2001 SATURN SL Electrical System Problems

I HAVE SOO MUCH PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR

Mileage: 127

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.

Mileage: 190,000

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

Mileage: 142,000

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

Mileage: 118,025

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

Mileage: 135,169

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.

Mileage: 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

Mileage: 185,084

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.

Mileage: 65,000

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

Mileage: 36,000

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

Mileage: 13,000

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

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

Mileage: 96,000

2002 SATURN SL1. CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY**CC THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORK FINE. THE DASH LIGHT ALSO STOPPED WORKING. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN SL FROM A SMALL CAR DEALERSHIP AT THE END OF JUNE 2006. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, MANY COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL - ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, STARTER. ALL WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE FAILED. JUST TODAY (12/27/06) THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN. WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. *JB

Mileage: 64,000

WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT DOESN'T TURN MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TRIED TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND ALSO REINSERTING THE KEY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND IT IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. I ALSO KNOW OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH OTHER MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SAY THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS.

DT: AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION,. THEN, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REENTERED. ALSO, KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER IT WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. OWNER DID NOT THINK THAT SHE SHOULD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER. FOUND POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL ON ORIGINAL AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKING AND CORRODING THE BATTERY CABLE. REPLACEMENT BATTERY CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WIRING BURNT OUT AND BROKE. THIS WIRES ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO OTHER WIRES IN THE ENGINE, AND COULD OF RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BURNT WIRES. THE CAUSE OF THE WIRES BURNING IS UNDETERMINED. *LA

Mileage: 38,000

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC THE MECHANIC RESET THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2000-2003 L-SERIES SATURNS REGARDING THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SO THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WIDESPREAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WITH HIS CAR WAS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JB

BATTERY ACID LEAK ON POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL (SATURN 2001 SL2). ON 3/13/04 AT NIGHT TRIED TO START MY SATURN AND COULDN'T START IT. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A JUMP (CAR STARTED). *AK ON THE DRIVE HOME CAR LOST ALL POWER COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AFTER PUSHING THE CAR TO A GAS STATION I FOUND THE POSITIVE BATTERY WAS CORRODED. I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH THE CABLE FELL OUT OF THE BATTERY. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A TOW TO SATURN OF TORRANCE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 3/15/04 SATURN OF TORRANCE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK THE CAN IN FOR REPAIR. AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL OUT OF BATTERY POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED CLEANED AFFECTED AREA I WAS CHARGED $127.57 FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE) NOTE: BATTERY WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD GREEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING THE BATTERY WAS STILL GOOD. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH BEING CHARGE FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR A NEW CAR, AFTER LEARNING THAT QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE (SERVICE BULLETIN 01-T-26) NOTE: (STATEMENT POSTED ON THE INTERNET SAME PROBLEM) YES THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS BASICALLY CAUSED BY SOMEONE OVER-TORQUING THE CABLE MOUNTING BOLTS. THERE IS ACTUALLY A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM (NOT A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN) )1-T-26 .THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR ON ANY YEAR AND MODEL SATURN OR OTHERWISE WITH A SIDE POST BATTERY. BUT FOR WHAT-EVER REASON THE BULLETIN SPECIFIES ONLY 2000-2001 S-SERIES. (OVER-TORQUED AT FACTORY??) HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?S=D24372B7D0378A6EBF7DB656F9578E7E&THREADID=26203&HIGHLIGHT=SATURN+BATTERY+LEAK

Mileage: 39,040

BATTERY ACID LEAK ON POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL (SATURN 2001 SL2). ON 3/13/04 AT NIGHT TRIED TO START MY SATURN AND COULDN'T START IT. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A JUMP (CAR STARTED). *AK ON THE DRIVE HOME CAR LOST ALL POWER COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AFTER PUSHING THE CAR TO A GAS STATION I FOUND THE POSITIVE BATTERY WAS CORRODED. I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH THE CABLE FELL OUT OF THE BATTERY. CALLED SATURN ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR A TOW TO SATURN OF TORRANCE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 3/15/04 SATURN OF TORRANCE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK THE CAN IN FOR REPAIR. AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL OUT OF BATTERY POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED CLEANED AFFECTED AREA I WAS CHARGED $127.57 FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CORRODED WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE) NOTE: BATTERY WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD GREEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING THE BATTERY WAS STILL GOOD. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH BEING CHARGE FOR A REPLACEMENT BATTERY FOR A NEW CAR, AFTER LEARNING THAT QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE (SERVICE BULLETIN 01-T-26) NOTE: (STATEMENT POSTED ON THE INTERNET SAME PROBLEM) YES THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS BASICALLY CAUSED BY SOMEONE OVER-TORQUING THE CABLE MOUNTING BOLTS. THERE IS ACTUALLY A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM (NOT A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN) )1-T-26 .THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR ON ANY YEAR AND MODEL SATURN OR OTHERWISE WITH A SIDE POST BATTERY. BUT FOR WHAT-EVER REASON THE BULLETIN SPECIFIES ONLY 2000-2001 S-SERIES. (OVER-TORQUED AT FACTORY??) HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP3?S=D24372B7D0378A6EBF7DB656F9578E7E&THREADID=26203&HIGHLIGHT=SATURN+BATTERY+LEAK

Mileage: 39,040

AC DELCO CAR BATTERY POSITIVE TERMINAL FELL OFF THE BATTERY, CAUSING CAR TO NOT START AND BATTERY ACID TO DRIP ON CABLES UNDER BATTERY. BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH REVEALS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE WITH AC DELCO BATTERIES. *JB

Mileage: 38,119

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2001, IN JANUARY 2002, FEBRUARY 2002, JANUARY 2003 AND JUNE 2003, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SATURN CHANGED THE BATTERY IN JANUARY 2003 AND IN ALL OTHER OCCASIONS THE CAR NEEDED JUMP START. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE. SINCE ALL OF THEM WERE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, SATURN WOULD NOT TREAT THESE AS REPAIRS AS JUMP STARTS DO NOT COUNT AS REPAIRS. *AK

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2001, IN JANUARY 2002, FEBRUARY 2002, JANUARY 2003 AND JUNE 2003, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SATURN CHANGED THE BATTERY IN JANUARY 2003 AND IN ALL OTHER OCCASIONS THE CAR NEEDED JUMP START. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE. SINCE ALL OF THEM WERE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS, SATURN WOULD NOT TREAT THESE AS REPAIRS AS JUMP STARTS DO NOT COUNT AS REPAIRS. *AK

IGNITION LOCKED DOWN WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. COMPLAINED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE PROBLEM. STOPPED GOING TO DEALERSHIP. *JB

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TRUNK AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY

2001 SL1 SATURN

Mileage: 5,000

HORN STOPPED WORKING 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATION AND TWO DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NUMEROUS BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PEDAL FADES TO THE FLOOR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, NOTICE NOT FLUID AT RT FRONT BRAKE LINE, REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER. POWER BLEED AND RT 26 MILES AFTER RAPAIR, NORMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE, SOMETIMES A LOUD SNAP OR CLICK BEFORE FAILURE, SOMETIME NO WARNING, SOMETIME JUST A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL. BATTERY LEAKING ACID INTO BATTERY BOX, VERIFIED AND FOUND BATTERY LEAKING AT POSSITIVE CABLE REPLACE BATTERY, COVER, POSSITIVE CABLE, TRANS FILTER AND CLEANED ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HOSE FROM COOLANT TANK TO THROTTLE BODY RUBBED, REPLACE HOSE. ADJUSTMENT PARKING BRAKES HARD TO PULL, ADJUST PER SERVICE MANUEL.

THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. WE ARE PRIOR YEAR (1993, 1997 (2), AND 1998) SATURN OWNERS. FOR THE PRIOR YEARS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE HORN BUTTONS WERE LOCATED ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLAINTS FROM MANY OWNERS BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT THE STANDARD LOCATION FOR HORNS ON GM OR OTHER MODELS. IN 1999 OR 2000, SATURN MOVED THE HORN TO THE TYPICAL LOCATION (CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL OVER THE AIRBAG). THEY REPLACED THE HORN BUTTONS WITH THE CURISE CONTROLS. 4-6 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED, THE 2001 SATURN, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT WITH A YOUNG LADY HAVING A 'ROAD RAGE DAY'. DURING ONE FRANTIC MOMENT, I TRIED TO LOCATE THE HORN. OF COURSE IT WASN'T IN THE 'CUSTOMARY LOCATION'. I FOUND IT BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I HAD ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONCENTRATING ON THE OTHER DRIVER'S ACTIONS, I WAS UNAWARE THAT 'CRUISE WAS ENGAGED'. IN THE NEXT MOMENT, THIS DRIVER SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (FOR WHICH SHE WAS TICKETED AND FINED). I TRIED TO STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THE CAR SPED UP. I HIT HER CAR WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERENED THAT ANOTHER DRIVER (PARTICULARILY OWNERS OF OLDER MODEL SATURNS WHO PURCHASE NEW SATURNS) WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME SITUATION BUT WITH MORE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICES AND WRITTEN THEM A NOTE (WITHOUT RESPONSE). THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON SAID THEY WOULD DO EACTLY WHAT I DID. SHE OWNS AND DRIVE THE PRIOR YEAR SATURN. SHE SAID THE LOCATION OF THE HORN IS AUTOMATIC. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IT TOOK ME 3-6 MONTHS TO NEVER ENGAGE THE CRUISE IN MY SEARCH FOR THE HORN. THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE LOGGED WELL OVER 200,000 MILES IN THE OLDER MODELS. THANKS.*AK