FaultScore

Saturn SL fuel system problems

59 of the 2,891 complaints filed about the Saturn SL are about the fuel system — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.

59

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

Fuel & Propulsion complaints by model year

1992 SL 2 3.4%
1993 SL 3 5.1%
1994 SL 5 8.5%
1995 SL 7 11.9%
1996 SL 10 16.9%

Median failure at 155,000 miles

1997 SL 10 16.9%

Median failure at 32,000 miles

1998 SL 6 10.2%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

1999 SL 4 6.8%

Median failure at 134,440 miles

2000 SL 5 8.5%

Median failure at 47,500 miles

2001 SL 3 5.1%

Median failure at 27,291 miles

2002 SL 4 6.8%

Median failure at 48,668 miles

What owners said

2000 Saturn SL Jersey Shore, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR WILL TURN OVER AND IMMEDIATELY STALL. THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR APPROX. 10 TO 15 MIN.EACH TIME YOU TURN THE KEY,IT WILL TURN OVER AND IMMEDIATELY STALL. AS IF THERE IS NO GAS GOING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS; OR THE FUEL INJECTORS STOP . NO MECHANIC CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM SINCE IT NEVER HAPPENS WHEN I'M AT THE REPAIR SHOP. LIKE I SAID WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS, IT WILL LAST FOR APPROX. 10 TO 15 MIN. THEN THE CAR WILL START AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10633363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL at 27,291 miles Hampton, VA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1ST INCIDENT: I WENT IN TO THE SATURN DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALER FOUND A FUEL LEAK BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE FILTER. THERE WAS FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK TOP AND ALSO DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A CRACKED LINE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM CLOSE TO THE TANK TOP. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE LEAK OF MY POCKET AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. 2ND INCIDENT: YESTERDAY I WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER THAT TAKES CARE OF MY SATURN AND THEY REPORTED THAT I HAVE A FUEL TANK LEAKING AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. BECAUSE OF THIS IT FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 41152 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN MOSTLY FOR PLEASURE. IS THERE A CURRENT RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OR THE FUEL TANKS OF THE SATURN L300 SERIES?

NHTSA complaint #10610022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Saturn SL Aberdeen, WA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

INSTALLED MICROGARD FUEL FILTER ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 A MONTH AGO STARTED SMELLING GAS HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOSE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE. THE HOLE IS IN THE BLACK PLASTIC, THIS PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ALUMINUM PIPE, BY THE TEST VALVE. I T RUBS ON THE EGR VALVE? (THIS FILTER HAS THE HOSE ATTACHED TO IT, ALL ONE UNIT.) THIS LEAK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MASSIVE FIRE BECAUSE IT ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND IS A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ANOTHER MICRO GARD AND PUT A THICKER HOSE AROUND THE BLACK PIPE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL.

NHTSA complaint #10578963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL Cotati, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

MY 1998 SATURN SL2 HAS HAD A (HOT ENGINE) FAST IDLE (2000 RPM) CONDITION ON AND OFF FOR YEARS.. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SATURN DEALER,, THEN TO A GM DEALER THREE TIMES ALL TO NO AVAIL.. VARIOUS SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE CONDITION PERSISTS.. I HAVE SPENT NEAR $1000. IN LABOR COSTS, SENSORS ECT AND STILL I HAVE THE PROBLEM..

NHTSA complaint #10319116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 77,000 miles Bronx, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE:STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY.NHTSA ID #00V309000. SPOKE TO A PERSON TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT MY CAE IS NOT ONE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE THIS CAR ALMOST 7 YEARS AND NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED I FEEL THAT I WILL GET A HARD TIME IF I ASK THEM TO INSPECT TO MAKE SURE. ALSO GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER TO VERIFY TO MAKE SURE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10298191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Hanover TWP, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CAR IDLES HIGH. IF YOU ARE AT A LIGHT OR PARKED IN THE CAR THE CAR WILL IDLE HIGH THEN SHUT OFF. IF YOUARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEED TO PICK UP SPEED THE CAR REVS UP AND THEN RPMS GO REAL HIGH BUT NOT ANY POWER PUT INTO THE CAR TO MOVE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AND IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #10289173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 134,440 miles LAS Vegas, NV

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

1998 Saturn SL Springfield, MO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHEN PRESSING BRAKE AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATES AND PUSHES FORWARD. YOU ARE FORCED TO BRAKE HARDER AND DIFFICULT TO STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10243285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL Rochester, NH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

I SAW A RECALL ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME REPAIR I NEED TO PASS EMISSIONS ON MY 2001 SATURN SL1. IT IS A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO FIX. I CAN HAVE ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC WHICH I HAD ALREADY AND IT WILL COST $85. I AM GOING TO PAY FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE NOW AND IT IS EXPENSIVE FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES THE SAME AS MINE. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG. HOW CAN YOU HAVE A RECALL ON THE SAME ITEM AND NOT PUT IT ON ALL VEHICLES MADE WITH THE BAD PART?

NHTSA complaint #10215791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL at 72,000 miles ST. Petersburg, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

GAS LEAKING. RUNNING LOW ON GAS AFTER FILL UP. HAD CAR LOOKED AT AND THERE ARE HOLES IN THE GAS LINE, RUNNING FROM THE ENGINE TO GAS TANK. FUEL LINE IS APPARENTLY IS PLASTIC AND IS DETERIORATING.

NHTSA complaint #10162548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 37,600 miles NEW York, NY

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25MPH, THE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10154974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 59,736 miles Youngsville, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10147336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Saturn SL at 155,000 miles Berkeley, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE FUEL LINE IN THIS CAR IS EXPOSED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, AND TWICE NOW (ON 11/3/05 AND EARLIER IN 12/2003) THE FUEL LINE HAS RIPPED AND GASOLINE HAS SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE GASOLINE SPILL OBVIOUSLY CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10141773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL at 32,000 miles Runnemede, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

EVERY FEW MONTHS SINCE I'VE HAD MY CAR, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IT WILL START, BUT WILL IDLE LOW. IF I TRY TO PUT IT IN GEAR, IT WILL STALL. IF I TRY TO RESTART IT AND GIVE IT GAS IT WILL IMEDIATELY CUT OFF. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC NUMEROUS TIMES AND NO ONE CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, OXYGEN SENSOR (TWICE), WIRES, SPARK PLUGS, ETC. REPLACED COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "THE WAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR!" THE MOST RECENT TIME I HAD MY 2 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND IT STALLED WHEN I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION, TO MAKE IT THROUGH I HAD TO ACCELERATE ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO THE PROBLEM LIKE THE WEATHER, SO IT IS HARD TO PINPOINT.

NHTSA complaint #10086383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Silver Spring, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HEAR GAS SPLASHING UP AGAINST THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10055293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL Olney, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

RANDOMLY, USUALLY ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS, I WILL START MY CAR. IT WILL START, BUT IT STARTS "FUNNY." IT DOESN'T HIT THE USUAL HIGH RPMS AND WILL IDLE LOW. IF I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT WILL USUALLY RUN WITH LOW RPMS. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP, IT WILL IDLE LOW AND SOMETIMES STALL. THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT OR COLD. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5-10 TRIES TO START THE CAR AT ALL. OF COURSE, MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY SATURN OF GAITHERSBURG, SATURN OF SILVER SPRING, AND GRAEVES AUTO IN OLNEY.

NHTSA complaint #10031052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL at 18,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR,

NHTSA complaint #10005204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL Fredreick, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL Plainfield, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

02 SENSOR FAILURE, WATER PUMP, FUEL PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, FUSE BLOCK - ALL PARTS DEFECTS WITHIN SHORT SPAN OF TIME AFTER THEIR 36K WARRANTY EXPIRED- ATYPICAL PROBLEMS FOR CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF MILEAGE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT REVEAL PARTS MANFUCTURER - "NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO TELL THE PUBLIC." AS THIS CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS INFORMED THAT SATURN WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS BUT WOULD DOCUMENT THAT I WAS UNHAPPY WITH MY SATURN EXPERIENCE. SATURN NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY FACTORS INVOLVED WITH REPETITIVE PARTS FAILURES. OFFERRED FREE OIL CHANGE. DID NOT OFFER TO HAVE CAR BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION OR EXTENDING SOME KIND OF WARRANTY IN ORDER TO STUDY ANY PROBLEMS FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR OR MODEL.

NHTSA complaint #765011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Chicago, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

FUEL GAUGE IS NOT REGISTERING PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8015379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn SL problems