAD SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE ARE STRANDED WITH VEHICLES THAT WON'T START OR SOMETIMES EVEN TURN OFF. THIS IS AWFUL, AND SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND GM IS ASKING FOR A BAILOUT? THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF GOVERNMENT WON'T FORCE A RECALL ON KNOWN ISSUES, THE COMPANY WINDS UP GOING EXTINCT DUE TO POOR QUALITY ISSUES. RECALL THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10252496

Incident

Dec 19, 2008

MY 2001 SATURN SL2 HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IGNITION LOCK ON DISCUSSION BOARDS. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JIGGLE IT TO START. I'VE BEEN LUCKY. IF THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL RATHER THAN ALL THE FALSE CHARGES AND REPAIRS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY? *TR

NHTSA ID

10239160

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

96,000 mi

2002 SATURN SL1. CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY**CC THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORK FINE. THE DASH LIGHT ALSO STOPPED WORKING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183710

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN SL FROM A SMALL CAR DEALERSHIP AT THE END OF JUNE 2006. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, MANY COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL - ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, STARTER. ALL WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE FAILED. JUST TODAY (12/27/06) THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN. WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177132

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

64,000 mi

WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO REINSERTING THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH OTHER MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ID

10129662

Incident

Jul 21, 2005

DT: AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION,. THEN, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REENTERED. ALSO, KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER IT WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. OWNER DID NOT THINK THAT SHE SHOULD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10126255

Incident

Jun 21, 2005

VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. FOUND POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL ON ORIGINAL AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKING AND CORRODING THE BATTERY CABLE. REPLACEMENT BATTERY CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110630

Incident

Jan 24, 2004

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WIRING BURNT OUT AND BROKE. THIS WIRES ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO OTHER WIRES IN THE ENGINE, AND COULD OF RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BURNT WIRES. THE CAUSE OF THE WIRES BURNING IS UNDETERMINED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10076236

Incident

May 30, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC THE MECHANIC RESET THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2000-2003 L-SERIES SATURNS REGARDING THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SO THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WIDESPREAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WITH HIS CAR WAS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10065530

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

BATTERY ACID LEAK ON POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL (SATURN 2001 SL2). ON 3/13/04 AT NIGHT TRIED TO START MY SATURN AND COULDN'T START IT. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A JUMP (CAR STARTED). *AK ON THE DRIVE HOME CAR LOST ALL POWER COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AFTER PUSHING THE CAR TO A GAS STATION I FOUND THE POSITIVE BATTERY WAS CORRODED. I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH THE CABLE FELL OUT OF THE BATTERY. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A TOW TO SATURN OF TORRANCE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 3/15/04 SATURN OF TORRANCE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK THE CAN IN FOR REPAIR. AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL OUT OF BATTERY POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED CLEANED AFFECTED AREA I WAS CHARGED $127.57 FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE) NOTE: BATTERY WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD GREEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING THE BATTERY WAS STILL GOOD. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH BEING CHARGE FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR A NEW CAR, AFTER LEARNING THAT QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE (SERVICE BULLETIN 01-T-26) NOTE: (STATEMENT POSTED ON THE INTERNET SAME PROBLEM) YES THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS BASICALLY CAUSED BY SOMEONE OVER-TORQUING THE CABLE MOUNTING BOLTS. THERE IS ACTUALLY A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM (NOT A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN) )1-T-26 .THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR ON ANY YEAR AND MODEL SATURN OR OTHERWISE WITH A SIDE POST BATTERY. BUT FOR WHAT-EVER REASON THE BULLETIN SPECIFIES ONLY 2000-2001 S-SERIES. (OVER-TORQUED AT FACTORY??) HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?S=D24372B7D0378A6EBF7DB656F9578E7E&THREADID=26203&HIGHLIGHT=SATURN+BATTERY+LEAK

NHTSA ID

10063984

Incident

Mar 13, 2004

Mileage

39,040 mi

AC DELCO CAR BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL FELL OFF THE BATTERY, CAUSING CAR TO NOT START AND BATTERY ACID TO DRIP ON CABLES UNDER BATTERY. BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH REVEALS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE WITH AC DELCO BATTERIES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10041081

Incident

Aug 19, 2003

Mileage

38,119 mi

THE VEHICLE BRAKE ROTOR WARP SEVERAL TIMES WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACTS AS IF IT WANT TO STALL WHEN SITTING IDLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE EITHER CONCERN. THE RADIO LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE THEREFORE THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIO. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10025025

Incident

Jun 26, 2003

Mileage

55,153 mi

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2001, IN JANUARY 2002, FEBRUARY 2002, JANUARY 2003 AND JUNE 2003, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SATURN CHANGED THE BATTERY IN JANUARY 2003 AND IN ALL OTHER OCCASIONS THE CAR NEEDED JUMP START. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE. SINCE ALL OF THEM WERE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, SATURN WOULD NOT TREAT THESE AS REPAIRS AS JUMP STARTS DO NOT COUNT AS REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025328

Incident

Jun 5, 2003

DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS ON 2001 SATURN SL. *MR FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES. INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE BUCKED AND STALLED AT IDLE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN ON ROAD TEST. RADIO LIGHT INOPERATIVE. RADIO ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10024545

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

Mileage

8,715 mi

IGNITION LOCKED DOWN WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. COMPLAINED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE PROBLEM. STOPPED GOING TO DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010890

Incident

Jun 27, 2002