Saturn SL body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

AFTER OPENING ANY DOOR, THE HANDLES STICK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, WON'T RELEASE AND THE DOOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED.

NHTSA complaint #11075178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

SEVERE RUST OUT OF THE SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) ALONG THE LEFT SIDE, PARTICULARLY AT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT POCKET. THIS CONDITION WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THE LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE LOOSE DUE TO THE RUSTED SUB-FRAME. RUST CONDITION WAS CONFINED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SUB-FRAME WITH NO APPARENT ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OR CROSS BEAMS. BROUGHT TO SATURN'S ATTENTION BUT CONCERN WAS DENIED AS THE "VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY". SATURN NEVER ADDRESSED THE ISSUE THAT THE SUB-FRAME IS A COMPONENT THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10654441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

DURING OIL CHANGE DISCOVERED THAT FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT POINT, DRIVERS SIDE. CAR WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING SUSPENSION AND STEERING. TRIED TO FIND A USED SUBFRAME BUT ALL IN LOCAL AUTO PARTS RECYCLERS WERE JUST AS BADLY RUSTED.

NHTSA complaint #10598825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

DURING OIL CHANGE DISCOVERED THAT FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT POINT, DRIVERS SIDE. CAR WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING SUSPENSION AND STEERING. TRIED TO FIND A USED SUBFRAME BUT ALL IN LOCAL AUTO PARTS RECYCLERS WERE JUST AS BADLY RUSTED.

NHTSA complaint #10598826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

REAR DOOR LATCHES DO NOT ALWAYS LATCH AFTER CLOSING REAR DOORS (SL2-4 DOOR SEDAN). EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL STICK IN OPEN POSITION. IF NOT NOTICED, DOORS WILL OPEN WHEN DRIVING, USUALLY WHEN BRAKING OR MAKING A TURN. REAR SEAT PASSENGERS OR ITEMS COULD BE EJECTED FROM VEHICLE OR DOORS COULD STRIKE OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10404873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

1999 SATURN SL PLASTIC GROMMET CONNECTION BETWEEN SHIFTER CABLE AND SHIFTER. JUST BROKE. APPARENTLY ENGINEERED WITH A MIND FOR OBSOLESCENCE RATHER THAN SAFETY OR DURABILITY. ENABLING A HIGH REPAIR COST FOR A 50 CENT BUSHING THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENTIRE SHIFTER CABLE AND SHIFTER. CHEAP FIX (TIME AND PART WISE) FOR CAR MANUFACTURER IF STILL UNDER WARRANTY. CONVENIENTLY COSTLY FOR OWNER WHEN CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10302322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, MAINLY AT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM POCKET. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SUBFRAME AT THE COST OF $1,179. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,736.

NHTSA complaint #10280433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

ON 13SEP2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400HRS I WAS OPERATING MY 1997 SATURN SL2 (MANUAL) AT LOW SPEED IN MY DRIVEWAY; WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN GEAR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT MY SHIFTING CABLE LINKAGE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED (SPECIFICALLY THE SHIFTING ROD AND THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER). AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THE PART VIA LOCAL AUTO PART MERCHANTS I CONTACTED A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHIFTING ROD ASSEMBLY, AND CONCURRENT DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH IT WAS TO BUY THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST $195.00; BECAUSE ONE HAS TO BUY THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND NOT JUST THE PLASTIC BALL-JOINT COVER. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10242685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

SUNROOF MODULE TO BE REPLACED 2 YEARS AFTER THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED....

NHTSA complaint #10156301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LEAD UP TO THE EVENT THE REAR PLASTIC BUMPER COVER FELL OFF I HAVE TO BUY A NEW BUMPER AND MATCHING PAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10136497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

STRUCTURE

WHEN IT RAINS, PUDDLES OF WATER FORM IN THE PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. WATER IS NOT PRESENT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CAR. (THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.) ALSO, UPON SEVERAL "ATTEMPTS" AT FIXING THE SUNROOF, IT DOES NOT WORK. IT DOES NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #10028559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS ARE MADE OF A POLYMER PLASTIC. THE DOORS ARE RIVETED UNDERNEATH WITH POLYMER TO METAL. AS A RESULT, THE DOORS ARE DETERIORATING AND FALLING APART. THE DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "STUCK" CLOSED DUE TO THE CONDITION AND FORCING THEM TO OPEN IS EXPEDITING THE DETERIORATION.

NHTSA complaint #10029456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF INCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10003695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

VALVE TRAIN SEEMS TO FAIL AT ABOUT 95-160 THOUSAND MILES WITH UNKNOWN CAUSE. CALLED BOTH DEALER AND REPAIR SHOPS. BOTH SEEM TO SAY THE SAME. EITHER VALVE SEATS OR PISTON RINGS FAIL AT THESE POINTS OF MILAGE. BETWEEN 95,000 TO 160,000 MILES WITH UNKNOWN CAUSE. SOME SAID MIGHT BE THE ALUMINUM HEAD DEFECT, OTHERS SAID THAT THERE ARE STRESS CRACKS FROM THE MOLDING OF THE HEAD. THEY ALL SAY CAN NOT REALLY TELL UNTIL TAKEN APART AND VISUALLY CHECKED. HIGH COST TO DO THIS. BUT NO KNOWN RECALLS ON THE HEAD DEFECT OR VALVE SEAT OR VALVE TRAIN SYSTEM. ALSO ON THE DOOR HINGE, THE DOOR SEALS LET WATER DOWN TO THE HINGE AND IT ROTS OUT THE HINGE ON THE DOOR, CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OR ROT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #768642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.