377 of the
2,891 complaints filed about the Saturn SL
are about the braking system —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
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.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY SATURN AND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS IT WAS FINE THEN AFTER 200 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING THEN WOULD STOP. CHECKED THE CALIPERS THEY WERE FINE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO THE GRINDING BRAKES WERE FINE. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME THING THEN STOPPED IT STARTS AND STOPS GRINDING WHEN IT WANTS.
NHTSA complaint #10638585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A LIGHT UP TO ~20MPH THERE WAS THE SMELL OF BRAKE FLUID/RUBBER BURNING. WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED AGAIN BRAKES HAD NO RESPONSE EVEN WHEN PRESS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CAR WAS STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID ACCIDENT BY APPLICATION OF EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. PUMPING THE BRAKES FAILED TO REGAIN PRESSURE THOUGH AFTER DRIVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH EBRAKE AND RESTARTING CAR A HARD PUMP OF THE BRAKES HAD SOME RESISTANCE. FURTHER CAUTIOUS DRIVING AND PRESSURE REBUILT. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE SHOP NO EXPLANATION FOR THE EVENT COULD BE FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10616483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAND BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON AND SPRING POPPED OUT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED AND PARKED ON A HILL (AS IT TYPICALLY IS), THIS CAR COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY HARM OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10401594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. ON A LATER DATE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PART FROM THE DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HAD HE BEEN PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #10351591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PARKED MY CAR, A 5-SPEED MANUAL, AND THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON POPPED OUT, AND IS NOW BROKEN SO I CANNOT USE THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL. NOT SAFE CONSIDERING MY CAR IS A MANUAL. I AM ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT BUTTON, BUT HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK SO FAR.
NHTSA complaint #10266151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A USED SATURN ON 8/23/08 FROM DESERT INN MOTORS, TOO MANY PROBLEMS AFTER 3 MONTHS , NEW BATTERY, BRAKE BAD, MOTOR PROBLEM TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, SO I TOLD THEM I'M NOT MAKING ANYMORE PAYMENTS, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CAR, THEY REPO MY VEHICLE, SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICES.
NHTSA complaint #10250683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1 INCIDENT AND 1 CRASH. LEFT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BY ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING AND WENT TO APPLY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, BUT HAD NO BRAKES. COULD NOT STOP..NO ACCIDENT FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. BUT 2ND TIME CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT W/AN INJURY. AFTER I STOPPED DRIVING, THE BRAKES BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED BUT THEY DID NOT NEED REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10227543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1 INCIDENT AND 1 CRASH. LEFT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BY ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING AND WENT TO APPLY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, BUT HAD NO BRAKES. COULD NOT STOP..NO ACCIDENT FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. BUT 2ND TIME CAUSED MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT W/AN INJURY. AFTER I STOPPED DRIVING, THE BRAKES BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED BUT THEY DID NOT NEED REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10227543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON BROKE; BUTTON EJECTED WHEN USING PARKING BRAKE, PREVENTING E-BRAKE FROM BEING USED. BUTTON AND SPRING ASSEMBLY CAME OUT, WITH BUTTON HAVING TWO SMALL PLASTIC CHIPS THAT WERE BROKEN, PREVENTING REASSEMBLY. THIS EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED THE VEHICLE'S STANDARD EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT (PARKING BRAKE) FROM BEING USED. NO REPLACEMENT BUTTON WAS AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10187980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TL* - THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE BRAKES ON 1996 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SHE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER CAR. SHE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH GAVE NO RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE BEING CUT OFF THE BRAKES DID WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AFTER SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 5, 2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS A NICE DAY, AND THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT PULLED MUSCLES IN HER BODY, AND WAS CURRENTLY ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS. THE CONTACT ASKED THE SATURN DEALER FOR THE DAMAGED PARTS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE THROWN AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES PULSATING AND GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CONTACT STATED HAD BRAKE WORK DONE IN 2001 AT 36,000 MILES, THE BRAKE CALIPERS HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA BY THE RHODE ISLAND STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
NHTSA complaint #10177314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY HAND BRAKE BUTTON SUDDENLY POPPED OUT SHOWING TO BE BROKEN AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE HAND BRAKE IN PLACE. STILL TRYING TO FIND A FIX. DIFFICULT TO PARK ON STEEP DRIVEWAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10174936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SL1 SATURN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 15,000 MI; NOW, AT 30,000 MI, THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 1991 SATURN SL1, FOR 11 YEARS AND WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MI, AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, SO IT'S NOT MY STYLE OF DRIVING - IT'S APPARENTLY THE EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR ITSELF (AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AS WELL.)
NHTSA complaint #10171892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 1996 SATURN SL1. ONE DAY I WENT TO PULL UP THE PARKING BRAKE AND FOUND THAT THE LITTLE BUTTON HAD POPPED OFF AND LANDED ON THE DASH, THE SPRING ENDED UP ON THE FLOOR. THE BUTTON IS PLASTIC AND ONE SIDE THAT LATCHED IN TO KEEP IT IN PLACE APPARENTLY BROKE. TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE SPRING AND BUTTON BACK ON AND ENGAGE THE BRAKE, THEN LET IT POP OFF AGAIN OR JUST TAKE IT OFF. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE IT YET AS I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T SELL JUST THE PART FOR THE 1996 SATURN.
NHTSA complaint #10160953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 1997 SATURN SL2. THE "BUTTON" ON MY PARKING BRAKE HANDLE POPPED OFF THE OTHER DAY (03/27/2006), RELEASING MY PARKING BRAKE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON A STEEP HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR, OTHERWISE THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED AWAY. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH A TINY PIECE OF "PLASTIC" IS ALL THAT HOLDS THE PARKING BRAKE IN PLACE. ONCE THE BUTTON IS BROKEN, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. I REALLY THINK THIS WARRANTS A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10154263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: 1995 SATURN SL1 4 DOOR. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 . UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER TOOK PICTURES . HOWEVER, HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, AND DEALERSHIP INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MPH, HIT THE BRAKES, AND THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO FRONT AIRBAGS . CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE POLICE REPORT DID NOT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. THE CONSUMER GAVE THE REPAIR INVOICE TO INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT COULD GET A COPY. THE ROAD THAT CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON WAS CLEAR. AFTER THE IMPACT LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES. WAS ABOUT 24 INCHES AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE BACK BUMPER ON THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10139509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10139159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALWAYS LOW AND SOME TIMES BOTTOMS OUT WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR. YOU CAN'T STOP. RECORD OF COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH SATURN, BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF BECAUSE THEY CHECK OUT THE CAR, BUT SAID IT WAS OK. I SHOWED THEM THAT BY PUMPING THE BREAKS A FEW TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WOULD BOTTOM AND BREAKING WAS LOST. THEY DUPLICATED IT BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM. NOW MY SONS ARE DRIVING AND I CAN'T LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH DRIVERS AND IF THEY EVERY GET INTO A PANIC STOP SITUATION THEY NEED TO HAVE EXTRA ROOM FOR GLIDING AS THE WHEELS WON'T LOCK UP. I MADE SATURN REPLACE THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I HAVE THE OLD MASTER BREAK CYLINDER.
NHTSA complaint #10139160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.