18 of the
369 complaints about the 1996 Saturn SL are about the
throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,015 miles.
F
18
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
1055.6%
Accelerator Pedal
527.8%
Cruise Control
211.1%
Linkages
15.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Saturn SL year
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT HAD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HARNESS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,824. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10
NHTSA complaint #10299775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,015 milesFarmingdale, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN TRYING TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO 70 MPH. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS ACCELERATOR PEDAL POPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10047924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,015 milesFarmingdale, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN TRYING TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO 70 MPH. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS ACCELERATOR PEDAL POPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10047924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
High Springs, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. RANDOM ACCELERATION ONE TO FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. CC SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO DECEL BUTTON. CC SYSTEM WILL DISENGAGE WITH SYSTEM SET TO OFF. ACCELERATION ON FAILURE IS STRONG, BELIEVED TO BE A FULLY OPEN THROTTLE ON FAILURE. MR
NHTSA complaint #768431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Turnersville, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN GOING FROM A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED TO A LOW RATE OF SPEED (65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR 40 MPH TO 15 MPH) THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES, THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP WITHIN THE NORMAL DISTANCE . WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND SLOWING TO A RATE OF ABOUT 15 MPH ENTERING A HIGHWAY RAMP, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE WET ROADWAY WHCIH CAUSED ME TO SKID AND GO UP ONTO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAD APPROX. $2500 WORTH OF DAMGE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE 5 PEOPLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO ROADWAY CONDITIONS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 20 MPH SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN AHEAD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT THIS TIME. AGAIN, IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #766456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Campbell, KYCrash4 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR ENGAGED & WOULD NOT DISENGAGE & STEERING CONTROLS FAILED. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND TO CRASH INTO CONCRETE WALL.
NHTSA complaint #757792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Campbell, KY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8003553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Escondido, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS.
NHTSA complaint #534035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rohnert PA, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND SET CRUISE CONTROL AT FREEWAY SPEED, BEGAN TO EXIT, TOUCHED THE BREAK TO SHUT CRUISE OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SHUT OFF. STOOD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW VEHICLE, REMOVED PRESSURE MOMENTARILY AND VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO SET CRUISE SPEED, TURNED OFF CRUISE AT MAIN SWITCH, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT GUARDRAIL, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 55MPH IMPACT TO REAR FROM THE GUARDRAIL.
NHTSA complaint #781464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL MODULE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenwood, IN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TURNING ON CRUISE CONTROL, THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, AND WOULD NOT DECREASE SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER TRIED TO ENGAGE / DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT ENGINE CONTINUE TO RUN AT HIGH RPMS. CONSUMER RESULTED TO USING HEAVY BRAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FORCE THROTTLE AND REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #825991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boxboro, MA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #817025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Worth, TXCrash2 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
UPON APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND FACING A RED LIGHT, ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT FOOT SLIPPED AND STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN 2 COLLISIONS/INJURIES. ALSO BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #540934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coconut Creek, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST TAKE OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES. CALL THE DLR AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANY THING. THE POWER MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND DECREASES SPEED ALL BY ITSELF. THE IT WILL LOSS SPEED AND THEN DIE OUT SHUTTING THE WHOLE VEHICLE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #816070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Enid, OK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE HESITATES TO START AT SOME MORNINGS/CONTINUOUSLY REVS AT 2500 TO 3000RPMS AND ACCELERATES AT ALL SPEEDS WITHOUT DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #518473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUN City Center, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ENGINE IDLES EXTREMELY HIGH, WITH USE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE RESULTED IN CRASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #813491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendora, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR ACCELERATES . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #803407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, COCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING, SPEED CONTROL SET ON SPEED LIMIT, STARTED BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN, CAR SPEEDED UP INSTEAD, VIA OFF HWY, CAR LOST CONTROL, SPUNNED, HIT GUARDRAIL.
NHTSA complaint #986999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.