Equipment Problems of Saturn SL

I just received a 1999 Saturn Sl 2 series a year ago from my mother for my very first car. I got it at about 100,000 miles and it is now currently at 122,446. I noticed about a month ago while I would be driving, usually after about 1-2 miles after starting up the car and driving, my gears began to Slip. I kept up with just about monthly oil changes, accompanied by transmission fluid checked and topped off. My transmission oil has never been low. Then, about 4 days ago I went to leave from my work orientation, and I couldn't back up my car from my parking spot, the reverse had went out. So I put the car back in drive, then back to reverse thinking maybe it didn't go into reverse all the way and it did not work. I revved up the engine, nothing happening until I did it oretty hard, and eventually it started rolling back a little. I looked up on the internet to see if this was a pretty big issue or not, and I realize I see it a lot in 1999 Saturns. A recall I believe would be the best option for fixing this issue and would further prevent people from spending so much money. I took my car to a mechanic and it's currently sitting there now. I don't know what they are going to tell me. I believe it could be a small part that just needs replaced, but I'm sure they're going to just have me purchase a whole new transmission which is not what I prefer to do as a 18 year old college student. Especially if the car was only 700$ that I purchased it for.

See all problems of the 1999 Saturn SL 🔎.

While driving (vehicle in motion) the vehicle shuts down completely. At times when the key is turned in the ignition switch nothing happens; no electrical power but battery is fine and everything else checks out ok except the ignition switch. It has all the characteristics of gm vehicles that experienced fatalities with faulty ignition switches. This has occurred on several occasions the last instance was on may 10, 2016.

See all problems of the 1997 Saturn SL 🔎.

Our daughter was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 10/9/2014. A vehicle pulled out in front of her. Our daughter was not able to stop in time and hit the vehicle with the front end of the Saturn to the drivers door of the other vehicle. Air bags did not deploy but we believe they should have. Our daughter sustained injuries.

See all problems of the 2001 Saturn SL 🔎.

Keys come out of ignition during use.

See all problems of the 2002 Saturn SL 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2000 Saturn SL 🔎.

Just wanting to let you know that when the car is moving or still, I can move the shift from d to n without having to press the button to unlock the shifter. Same can be said from n to r. I've never tried it when it's moving, but when the car is stopped, I can push it from d to r. That would be quite interesting to try if it were someone else's car. This was first noticed about a year ago.

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!.

We have a Saturn Sl1 that has the exact same problem that the cars on the ignition recall list have. The key comes out in any position - the wheel locks up and we can't get it to unlock - we live in a rural area and our roads are very rough. We feel that the key may move from the run position while we are driving the car and the engine will turn off and we will be in great danger. We have contacted gm and they said that since the car is not on the recall list - there is nothing they can do. . . . We would appreciate it if you could investigate this situation. Our car has been sitting in our driveway for 3 months, because we are afraid to drive it. Thank you for your time -- awaiting your earliest response. L.

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.

Vehicle stalled for unknown reason. No check-engine light went on, so the mechanic could not check codes.

See all problems of the 1998 Saturn SL 🔎.

While car is moving key comes out of ignition.

Ignition switch fails causes steering wheel to lock and or unable to turn on car.

When turning off the car, the key gets stuck in the ignition switch between the run and off positions. When stuck the key cannot be turned or removed. The car cannot be started nor can the key be removed.

Spouse and I use car. The very first time the occurrence happened, was when parking car into driveway, I went to turn off car ignition and accidentally hit key ring, and the key fell out of the ignition, with the car in park, yet still running. On numerous occasions, while driving the car, the car is still running and the key easily Slips out of the ignition. Also, on more than one occasion, when trying to unlock the steering wheel, the key will not turn while in the steering ignition. We would have to move the steering wheel many times while simultaneously turning the key many times to unlock the ignition. One day soon, it might not turn. Yes, we know the advise is to use only a single key, not one on a multi-key ring. However, we both have used other cars for many years, and never had such difficulty or frequency of problems as this situation.

Key came out of ignition while going around corner, engine continued to run, everything else functioned normally. A locksmith cut a new key that is single sided, this does not fall out but also does not function on locks.

The key comes out of the ignition while running. There is also trouble turning the key in the ignition to start it. Similiar to what can happen when the stearing wheel locks, sometimes the key wont turn. This happens without the stearing wheel locked and takes 20-30 trys before it finally turns over.

I have removed the key with the vehicle stopped and the car continues to run. The key falls out of the ignition switch. Additionally, the key can be removed before being turned to the "off" position. This causes the key to be difficult to reinsert into the ignition.

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!!!.

I have trouble turning the ignition switch. Once started the keys can fall out of the switch. Please add this to the ignition recall because I don't want to die!!!.

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.

Key comes out freely while car is in drive and key does not need to be in the ignition once car is started. Engine will randomly stall.

The lock on the steering column is too loose to be turned effectively only someone who has driven the car for a while knows how to get the key to turn so that the car can be started.

The coolant system breaks frequently. The radiator breaks about every year. There also seems to be a sticking accelerator. If you have to accelerate very quickly. The car will idle abnormally high for weeks before returning to normal. The ignition key comes out without turning the vehicle off.

My key comes out the ignition in the run position, when the car is running. I am original owner since new. This started about the year of 2009 at about 65,000 miles. I have 165,000 miles on the car now.

Saturn is an l200 series/there was only the LS on your list. Numerous occasions of engine stall while traveling at all speeds. Called Saturn/said VIN not accepted? live in florida keys/had to go to miami & get tail lamp fixed/only lasted two weeks (this was before engine stall) & call to Saturn. Am 69yr old female/afraid to use car/paid for all sorts of repairs/modules/sensors???and more. No one in keys to repair via gm - Saturn said miami only. Roundtrip over 200 miles. Afraid to drive/can't afford another car/must junk and, ofcourse, Saturn said VIN # not under recall for engine or electrical. Is there any way to recoup dollars I paid for any repairs on this car??? so much more than I am listing here. . . . . . Thank you NHTSA.

When I removed the keys from my car it kept running. They keys have only fallen out twice, but I have since removed all the extras from the key fob. But the car should not continue to run after it has been placed in park and the key removed from the ignition. I know it is an older car and currently has 135,000 miles on it. I have had diligent maintenance performed on it since I purchased it new in 2002. The problem occurred when it had 45,000 miles on it and should have been replaced by gm, but I was advised it was a costly expense for me. Gm should replace the ignition at their cost.

Accessories: volume knob fell off. . . Not replaced yet. Overhead interior light fell off roof. . . Repaired in August. Other:since around 40,000 miles this car has had a severe vibration, wether from motor or transmission, or ??? is not known. Vibration is so bad that you cannot see clearly out of rearview mirror when in park, or in drive with foot on brake. If you are sitting in car while in park, vibration can actually cause a numb feeling in your butt (I am serious. . . This is not a joke!!!) other times it is a fight to keep the car to a stop if in drive because of vibration and a "leaping" feeling. Dash panel vibrates terribly loud, and is very distracting from this problem too.