ALTERNATOR MOUNT BRACKET FAILURE ON 1997 SATURN SL2, VIN #[XXX] WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THE MOUNT BRACKET FOR MY ALTERNATOR SNAPPED IN HALF! THE DESIGN FLAW IS THAT THE MOUNT BRACKET IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK. THE ENGINE HEATS UP WHICH CAUSES THE METAL TO EXPAND AND BECOME WEAKER FROM THE THERMAL STRESS. THER…
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ALTERNATOR MOUNT BRACKET FAILURE ON 1997 SATURN SL2, VIN #[XXX] WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THE MOUNT BRACKET FOR MY ALTERNATOR SNAPPED IN HALF! THE DESIGN FLAW IS THAT THE MOUNT BRACKET IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK. THE ENGINE HEATS UP WHICH CAUSES THE METAL TO EXPAND AND BECOME WEAKER FROM THE THERMAL STRESS. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE STRESS FROM THE ALTERNATOR (VIBRATION, STRESS LOADS). WITH THE HEATED UP METAL (WEAKENED FROM THERMAL STRESS) COMBINED WITH THE STRESS LOAD FROM THE ALTERNATOR VIBRATIONS, IT ADDS UP TO TROUBLE. LUCKY FOR ME I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20-30 MPH WHEN THE BRACKET FAILED. THIS FAILURE HAS CAUSED ALMOST $1,400 IN REPAIRS TO MY CAR WHICH IS CURRENTLY @ SATURN OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA GETTING REPAIRED. I DON'T WANT TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE IS 6 YEARS OLD BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T FAIL. IS THERE ANY HELP OR INFORMATION THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROVIDE ME IN THIS MATTER? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10043023
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2003
Electrical System
1997 SL2 SATURN WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD CHARGE. HAD EARLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS (ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT FUNCTION, NO DASH LIGHTS). *PH
NHTSA ODI #10038848
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2003
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR FELL OFF BROKE FROM ENGINE BRACKET. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024477
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Electrical System
HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8017046
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8015057
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
AT START UP HORN SOUNDED, THEN, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8013733
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Electrical System
SATURN ARE AN EASY CAR TO STEAL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SO THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2000 MODELS. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH FOR 109.46 DOLLARS.
NHTSA ODI #9002948
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
THE WHINE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #561477
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Electrical System
VEHICLE'S FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, CLOCK EVEN RESETS. CAUSING CAR TO SHUT OFF. POWER STEERING/ BRAKES/ RADIO/ AIR CONDITIONER/ HEADLIGHTS, ETC. FAIL. BEGAN AROUND 30,000 MILES. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR REPLACED, DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #744613
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2000
Electrical SystemSteering
AS OF TODAY'S DATE, 7/12/00 THE SATURN AUTO IS WITH THE DEALER IN SANTA ANA, CA. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT COLD WELDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE TUNNEL AREA OF THE FLOOR PAN. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. THE PINION BEARING CAGE IN THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE UNDER HIGH STEERING SYSTEM LOAD CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR LOW SPEED MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PINION GEAR DISENGAGING FROM THE RACK CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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