1996 Saturn Sl

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

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