Saturn SC1 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

NONE OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONNAIRE APPLIED TO MY COMPLAINT ON THE SC2. MY MAIN SAFETY CHILD ISSUE WITH THE 3RD DOOR IS THAT IT IS A TRAP WHEN SOMEONE ELSE PARKS NEXT TO YOU AND YOU CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR! I SPECIFICALLY TOOK MY CHILD TO PURCHASE THE SL2 AND HAD IT DEMOED IN AN OPEN AREA VS A CONFINED AREA WHICH DID NOT MAKE MY PROBLEM ARISE TILL I HAD THE CAR IN A TRAPPED CONFINED AREA AND COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND 3RD DOOR TO GET OUT!*AK

IN 2007, BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND OTHER OWNERS OF MY CAR'S MODEL, I PURCHASED NEW MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES. UPON RECENT INSPECTION AND ROTATION AT A SERVICE CENTER, IT WAS NOTED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES WERE DRY-ROTTING AT THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE TREADS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT "MICHELINS DO THAT." THE TIRES ARE 4 1/2 YEARS OLD, HAVE BEEN DRIVEN 23,000 MILES WITH VERY LITTLE TREAD WEAR (9/32" LEFT) AND ARE NOT HOUSED INSIDE A GARAGE WHERE OZONE COULD AFFECT THEM. I DRIVE 10 MILES ROUND TRIP EACH WORK DAY. I ALSO DO NOT LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF DRY ROT LEADING TO BLOWOUTS, OFTEN WITH RELATED ACCIDENTS. IN MANY INSTANCES MICHELIN DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND SITED EVERYTHING FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REACTIONS TO POTHOLE AND CURB HITS BY DRIVERS SOMETIMES DENYING A CLAIM BEFORE RECEIVING THE CUSTOMER'S DOCUMENTATION. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS TO IGNORE ANYMORE. JUST BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE TIRES CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DOESN'T MEAN THIS IS NOT SERIOUS. HOW MANY OCCURRENCES DOES THE NHTSA NEED BEFORE IT ACTS PROACTIVELY TO END THIS SAFETY RISK? I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT SPEAKS FOR CONSUMERS WHO FILED PREVIOUSLY, OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT FILED AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE AT RISK. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL A HIGH-PROFILE FIERY CRASH BRINGS LIGHT TO THIS ISSUE (AS SEEMS TOO OFTEN TO BE THE CASE IN OUR SOCIETY.) MICHELIN HAS HAD A FEW MAJOR TIRE RECALLS, ONE JUST RECENTLY, SO THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO INVESTIGATE THE DRY ROT COMPLAINTS. INVESTIGATE NOW SO WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM THE NHTSA, AN ENTITY THAT IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL TAXPAYERS. THANK YOU. *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC2 EQUIPPED WITH SIGMA SUPREME TIRES. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. SHE DID NOT WANT TO PROVIDE AN APPROXIMATE SPEED BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,419. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC2. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LOOSE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AUGUST 2003, JUNE 2004 AND AUGUST 2006. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,579.

I HEAR A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000. I TOLD THEM NO BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULD BE FREE SINCE A LOT OF SATURN OWNERS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THEM? *TR

THE POWER SUNROOF ON MY 2001 SATURN SC-2 WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I OPENED IT AND WHEN IT WAS CLOSING. YESTERDAY, WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE SATURN DEALER CHARGED $46.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR AND THIS WOULD COST ABOUT $380.00 TO REPLACE. I AGREED TO THE CHARGE. THEN THEY CALLED TO SAY THE NEW MOTOR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY WANTED AN ADDITIONAL $950.00 TO REPLACE A MODULE. I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO THE WORK; THAT THE PRICE WAS TOO HIGH. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OLD AND THIS PART ALWAYS FAILS. I ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR A MOTOR I DIDN'T NEED SINCE THEY MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS 56,000 MILES AND I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. THE SUNROOF IS ONLY USED A FEW MONTHS A YEAR. THIS IS A FAULTY PART. IF THIS IS A PART THAT "ALWAYS FAILS" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHY HASN'T GM HAD THEM RECALLED, AND REPAIR THEM FOR FREE?

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC2. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE RPM'S INCREASED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,861 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,622.

ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2007, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT ON NORTH AURORA ROAD IN NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR REVVED TO 6000 RPM AND WENT FROM 0-40 MPH. I THOUGHT THE ACCELERATOR MUST BE STUCK, SO I TRIED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T. IT WAS NOT STUCK. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR JUST KEPT REVVING AND GOING 40 MPH. I KNEW I HAD TO GET THE CAR STOPPED OR RISK HITTING CARS AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION OR GOING THROUGH A RED LIGHT. I SAW A ROAD TO THE RIGHT AHEAD OF ME AND DECIDED THAT I HAD TO MAKE THAT TURN. I TURNED ONTO ENTERPRISE ROAD GOING 40 MPH. IT WAS THEN THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE KEY OFF TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A FOULED THROTTLE PLATE. HE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM AND I PICKED THE CAR UP. DRIVING THE CAR TO MY HOME APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AWAY, THE CAR SEEMED OKAY. HOWEVER, AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND PUT IT INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE CAR REVVED AGAIN TO 3000 RPM. MY HUSBAND WITNESSED THIS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE CAR IS GOING AGAIN TO THE MECHANIC. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*JB

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN SC-2 COUPE THAT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2001. I HAVE ROUTINELY CHANGED THE OIL AND DONE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS ~75,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN RECENTLY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND LEARNED THE TIMING CHAIN DID NOT BREAK BUT BECAME LOOSE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED SATURN ENGINEERS DESIGNED THE TIMING CHAIN TO RUN THE OIL PUMP. THEREFORE, WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BECAME LOOSE ON MY SATURN,THE OIL PUMP FAILED TO MAINTAIN OIL PRESSURE ON THAT SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHEARED OFF A BEARING THAT TRANSFERS POWER FROM THE CAM SHAFT TO THE PISTONS. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS OCCURRED AS A DIRECT RESULT FROM THE TIMING CHAIN FAILING TO DELIVER POWER TO THE OIL PUMP. I AM LEFT WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE. I AM AWARE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SATURN RELEASED IN 2003 THAT DIRECTLY INVOLVED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND SUBSEQUENT TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SATURN OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT SATURN HAS HAD WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. I SPOKE AT LENGTH WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ON THE PHONE. BOTH OF WHICH STATED THAT SINCE I DID THE OIL CHANGES AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE MYSELF, THERE WAS NO RECORD OF IT BEING DONE AND THERE WAS LITTLE THEY WOULD DO TO HELP RECTIFY THE SITUATION. THEY ALSO STATED THAT I COULD PAY TO TOW MY SATURN FROM THE MECHANIC SHOP THAT IT WAS AT TO THE DEALERSHIP GARAGE WHERE THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH COST. NO ONE AT SATURN WOULD STATE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COULD HAVE BEEN AT FAULT IN THIS INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH EVERYONE THAT I SPOKE WITH WAS AWARE OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN BEING ISSUED OVER THE MATTER. I NOW AM FACED WITH REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR WITH A REPLACEMENT AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 2500 TO 3000 DOLLARS. THE DAMAGED ENGINE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. *NM

I OWN A 2001 SATURN SC2 WITH 84000 MILES. A GEAR IN THE TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL HAS WORN A HOLE THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE BELL HOUSING CAUSING A MAJOR LEAK. I HAVE CONTACTED 5 TRANSMISSION SHOPS IN MY LOCAL AREA AND ALL HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD ITS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE ONLY WORKED ON THIS ONE DAY AND EVERY SHOP THAT WORKS ON TRANSMISSIONS KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. SATURN SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER DOING A WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH MY SELF THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AS A MINIMUM THEY SHOULD AT LEAST RELEASE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. ANY HELP OR INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB

2001 SATURN SC2 BOUGHT 2/04 20,000 ORGINAL MILES ....... SUPORTING DOCUMENTS STATE THE CAR WAS SITTING AND NOT DRIVEN PRIOR TO PURCHASING. AS OF OCT 2004 AND 30,000 MILES THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK IN EXHAUST, CHECKED WITH SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW RESONATOR AND PIPE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME APPROX. $400 TO FIX, 2ND PROBLEM IS THAT MY IDLER PULLEY IS BAD AND IN THE PROCESS DISTROYING THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT APPROX. $200 TO REPAIR. I FEEL GM (SATURN) NEED TO OWN UP TO THESE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THERE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THEM UNDER RECALL. THE NHTSA HAS A SERVICE BULLENTIN ON THE EXHAUST PROBLEM THAT JUST CAME OUT OCT. 2004 BULLENTIN #040605010 (SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR REPLACEMENT OF RESONATOR AND INTERMEDIATE PIPE) I ALSO FEEL A CAR THAT HAS 33,300 MILES SHOULDNT NEED ALL OF THIS KIND OF WORK DONE TO IT WHEN THESE KIND OF ISSUES USUALLY HAPPEN AROUND 60-70,000 MILES ON ANY OTHER NORMAL CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT, THIS IS MY FIRST ESPECIALLY WITH THIS LOW OF MILAGE - THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT AND LET DOWN. THANK YOU - PLEASE PUT IN EFFECT A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES..... I THINK GM CUSTOMERS HAVE SPENT ENOUGH ON REPAIRS. I VERY UNHAPPY FIRST SATURN (GM) OWNER. *AK