16 of the
202 complaints about the 2000 Saturn SL are about the
braking system — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
57,000 miles.
THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT BULB IT IS NOT BURNT OUT. ALL THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OVER BY QUALIFIED SALESPERSON WHO HAD SHOWN ME THAT MY THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS STILL WORKING, AND YET MY BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND WORRY CONSTANTLY THAT I WILL BE STOPPED DURING THE DAY, AS I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS ONE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. I READ SOMEWHERE ON A SATURN FORUM THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OVER THIS ISSUE, BUT I AM UNABLE TO LOCATE.
NHTSA complaint #10875003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesChandler, AZCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH (SPEED LIMIT.) THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKES. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS I SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH. MY BRAKES LOCKED-UP AND I SLID INTO THE PICK-UP TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 65 MPH. THE SEAT BELTS WORKED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS INJURED AND TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #10173835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington Heights, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
FOR 3 YEARS I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO SATURN ABOUT MY SATURN S SERIES CARS. ONE IS AN SL2 THE OTHER IS A SATURN WAGON. IN BOTH CASES WHEN THE WEATHER HAS BEEN EITHER SNOWY OR RAINY OR THE ROADS HAVE BEEN SLICK WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CORNER IN THE CARS THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE INITALLY. I HEAR A CLUNKING LIKE NOISE WHICH SATURN HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE & THEN MY ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AS SOON AS THEY SHOULD. THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF CONCERN SINCE I COULD BE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS OR JUST DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL & WHEN I TAKE A CORNER THE BRAKES DO NOT FULLY ENGAGE. I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES WHICH I DID & IT STILL DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE BEYOND THE FIRST MONTH AFTER BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES AGAIN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL HAS COME BACK. I WAS TOLD THE ROADS ARE JUST SLICK DUE TO THE FIRST RAINS, SNOW ETC OF THE SEASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SATURN WHO SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM & ALTHOUGH I HAVE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINING ABOUT IT THEY HAVE YET TO OFFER A SOLUTION. THANKFULLY WE HAVE YET TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAVE ON OCCASION RESORTED TO USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION BUT SINCE I SAW THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE GM TRUCKS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN TO ME & HAVE THE S SERIES SATURNS CHECKED OUT AS WELL. I SHOWED A COPY OF THE GM TRUCK BRAKE RECALL TO MY LOCAL SATURN & ASKED THEM TO CHECK THIS ON MY CAR & WAS TOLD IT WASN'T NECESSARY SINCE IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE THIS AS I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK. I HAVE LISTED THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE & THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10124156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesSalt Lake City, UT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AT ABOUT 25000 MILES DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN STOPPING, THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY DUE IT ONCE. THE CAR NOW HAS 62000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS THE ORIGINAL PADS, THEY ARE DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. BUT THE ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN, LOOKING AT OTHER PROBLEMS ON THIS SITE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAD A HONDA WITH OVER 200000 MILES ON ORIGINAL ROTORS?
NHTSA complaint #10058981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stockton, CAFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40-50 MPH COMING OFF A RAMP, SHE HIT THE BRAKES AND WHEN SHE RELEASED THEM, THEY LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURE DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES TO THE AUTO.
NHTSA complaint #10027019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Bernandino, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE RETAINING PINS WERE NOT REMOVED FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TWO YEAR WITHOUT REAR BRAKES *MR *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bucjhannon, WV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
CONSUMER STATES DRUM RETAINERS WERE STILL IN PLACE AND WERE NEVER REMOVED. ADJUST REAR BRAKES AND CLEANED.
NHTSA complaint #567413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kissimmee, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS VIBRATION, DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE DISCS 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #8010455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRAIN AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK VEHICLE WOULD POP AND JERK INTO GEAR AT 40 MPH, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, DEALER FOUND VALVE BODY SEVERELY CONTAMINATED, TORQUE CONVERTER METAL CONTAMINATED, DEALER REPLACED VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING, REPLACED COMPLETE TRANSAXLE. VIBRATION EXPERIENCED WHILE DRIVING OVER 65 MPH DUE TO ALL FOUR TIRES BEING OUT OF BALANCE. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A NOISE WHEN BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #8007304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
E Berlin, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES WOULD GRAB AND LOOSEN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ONCE; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8004435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dana Point, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE AND THE ROTORS RESURFACED 8 TIMES. ALL OF THIS WITHIN 1.5 YEARS. MY TRUCK IS A 1996 AND I HAVE ONLY CHANGED THE ROTORS ONCE. I HAUL AND TOW THINGS WITH MY TRUCK ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY IT IS OPERATOR USE ON MY CAR. EXPLAIN THIS ONE TO ME PLEASE.
NHTSA complaint #756150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dana Point, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BEGINNING AT 6,000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 8 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED. ON THE LAST TRIP TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS OPERATOR USE AND THAT WOMEN ARE HARDER DRIVERS ON CARS THAN MEN. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY ONLY MADE $600 ON THE VEHICLE, THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO FIXING IT. MY CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. I WOULD LIKE IT REPAIRED OR RELACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #756275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morongo Valley, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE FRONT END VIBRATES AND MAKES NOISES, CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, DEALER HAS REPLACED WARPED ROTORS, FRONT TIRES WERE BALD AT 28759 MILES, POSSIBLE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AIR CONDITIONER DISCHARGE HOSE WAS LEAKING, CAUSING POOR PERFORMANCE, DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE. HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, DEALER REAIMED THE HEADLAMPS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #562039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wasilla, AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES THERE WAS VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND REAR OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wasilla, AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES THERE WAS VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND REAR OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granby, CTCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, IT DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN UNTIL I HIT THE OTHER CAR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #725955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.