140 of the 2,891 complaints filed about the Saturn SL are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1994.
140
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
15
Crashes
0
Fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE CAR WILL TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE ENGAGED, AND, IF LEFT ALONE, WILL RANDOMLY REENGAGE TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAN CAUSE A SURGE OF ACCELERATION (AS MUCH AS ONE CAN EXPECT FROM A SATURN, ANYHOW) IF SPEED HAS SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10532626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE OFF POSITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WENT TO FULL THROTTLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL DIS-ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES, THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT HAS SINCE BEEN DISABLED.
NHTSA complaint #10482496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TWICE I WAS STOPPING THE CAR--ONCE TO PARK AND ONCE AT A LIGHT AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE ENGINE REVVED UP AT FULL THROTTLE DRAGGING THE CAR FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED FULLY DOWN. I HAD TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND CUT THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP IT. NO REASON WAS EVER FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10304629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE BY DEPRESSING BRAKE, USING THE OFF SWITCH, OR DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE SPEED SLOWLY BUT STEADILY INCREASES. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, OR PRESS THE BRAKE UNTIL THE CAR STOPS AND THE ENGINE DIES.
NHTSA complaint #10158428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE 2001 SATURN SL1 GAS PEDAL CONSTANTLY STICKS. IT IS HARD TO PUSH DOWN EITHER DRIVING FORWARD OR REVERSE. THE BRAKES MUST BE APPLIED BEFORE YOU CAN ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING UNDER THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10158325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH AND CRUISE CONTROL JUST SPEED UP ABOUT 10 MPH OUT OF THE BLUE. CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND RPMS TO JUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10112206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATEED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10107479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10093917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FREEZING ACCELERATOR ON 2001 SATURN SL1.ODAY I EXPERIENCED A FROZEN ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE VERY RAPIDLY. I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 80 MILES AND STOPPED AT A STORE. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE, I STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SLOT. WHEN I THEN STARTED TO GO FORWARD, AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, IT FROZE UP AT A RATHER HIGH SPEED. RELEASING THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL DID NOT CAUSE THE PEDAL TO RETURN TO IDLE . THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ZERO DEGREES. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND AFTER WORKING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CABLE FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MINUTES (FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE DRIVER SEAT-TOOK TWO PEOPLE) I WAS ABLE TO FREE UP THE CABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL OR TECH BULLETIN ABOUT THIS, AND IF NOT, SUGGEST THAT ONE BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW HOURS LATER BUT I WAS PREPARED AND TESTED IT BEFORE I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. THE CABLE APPEARS TO BE FREEZING INSIDE THE SHAFT. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY DO IT THE FIRST TIME THE ACELERATOR IS DEPRESSED IN THE COLD WEATHER. I BROUHGT THE CAR HOME AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMS UP. I DID CALL SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS A SATURN DEALER DIAGNOSES THE PROBLEM THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER TO ME IS 75 MILES AND SINCE THE WEATHER IS STILL MINUS 4 DEGREES TODAY, I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER DO TO THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL GENERAL MOTORS DEALER AND HE HAS HAD OTHER SATURNS IN WITH THE PROBLEM. SUGGEST AN ALERT OR WARNING TO OWNERS AND DRIVERS BE ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10055169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN REMOVING FOOT FROM THROTTLE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10054792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP MOTOR REVVED, BUT VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10040051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT APPLYING GAS, CAUSE UNDETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10034293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING IT IS HARD FOR BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPMS RACED AND WOULD NOT IDLE DOWN. DRIVER HAD HAS TO APPLY BRAKES VERY HARD. DEALER REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #8009277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS IT BEING THE BRAKE BOOSTER DIAPHRAM THAT IS WORN AND LEAKING. THE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE CHECK VALVE GROMMET IS TORN. *JG
NHTSA complaint #8005863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.