Saturn SL 2001 — Reported problems

The problem is with the Firestone Tempa Spare T115/70 R14 spare tire. This tire came with the car when new, and has never been used. Tire date of manufacture is 42 2000. I periodically check its air pressure, but it has never been out of the spare tire well. I checked the pressure 1 week ago, and found a large bulge in the tread, along with broken cords, both steel, and polyester (see photos). The inner tire liner has not ruptured, and the tire still holds air. One month ago I checked the pressure, and it looked completely normal. If I had a flat tire then, I would have put it on the car without hesitation. I suspect that it would have failed on the road leading to a possible disaster. My reason for alerting NHTSA is that I suspect there are many compact spare tires in people's trunks, in the same condition, just waiting to cause trouble. I brought it to a Firestone store and they showed no interest in it. I have removed the tire from the steel wheel, and you are welcome to have it to inspect. I live about 25 miles south of Chicago, IL. When you look at the attached photos, numbers 1-3 show the tire on the steel wheel with the tire inflated, number 4 shows the tire deflated, and off the wheel.

I HAVE SOO MUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR

MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.

MY KEY COMES OUT THE IGNITION IN THE RUN POSITION, WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. THIS STARTED ABOUT THE YEAR OF 2009 AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES. I HAVE 165,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW.

I HAVE TROUBLE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ONCE STARTED THE KEYS CAN FALL OUT OF THE SWITCH. PLEASE ADD THIS TO THE IGNITION RECALL BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TOWARDS THE ON POSITION, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITHOUT THE IGNITION BEING TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO INDICATE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FUEL CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 7/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, WHEN SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. UPDATED 08/06/15*JB

AFTER THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER IT WILL NOT ENGAGE AND TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE LOCK REMAINS STUCK IN THE "OFF" POSITION. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME CONSISTENTLY WORSE. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SATURN'S VEHICLES. *TR

OUR DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 10/9/2014. A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. OUR DAUGHTER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND HIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF THE SATURN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. OUR DAUGHTER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *TR

I TOOK MY SATURN IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION AND STARTING MY CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING AND COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THEY REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND CODE CYLINDER AND SECURED THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. NOW THE SAME IGNITION PROBLEM IS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE. IT TAKES A SERIES OF SHAKES OF MY KEY AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EVEN START THE CAR! I HOPE THAT I WON'T GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE WHEN THIS CAR WON'T START!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD TURN ON AND THE WHEEL TURN TO THE RIGHT SIDE BY IT SELF AND THE CAR TURN OFF AND WON'T START AGAIN UNTIL THE SECURITY LIGHT IS OFF. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT HAPPENED WILE DRIVING WITH MY SON INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

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. *TR

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? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

FOR SOME TIME NOW MY HORN IS UNRELIABLE. I WAS BEHIND A CAR THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AND WAS TRYING TO ALERT THEM OF MY PRESENCE AND MY HORN WOULD NOT WORK. I REPEATEDLY KEPT PRESSING THE HORN ICON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY THAT A PERSON WALKING NOTICED AND ALERTED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. ANOTHER TIME I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS DISTRACTED WITH SOMETHING IN THEIR CAR AND THE LIGHT WAS GREEN AND I HAD CARS LINED UP BEHIND ME, I TRIED TO BLOW MY HORN TO ALERT THEM OF THE LIGHT CHANGE, NO HORN. AGAIN PRESSED HORN ICON REPEATEDLY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WOULD SAY THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN 2009 AND PROGRESSED WITH SPORADIC AVAILABILITY UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I HAVE TOO MANY INSTANCES TO NAME WHERE I NEEDED MY HORN AND IT FAILED TO WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND AM WAITING THEIR REPLY. *TR

I AM SEEING A PATTERN OF SEVERE DRY ROT STRESS CRACKS IN ALL, NEARLY NEW (LESS THAN 12 MONTHS OLD) MICHELIN AND UNIROYAL TIRES IN THE TREAD AREA FIRST THEN LATER THE SIDEWALLS, AND EVEN GOODYEAR TIRES IN JUST 1-2 YEARS. ALL THESE TIRES CAME FROM WALMART. I HAVE THEM ON 6 VEHICLES, ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN BUYING TIRES FOR OVER 38 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM TILL THE LAST FEW YEARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND DEALT WITH QUICKLY. I AM A DEGREED CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND I DO ALL MY OWN AUTO REPAIRS, EVEN MAJOR REBUILDS, IN OTHER WORDS I AM VERY EXPERIENCED AND I SEE A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY AND CONSUMER ISSUE HERE!!!! *TR

SOMETIMES MY SECURITY LIGHT GOES ON-WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IN ORDER TO START CAR UP I HAVE TO LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS, WAIT 20 MINUTES THEN START UP THE CAR. IT NOW HAS 117000 MILES ON IT AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND SHAKES AT ANYTHING OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. ....UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF UPDATED 01/11/12

SATURN 2001 SL1, MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND CALLED ME SAYING THAT IT WAS KNOCKING SHE ONLY DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK DUE TO HER BEING SCARED OF THE SOUNDS. I THEN DROVE THE CAR AROUND TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST HAD THE O2 SENSOR CHANGED FOR AN IDLE HIGH ISSUE. I ALSO HAD TO CLEAN OUT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE DUE TO BUILD UP AND FAULTY OPERATION. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AAMCO TO ENSURE THE TRANSMISSION IS TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. THEY HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACING EVERY PART INSIDE THE CASING. 2,480$ IN THE HOLE, SO I BETTER NOT HAVE ANYMORE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AFTER THIS. ALSO THE DOOR LOCK GETS STUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE, SO YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY PUSH OVER THE LEAVER EVERY TIME YOU EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR

2001 SATURN SL2 SEDAN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IT IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP, SO I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN HANDY (BUT IF YOU NEED IT, CONTACT ME). THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE THEY DO THIS AND IT FAILS AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER ENGINE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THE SATURN BECAUSE IT HAD A TIMING CHAIN INSTEAD OF A TIMING BELT (BECAUSE I OWNED A FIAT ON WHICH THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND I NEVER WANTED TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN). YET, HERE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A TIMING CHAIN. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A LUBRICATION ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN THAT CAUSES IT TO FAIL. I HOPE THIS CAN BE INVESTIGATED. SATURN MADE A BIG DEAL OF THEIR "300,000 MILES CLUB" AND HOW ROBUST AND LONG-LASTING THEIR CARS WERE, AND NOW THIS. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, OUR FAMILY HAS TWO 2001 SATURN SL2 SEDANS! *TR

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 18 2009 A LADY PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET AND WE HIT. I COULD NOT AVOID HER. IM NOT SURE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING AT IMPACT BUT I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AT 40 MPH. MY FRONT END HIT HER SIDE.MOST PASSENGERS ME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND TWO OTHERS WERE INJURED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. IM NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD HAVE BUT AT THAT SPEED AND THE IMPACT I FEEL THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE. MY DAUGHTER AND I FLEW FORWARD AND SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I WENT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL COMING VERY CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IN TOTALED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL ON HER VEHICLE, BUT THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,636.

ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS - STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION..... KEPT SHIFTING REAL HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD (AUTOMATIC). TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF HIS HANDS AND REFERRED US TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM AND ONCE HE LOOKED IT OVER IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION!!!! ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES - GO FIGURE. VALVE BODY!! WROTE A LETTER TO THE SATURN CORPORATE OFFICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO AND TOLD US THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A SATURN SERVICE STATION. WE ALREADY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIR, COSTING US $ 2,000.00!!!! I FEEL THAT SATURN SHOULD LOOK INTO THEIR CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINTS AND REALIZE THAT THERE ACTUALLY IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODELS TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INJURY OR SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS. I DON'T THINK SATURN WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ON THEIR SHOULDERS!! THE MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THE BETTER AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL MAKE THIS A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMERS. *TR

SATURN 2001 ION IGNITION - CAR WON'T START BECAUSE KEY WON'T TURN THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURNS AND IS A BAD SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE ARE STRANDED WITH VEHICLES THAT WON'T START OR SOMETIMES EVEN TURN OFF. THIS IS AWFUL, AND SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND GM IS ASKING FOR A BAILOUT? THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF GOVERNMENT WON'T FORCE A RECALL ON KNOWN ISSUES, THE COMPANY WINDS UP GOING EXTINCT DUE TO POOR QUALITY ISSUES. RECALL THIS! *TR

2001 SATURN SL2 TRANSMISSION WILL SLAM WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE REPLACED FLUIDS AND LET RUN IN REVERSE POSITION WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE SET AND BACKED UP AGAINST A TREE TO TRY AND CLEAN VALVE BODY - NO SUCCESS. *TR

LTR FROM SENATOR BINGAMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE FRONT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN HER 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIR BAD DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AFTER FIRMLY CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND HE STATED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER REGISTERED AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB

BRUSHING ON MY 2001 SATURN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, LEAVING ME STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND SATURN REFUSES TO SELL THE DEFECTIVE PART, OPTING TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS OVER $200 FOR A $0.30 PART. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, MY GEAR SHIFTER JUST WENT "LOOSE" AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN GEAR WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO SHIFT. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T HIT AS I WAS CROSSING THE ROAD AT 6:19 IN THE AM AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE FAILURE WAS THE SHIFT CABLE BUSHING HAD BROKEN. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_80337.HTML WILL SHOW MORE DETAILED COMMENTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. SHOULDN'T SOMETHING THAT CAN CAUSE SUCH A LOSS OF CONTROL BE MADE OUT OF SOMETHING A BIT MORE DURABLE THAN PLASTIC AND ALSO BE SOLD AS AN INDIVIDUAL PART AND NOT A $250 ASSEMBLY THAT COSTS ANOTHER $250 TO INSTALL? THE PART WAS ORDERED FROM SATURN AND WILL BE INSTALLED BY A LOCAL AAMCCO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP THAT WAS THE CLOSEST PLACE TO MY HOME. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE. *TR

MY 2001 SATURN SL2 HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IGNITION LOCK ON DISCUSSION BOARDS. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JIGGLE IT TO START. I'VE BEEN LUCKY. IF THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A PROBLEM WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL RATHER THAN ALL THE FALSE CHARGES AND REPAIRS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY? *TR

MALFUNCTION OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON 2001 SATURN SL1. *NJ THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S SON EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WITH THE ENGINE IDLING. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

TRANSMISSION. *TR

DRIVING NORTH ON I-5 IN OREGON. THE TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. THE CAR IN FRONT STARTED TO GO. I FOLLOWED. THE CAR IN FRONT SLAMMED ON HER BRAKE. I DID THE SAME. MY BRAKE WOULD HOLD THAN RELEASE AND HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKE RELEASED I COULD FEEL THE CAR SURGE FORWARD. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. THE ENGINE WILL STAY REVERED AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT WILL DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE SATURN DEALER TWICE. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO SATURN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2001 SATURN SL2 RECENTLY DEVELOPED A SEVER 'BUCK' IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN IT SHIFTS. THAT IS, WHEN IT CHANGES GEARS IT EITHER SLAMS INTO THE NEXT OR HESITATES THEN SLAMS. REVERSE IS THE MOST SEVERE AS IT SLAMMED SO HARD THAT IT BROKE THE MUFFLER FROM ITS MOUNT AT THE VERY REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE OILS CHANGES HAVE ALSO BEEN TIMELY. I'VE READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY SYMPTOMATIC OF THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR, BUT PREDOMINATE IN QUITE A FEW OF THE MODELS IN THE SATURN FAMILY. I'VE SINCE HAD THE FLUID CHANGED TO NO AVAIL OF CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ARE EXACTLY SYNONYMOUS WITH OTHERS POSTED ELSEWHERE ON ELECTRONIC MEDIUMS SUCH AS HERE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_TRANS.HTML. THE SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT RESOLVED AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT BEEN COMPELLED TO PERFORM ANY REPAIR RECOMPENSE TO THE CONSUMER FOR WHAT STATISTICALLY MUST BE A FAULTY PART KNOWN AS THE POWER CONTROL VALVE. I REALIZE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE THAN A SAFETY RECALL, AS A TRANSMISSION THAT GOES ON THE MEND CAN HARDLY PRECIPITATE A HIGH-SPEED CRASH RESULTING IN A FATALITY THAT WOULD SPUR AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. HOWEVER, WITH REPORTS OF MOTORISTS BEING STRANDED, OR THE POSSIBILITY OF A SEVERE 'BUCKING' WHILE BEING TAILGATED, I WOULD HOPE SWIFT INVESTIGATIVE ACTION WOULD BE WARRANTED PRIOR TO ANYMORE CONSUMERS FALLING PREY TO AN UNSTABLE VEHICLE PURCHASE. *TR

DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AS OF YET. WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SWITCHED TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE GIVES A VERY STRONG JOLT BACKWARDS, LIKE A HARD-KNOCK ENGAGING OF THE GEARS, SO STRONG I AM AFRAID IT COULD CAUSE A WHIP-LASH SOMEDAY. *TR

MULTI ENGINE MISFIRE, KNOCK SYSTEM, IDLE SPEED HIGH, IGNITION SYSTEM VOLTS. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING. MY REPAIRMAN THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SATURNS ESPECIALLY IN THE SL1 MODEL. IF NOT FIXED, IDLE WILL INCREASE. *TR

AUTOMATIC WINDOWS DO NOT FUNCTION ON SATURN SL2. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND JERK WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ON THE FIRST OCCASION. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,050.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - EPA PROBLEM AT 75,000 MILES OUR 2001 SL2 BEGAN TO CONSUME OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. 1 QT IN LESS THAN 150 MILES. THIS IS LESS THAT ONE QUART PER FUEL STOP. NO OIL IS DRIPPING AND THE ENGINE IS DRY OF OIL. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SUCH CASES POSTED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. ALL WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS STARTING AT BETWEEN 60,000 AND 80,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT GM USED LOW TENSION OIL RINGS AND THEY STICK EASILY ALLOWING THE OIL TO BURN IN THE CYLINDER. A TEMPORARY FIX CAN BE OBTAINED BY REMOVING THE SPARK PLUGS AND FILLING EACH CYLINDER WITH CAR CLEANER. A SOAKING OF SEVERAL HOURS WILL STOP THE OIL USAGE FOR ABOUT 3000 MILES THEN IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO AN EPA PROBLEM AS THE OIL IS GOING OUT THE EXHAUST. THE RESPONSE FROM SATURN IS THIS FALLS IN THE REALM OF NORMAL OIL USAGE. *TR