1996 SATURN SL

FIRST PROBLEM IS DOOR CHIMES WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. SECOND PROBLEM IS DOME LIGHT STAYS ON IN FRONT OR REAR POSITION WITH ALL DOORS SHUT. THIRD PROBLEM IS NO POWER AT ALL TO THE CAB WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR, AND THEN MY PASSENGER OPENED AND SHUT THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AND THE POWER CAME BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO RESET THE CLOCK AND RADIO.

Mileage: 68,577

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED RIGHT AND LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MUSCULAR PAIN THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V138000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD GO 3/4 TOWARDS THE RED. IF I AM STOPPING AT A LIGHT, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEEP GOING 3/4 TOWARDS THE RED, THEN GOES BACK VERY SLOWLY TO THE MIDDLE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY GASKET. THIS WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,200. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

I WAS IN A BROAD SIDE COLLISION (T-BONE) TYPE ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT ANOTHER DRIVER AFTER SHE TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING THIS COLLISION AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED MY SEATBELT LOCKED CAUSING ME TO HAVE SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE IN MY NECK ON THE LEFT SIDE, MY LEFT LEG NOW HAS INJURY FROM THIS ACCIDENT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL HAVE THIS LIFELONG PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. WHEN I LOOKED UP A RECALL THIS IS WHAT I FOUND.: RECALL DATE:12-07-1998 UNITS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:64,199 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:98V307000 DEFECTIVE PART OR COMPONENT:COMMUNICATIONS:HORN ASSEMBLY DESCRIPTION:VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED OR SERVICED WITH A HORN ASSEMBLY WHICH COULD FAIL. THE HORN COULD EITHER BECOME INOPERABLE OR ACTIVATE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HEAT CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD RESULT. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HORN ASSEMBLY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER COLE GILMORE IN PORTAGE, MICHIGAN. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

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 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT HAD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR HARNESS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,824. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10

Mileage: 76,824

ON HIS WAY TO WORK ON SEPT. 16, 2008, MY BOYFRIEND HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND THEN LOST USE OF 2,4,R GEARS. IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON US 1, HE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE USE OF 1,3 GEARS. WE TROUBLESHOOT ONLINE AND THROUGH FRIENDS WITH MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND TEMPORARILY USED A ZIP TIE CONFIRMING THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE SHIFT CABLE BUSHING. LOCAL STORES DO NOT CARRY THE PART AS IT IS CARRIED BY DEALER ONLY. SATURN DOES NOT SELL THE PART WITHOUT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY (MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BUSHING WITH CLIP PART # 14043) AND HAS PRICED WITHOUT INSTALLATION AT $198.00. THE PARTS MANAGER DID NOT EVEN ASK ME FOR THE MODEL, SAID HE HAS PLENTY IN STOCK AND THAT THERE IS A MINIMUM 3 HOUR INSTALLATION WITH LABOR PRICED AT $95/HR. HE ALSO STATED THAT AS THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT HE HAS KNOWN OF PEOPLE TO USE ZIP TIES AND THEIR OWN NUT/BOLT SYSTEM TO REMEDY. UPON FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM, SOME OWNERS WITH UNFOR

Mileage: 294,981

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL1. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN ACTIVATES WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE HORN BUTTON. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HEAT CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE COULD OCCUR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND IS WAITING FOR AN INSPECTION. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL1. WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING TIGHTENS. WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING BECOMES LOOSE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. THE GEARS FELL APART INTERNALLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE CHEAPER PARTS WHEN HE DISCOVERED A RECALL RELATED TO HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO SATURN VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE GROUND AND ALL OVER THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEPT FLUCTUATING INTO THE RED ZONE. THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE DIFFERENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $2,257. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SPECIAL POLICY LETTER FROM SATURN IN JUNE OF 1999 CONCERNING A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE LETTER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN AND IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/06/08. *JB

Mileage: 63,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2 SEDAN. ON MARCH 16, 2008, THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW WITHOUT WARNING. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS DISCONNECTED TO STOP THE HORN FROM BLOWING. THE NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VIN; HOWEVER, THEY LATER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE HORN. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR IN THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN, RECALL NUMBER, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE SET AT DIFFERENT SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

Mileage: 148,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE TIE ROD END WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE CRASH WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART, MANUFACTURED BY TRW AUTOMOTIVE (PART NUMBER ES3238). THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TIE ROD END. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BETWEEN THE BALL AND SOCKET STEERING ABILITY WAS COMPLETELY LOST. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Mileage: 150,000

I AM LOSING A LOT OF OIL. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC HE STATED THAT A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THE VALVE COVER GASKET, SO HE CHANGED IT. THE CAR IS STILL LOSING A LOT OF OIL. ABOUT A QUART EVERY 400 MILES. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON MY OWN AND HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *JB

1996 SATURN SL2. HORN TURNS ON BY ITSELF AND WON'T TURN OFF, HAD TO UNPLUG IT. HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAD THE HORN SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE. I'VE ALMOST BEEN RUN OFF THE ROAD A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I COULDN'T HONK THE HORN WHEN SOMEONE WAS CHANGING LANES AND DIDN'T SEE ME. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. MANY PEOPLE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR HORN MORE THAN 3 TIMES. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

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

Mileage: 125,000