2000 SATURN SL Electrical System Problems

SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. SOMETIMES IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO EVEN START THE CAR AS THE SWITCH WOULD BE FROZEN IN PLACE. AFTER SOME PLAY WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD WORK. THEN THERE WERE TIMES YOU COULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITHOUT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WE TRIED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO SEE IF IT COULD BE FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. NOW THE KEY HAS TO BE LEFT IN AT ALL TIMES, YOU CAN'T REMOVE IT AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL THE RECALLS REGARDING THE IGNITION IN THESE VEHICLES. NOT TO MENTION A PERSONAL CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE EASILY STOLEN WITH A VISIBLE KEY IN THE SWITCH. *TR

I TURNED MY CAR INTO A PARKING LOT, AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY JUST QUIT WORKING. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, IT ALSO HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND AGAIN WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN INTO ANOTHER PARK LOT,ALL ON THE SAME DAY IN LESS THAN 1 1/2 HOURS TOTAL TIME. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. I WAS TOLD WHEN I FIRST HAD TROUBLE WITH THE IGNITION HOUSING COMING LOOSE, NOT TO PUT ANY OTHER KEYS ON THE KEY RING, AND I ONLY HAVE THE CAR KEY ON THE CHAIN. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CHANGED TWICE, AND THIS MAY BE THE THIRD TIME, ON THE LAST TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WERE PIECES OF METAL IN THE IGNITION THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE BELTWAY INSTEAD OF THE STREET, OR WHILE I WAS DRIVING (WHICH IT DID,BUT THE STREET WAS EMPTY) INSTEAD OF STOPPED. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

KEY FALLS OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVING! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED WITH ALL OF THE OTHER GM VEHICLES. THIS IS A DANGER AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED! STEP UP GM AND FIX THE COST CUTTING CORNERS YOU CUT AND PUT YOUR CUSTOMERS AT RISK! *TR

Mileage: 96,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND IT WAS COASTED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

Mileage: 141,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND IT WAS COASTED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

Mileage: 141,000

HAD A FEW MONTHS, HOT SUMMER AND KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION. MANUAL THAT CAME WITH CAR SAID THIS COULD HAPPEN AND IF IT DID TO TURN THE WHEEL, JIGGLE THE SHIFT, ETC. WOULD NOT HAVE THIS TROUBLE EXCEPT IN HOT WEATHER. ON OCT 29, 2010 I HAD LOCK CYLINDER & KEYS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BY AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALERSHIP. NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN (6/26/2014) WITH ONLY 44,000 ACTUAL MILES ON IT. ONLY AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP HAS EVER WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS A NEWER SATURN AND TO A SATURN OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS. I HATE TO HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER $310 AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

IMPORTANT, I DO NOT KNOW THE DATES SO I HAD TO JUST PUT IN A RANDOM ONE. THIS CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF ON 3 OCCASIONS. I BROUGHT IT TO SATURN ON ALL THE INCIDENTS. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND START TO BREAK AND DOWNSHIFT AND THE CAR WOULD LITERALLY JUST TURN OFF, AND I WAS LITERALLY AT THE CARS MERCY TILL IT WOULD TURN BACK ON. AS A FORMER DRIVERS ED INSTRUCTOR, I AM JUST LUCKY I REMAINED CALM. AT SATURN THEY TRIED TO TELL ME THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN. I DEMANDED IT DID, AND THE ONE TIME EVEN LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR A WEEK. I SEEN THE RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT THAT THEY ARE ONLY RECALLING TILL THE 2003'S. I AM THEREFORE COMPELLED TO MAKE SURE IT IS KNOWN THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED AS FAR BACK AS THE 2000 MODELS. I ALSO AM WILLING TO TESTIFY IF NEED BE BECAUSE I WAS SO UPSET. I HAD NO IDEA BACK THEN HOW TO HANDLE IT, SO I LET IT GO. HOWEVER, NOW I KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SO I AM FILING IN HOPES THIS HELPS PEOPLE BE SAFE. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATES BECAUSE IT WAS SO LONG AGO, BUT I BELIEVE THE RECORDS SHOULD BE DEMANDED FROM SATURN IN CLARENCE. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

I INSERTED THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND THE CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN; THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. HAPPENED AGAIN 4-3-08 AND HAD ANOTHER NEW KEY CYLINDER INSTALLED, ODOMETER THEN 35449. IT STILL FEELS "STICKY" WHEN I TURN THE KEY AND FEELS LIKE IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN. I LOOKED ON-LINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NOW I DRIVE THE CAR AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK SOMEWHERE WITH A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. I'M REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE RECENT IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH THE SATURNS. *TR

Mileage: 2,867

MY 2000 SATURN SL2 IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO START. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION IT REFUSES TO TURN TO THE "START" POSITION WITHOUT EXTENSIVE JIGGLING OF THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM SURFACED FOUR YEARS AGO AND WAS "FIXED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED AND IS WORSE THAN EVER. THIS SEEMS TO POINT TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD RESULT IN A DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BEING STRANDED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE IN INCONVENIENT OR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. GOOGLING "SATURN IGNITION KEY PROBLEMS" WILL REVEAL THAT THERE IS QUITE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH SATURN IN THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. SINCE THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY COMPLETELY I WILL ASSUME THAT SATURN IS REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED SWITCH. SATURN NEEDS TO DESIGN AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT WILL NOT FAIL AND USE THE NEW UNIT AS A REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OR RELEASE OUT OF THE IGNITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY ON WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCKED, AND THE DRIVER WASUNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVES HASDTO JIGGLE AND SHAKE THE IGNITION AREA FOR THE KEY TO TURN AND THE CAR TO START. THE CONTACT STATED ONCE THE CAR STARTED THE KEY COULD BE TAKEN OUT AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE SWITCH TO MY POWER WINDOW WAS BURNED OUT IN MY CAR.TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN PHIL.THEY TOLD ME I HAD SHORTED OUT BY SPILLING SOMTHING IN MY CONSEL AREA.THEY ALSO SAID THE REGULATOR WAS SHORTED OUT.I KNEW THIS WAS A LIE.WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEY HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER SWITCH BECAUSE IT WAS BURNT OUT.I KNEW IT WAS THE SAME THING JUST THE OTHER SWITCH.THEY ALSO SAID THE AREA IN QUESTION WAS ALL STICKY .ANOTHER LIE.THEY WANTED 350.00 TO FIX PROBLEM.I SAID NO.I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER CAR SHOP THE MAN THERE SAID THE SWITCH WAS BURNED OUT REPLACED IT FOR 133.00.HE SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY THING HAD BEEN SPILLED INSIDE CONSUL AREA WHERE THE SWITCH AND REGULATOR WAS. I FEEL THAT THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME.

IGNITION WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN OUT OF LOCK POSISTION. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT TO GET IT TO TURN. *AK

IGNITION LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Mileage: 24,450

IGNITION FIRST STARTED RELEASING THE KEYS WITH OUT THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF. THEN THE IGNITION CEASED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO ENTER MORE THAN HALF WAY. THE LOCK UP WAS DUE IN PART OF THE BUZZER SWITCH.*AK

Mileage: 40,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHT COMPONENTS WERE OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER THEN SUDDENLY WENT DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A TECHNICIAN 13 TIMES FOR THE LIGHT SENSOR BRAIN CONTROL SWITCH. *NLM

Mileage: 5,000

THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN FROM 70 MPH TO 5, THE DEALER REPAIRED/REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.*JB

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR,

Mileage: 18,000

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH CAR,

Mileage: 18,000

STARTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

TURN SIGNAL WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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. *YD

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. *YH

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP. NLM

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP. NLM

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED OIL PAN DUE TO OIL PAN LEAK. GLOVE BOX FELL OUT DUE TO THE LOCK BEING BROKE. SES LIGHT ON DUE TO TERMINAL DISLODGED ON 5 VOLT REFERENCE SPLICE PACK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ECM DUE TO STALLING AND FOUND BATTERY CABLE LOOSE AND FIXED PROBLEM, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *SLC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED OIL PAN DUE TO OIL PAN LEAK. GLOVE BOX FELL OUT DUE TO THE LOCK BEING BROKE. SES LIGHT ON DUE TO TERMINAL DISLODGED ON 5 VOLT REFERENCE SPLICE PACK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ECM DUE TO STALLING AND FOUND BATTERY CABLE LOOSE AND FIXED PROBLEM, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *SLC

A MAJOR SAFETY-CONCERN IS THE POOR ACCESSIBILITY OF THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY INABILITY TO QUICKLY-ACCESS THE HORN HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT SEVERAL SMALL ANIMALS AND HAS PREVENTED ME FROM EARLY-SIGNALING OTHER DRIVERS IN POTENTIALLY-DANGEROUS. *AK