1996 SATURN SL Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL* - THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE BRAKES ON 1996 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SHE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER CAR. SHE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH GAVE NO RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE BEING CUT OFF THE BRAKES DID WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AFTER SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 5, 2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS A NICE DAY, AND THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT PULLED MUSCLES IN HER BODY, AND WAS CURRENTLY ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS. THE CONTACT ASKED THE SATURN DEALER FOR THE DAMAGED PARTS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE THROWN AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES PULSATING AND GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CONTACT STATED HAD BRAKE WORK DONE IN 2001 AT 36,000 MILES, THE BRAKE CALIPERS HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA BY THE RHODE ISLAND STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. *AK

Mileage: 52,000

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON ITS ON. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS CONTROL UNIT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I REPLACED MY BRAKES AND ROTORS TODAY. THE MECHANIC WANTED TO SHOW ME THE MESS THAT THEY WERE. I LOOKED AT THEM AND HE POINTED OUT HOW UNUSUALLY DESTROYED THE INSIDE PADS ARE. HE SAID HE RARELY SEES ANYTHING THAT BAD. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND SOME DAYS I REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET IT OUT OR GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS JUST HANGING ON BEFORE THE RUST OVERRUNS IT. *LA

Mileage: 97,770

WHEN GOING FROM A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED TO A LOW RATE OF SPEED (65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR 40 MPH TO 15 MPH) THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHILE THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES, THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP WITHIN THE NORMAL DISTANCE . WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND SLOWING TO A RATE OF ABOUT 15 MPH ENTERING A HIGHWAY RAMP, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE WET ROADWAY WHCIH CAUSED ME TO SKID AND GO UP ONTO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAD APPROX. $2500 WORTH OF DAMGE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE 5 PEOPLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO ROADWAY CONDITIONS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 20 MPH SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN AHEAD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT THIS TIME. AGAIN, IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER.*AK

AT 65 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL FELT HARD, AND WOULD NOT DEPRESS. DASH INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *YH

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *YH

ONE TIME AT A STOP SIGN, PRESS THE BRAKING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT NO BRAKING EFFECT. AFTER ADJUSTING THE REAR DRUM OR DISK, PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT. THE CAR'S ALTERNATOR WAS DEAD AFTER ONLY 36000 BUT DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CAR START TO SHAKING FROM THE START TO END OF BRAKING PROCESS. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.*AK

BRAKE FAILURE WHEN COMING TO A STOP.BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO STOP.AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE BRAKE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS AT THE SAME SPEED 35 M/H WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL HAVING THE SAME ACTION.SATURN WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM THE SECOND TIME AND TESTED IT TWO TIMES.*AK

BRAKE FAILURE WHEN COMING TO A STOP.BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO STOP.AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE BRAKE SHOP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.THE SECOND FAILURE WAS AT THE SAME SPEED 35 M/H WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL HAVING THE SAME ACTION.SATURN WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM THE SECOND TIME AND TESTED IT TWO TIMES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. SATURN SAID IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED IT WOULD AFFECT THE BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1,2,3. BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. FIRST KNOWN PROBLEM WAS ABOUT 08/99 WHEN DEALER FOUND PITTED & BLISTERED REAR BRAKE ROTORS. REPLACED THEM "AS A FAVOR" SINCE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (LESS THAN 36,000 MILES). I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT LOWER GAS MILEAGE AND FEELING LIKE CAR WAS "DRAGGING" AND HAD BEEN TOLD EARLIER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS - USE A LOWER GEAR. IN JUNE, 2000, I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE DISK WAS GLOWING RED AFTER A 36 MILE FREEWAY DRIVE. LATER, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET UNDER THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER WAS FROZEN IN THE "ON" POSITION. WD40 AND MUSCLE FREED IT, BUT IT HAD TO BE LEFT OFF AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER FOUND THE DISKS TO BE WARPED, CALIPER RUINED AND FRONT DISKS ALSO WARPED. PADS WERE NOT TERRIBLY WORN ON THE FRONT. I HAVE ROUTINELY GONE 50,000 ON PADS IN PREVIOUS CALLS; THE REAR PADS ON THIS CAR HAD LESS THAN 15,000!! AGAIN, DEALER IMPLIED IT WAS MY FAULT AND NOT A DEFECT BY SATURN. #4. SPEED CONTROL - DEVICE BEGAN ERRATIC FUNCTION - SPED UP AND SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING; AT TIMES WOULDN'T TURN ON. DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NO NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM. #5. IGNITION SWITCH - STARTED HAVING DIFFICULTY IN TURNING ON OR FULLY OFF (LOCKED POSITION). FIRST TOLD BY DEALER IT MUST BE JAMMED WITH KEY SHAVINGS-IF KEY SHOWS BRASS COLOR, MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A GROOVE IN THE SWITCH HOUSING-DUE TO USE OF A "HEAVY KEY CHAIN BY PREVIOUS OWNER". I PAID 50% - LOOKS LIKE CHEAP, SOFT METAL HOUSING-DESIGN FLAW. #6. HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT AROUND 26,000 MILES - 3 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER WHAT WILL FAIL NEXT - ALL OF THESE COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & FOUND THAT ROTORS WERE CORRODED ON THE INSIDE. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION IN JUNE & SAID NOTHING TO THE CONSUMER ABOUT ROTOR CORROSION. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MACHINED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIRED MINIMUM THICKNESS. *YH

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEEL BEING CORRODED. *MJS

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEEL BEING CORRODED. *MJS

AT APPROOX. 25MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, PRESSED THE BRAKES WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, REPAIRED THE PROBLEM.

UPON ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP CONSUMER NOTED THAT VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP, CAUSING SOME EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STAND STILL , IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT 1ST. THE CALIPERS. THEN , MASTER CYLINDER FAILED/NOT RELEASING, CAUSING BRAKES TO GRAB. *AK.ET.

BRAKE PARTS CORRODED CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTORS AND CALIPERS.*ET

WHEN TRAVELING DOWN AN INCLINE ABOUT 25 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ALSO, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGANGED IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WEREN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. ALSO, THERE IS VIRBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING AND A SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK

ON 6/17/99 AT 6;30PM I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM RTE 73S TO ATCO JUGHANDLE. ONCE I MADE THE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR SHUTTERED AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. MY SPEED WAS 20MPH AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRIZZLING. *AK

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

BRAKE ADJUSTER BENT.

BRAKES PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, ROTORS FAILED ONCE.

BRAKES PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, ROTORS FAILED ONCE.

BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED/REPLACED.

CYLINDER HEAD COVER FAILURE.

UPON APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND FACING A RED LIGHT, ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT FOOT SLIPPED AND STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN 2 COLLISIONS/INJURIES. ALSO BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION.

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION.

WHILE DRIVING AT OR ABOUT 35 MPH CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FORNTAL COLLISION ON WET PAVEMENT, BRAKES NEVER REALLY WORKED ON THE CAR, MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. *AK DEALER REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS THREE TIMES IN 22 MONTHS, DUE TO PADS AND ROTORS BEING RUSTED. CONSUMER STATED PADS AND ROTORS.*JB

BRAKE PADS FAILED.

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.

BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND CONTINUES TO FADE, INTERMITTENTLY FAILES, IN FOR REPAIRS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE FAILURE, DRIVING AT SPEED OF 15 MPH, FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00, APPLIED BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK *SLC

FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND THE CRUISIE CONTROL WAS ON, THE CONSUMER APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK VEHICLE IN GARAGE, BRAKES FAILED/WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT THROUGH GARAGE DOOR AND HIT DOOR DIVIDING GARAGE AND HOUSE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE VIBRATED BEFORE THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. *AK

SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE, ON ONE OCCASION WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, HAS ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

ABS BRAKE FAILURE , WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES THEY MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, AND THERE IS COMPLETE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS. *AK

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY.

THE CAR WOULD SHAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WITHIN 13800 MILES THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE EXPLAIN MORE. *AK

THE CAR WOULD SHAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WITHIN 13800 MILES THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE EXPLAIN MORE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UP HILL APPLIED BRAKES TO NO AVAIL, RESULTING IN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

ABS BRAKES; POOR PERFORMACE OF THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES IS HEATING UP AND ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE. *AK

BRAKES GRIND.