10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Oct 292014

SL 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
Driving on highway rt. 80, when a car swerved into right lane in front of me from entrance ramp. I was traveling at approx. 45 miles an hour. Airbags failed to deploy in a front end collision, causing life altering injury. Left temporal brain damage, post concussion syndrome and epilepsy, also other injuries to neck, shoulder and to lower back.

- Paterson, NJ, USA

problem #4

Jul 012014

SL 4-cyl

  • miles
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. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Oroville, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 012006

SL 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
My car has a lot of problems. The steering system has been replaced 2 times. The climate blower motor has been replaced 2 times. It has broken down 2 times. This car is a lemon and GM will do nothing to help with any problems I have.. they just give me the run around. And my windshield wiper system has been replaced 1 time.. which still never corrected the problem.. the speed of the wipers when on high are slower then most cars resulting in poor vision. The air bags never went off when I got in to a head on collision at 45 mph.. this has to be the worst car out there.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #2

Aug 052003

SL

  • miles
While driving at highway speed, consumer lost control and couldn't steer the vehicle. Passenger'sir bag deployed.dealer and manufacturer notified.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #1

Mar 262003

SL

  • 44,000 miles
Vehicle was in a high speed frontal collision but none of the air bags deployed upon impact.

- Montclair, NJ, USA