FaultScore

Saturn SL suspension problems

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

51

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

1

Fires

Suspension complaints by model year

1991 SL 1 2.0%
1992 SL 3 5.9%
1993 SL 1 2.0%
1994 SL 2 3.9%
1995 SL 6 11.8%
1996 SL 8 15.7%

Median failure at 125,000 miles

1997 SL 6 11.8%

Median failure at 118,733 miles

1998 SL 4 7.8%
1999 SL 8 15.7%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2000 SL 7 13.7%
2001 SL 2 3.9%

Median failure at 82,845 miles

2002 SL 3 5.9%

Median failure at 42,524 miles

What owners said

1997 Saturn SL at 48,736 miles Lake IN THE Hills, IL

SUSPENSION

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.

1997 Saturn SL at 118,733 miles EAU Claire, WI

SUSPENSION

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.

1997 Saturn SL at 118,733 miles EAU Claire, WI

SUSPENSION

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.

1996 Saturn SL Elyria, OH Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

1996 SATURN SL2, A VEHICLE DEFECT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *BF THE LEFT FRONT STRUT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0304-91)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10

NHTSA complaint #10345469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL Auburn, AL

SUSPENSION

SATURN IS RIPPING PEOPLE OFF BY MAKING THEM BUY A $250 PART JUST TO GET A $5 BUSHING. I THINK THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WHERE WE GET TO DECIDED WHAT WE REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10236878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Saturn SL at 125,000 miles Lisle, IL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

1. HIGH REVVING ON IDLE MANUAL TRANS 2. FRONT END NOISE MANUAL TRANS P/S SIMILAR TO OTHER RECALL WORN OUT ?

NHTSA complaint #10178114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Saturn SL at 82,845 miles Delanson, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE SPRING ON THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT BROKE COLLAPSING THE SUSPENSION.

NHTSA complaint #10178095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 48 miles State College, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

LEFT FRONT STRUT/COIL SPRING BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXTREME RUST. VEHICLE WAS A 2002 YEAR MODEL WITH 45,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER DID NOT CONSIDER RUST-INDUCED FAILURE TO BE ABNORMAL. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!

NHTSA complaint #10171126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL Holbrook, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

2002 SL2 FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TS A DEFECT OR PRODUCT FAILURE IN THE COIL SPRING MOUNT, STRUT MOUNT OR TIE ROD RELEASED ENOUGH KINETIC ENERGY TO LIFT THE VEHICLE OFF THE PAVEMENT AND SHATTER THE WINDSHIELD AND BODY ND JETTISON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10156228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Saturn SL at 85,000 miles Jacksonville Beach, FM

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. SOUND GOT LOUDER AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND TIRES WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENT. UPON INSPECTION, FRONT HUB BEARING IS GOING OUT. SATURN 2002 SL2 WITH 85K MILES, WITH MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. SOUND OCCURS WHETHER DRIVING HIGHWAY OR CITY.

NHTSA complaint #10143320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Saturn SL Chicago, IL

SUSPENSION

DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY SHAKING, AFFECTING THE STEERING. THE SOLENOIDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10124940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL Scottsboro, AL

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

WHILE DRIVINT BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MPH RIGHT AXLE SPINDLE BROKE, DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10087589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL ST Louis, MO

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

THIS VEHICLE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS HAVING TWO "WARPED" FRONT WHEEL HUBS AFTER COMPLAINTS OF INTERMITTENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AT 65 MPH. DEALER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE HUBS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. SATURN CUST SVC REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY MFG DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10033444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL at 30,000 miles Kingsland, GA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END SHAKES AND AMOUNT INCREASES AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAKES PADS HAVE BEEN APPLIED. CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND RECENTLY THE CV AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. MAKES VEHICLE FEEL UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Yarmouth Port, MA

SUSPENSION

A GRINDING SOUND WOULD APPERAR WHEN MAKING A TURN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND REPLACED STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #8016338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Saturn SL Southbridge, MA

SUSPENSION

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD WAY TO HARD AND THAT WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE THE VEHICLE JUMP INTO THE OTHER LANE AND ALMOST HIT ON COMING TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8008046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Saturn SL Hamilton Square, NJ

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO SHAKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER NINE ATTEMPTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES ROUGH IDLE WHEN WARM. DEALER REPLACED PCM/ECM, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. POWER STEERING FLUID LOW. EXPERIENCING SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING. NOISE FROM GAS TANK WHEN COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #8005064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Loxshatchee, FL

SUSPENSION

BATTERY COVER CAUSES BATTERY ACID TO LEAK AROUND POSTIVE POST. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES ACID FROM THE BATTERY HAS CAUSED HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES/VIBRATES AND WASHER FAILED, DEALER REPLACED BOLT AND SEAL.

NHTSA complaint #8005022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Saturn SL Loxshatchee, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE HAD TO BE REALIGNED ON THREE OCCASIONS BY DEALER DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. *AK BATTERY REPLACED TWICE. THE CABLE SHIFT CONTROL REPLACED. BOLT AND SEAL WASHER REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MADE A ROARING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. BOTH FRONT INNER DOOR HANDLES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8005029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Saturn SL Jupiter, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD AN ALIGNMENT CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS DONE , BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8001354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn SL problems