10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,738 miles

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problem #2

Jul 102005

L200 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,400 miles
Preceeding the two electrical fires in my vehicle, I had intermittent issues with shorts in the electrical system (the locks unlocking/locking at random; lights going on and off and the alarm system triggering even when not set). There was also leakage from somewhere in the car (either through the windshield or elsewhere in the front) that was quite noticeable during a heavy storm. Earlier this year, I was exiting a parking garage when I first saw and then smelled smoke coming from out of the dash. The electrical wires shorted out and caused a fire that melted a portion of the wiring in the front of the car. The dealership could not repair the car for several days and during a storm two days later, the entire system shorted out again (lights and other components would not turn off) and the battery completely discharged. The dealership determined that the leak was due to a faulty windshield placement and replaced the windshield (and water-tested it) along with the affected wiring systems, the battery and the carpeting. Now, just two days ago, I have had a recurrence of the same issue. Again, after a heavy storm, I woke to discover that the wiring in the same area of the car had shorted out. This time, the resulting fire melted the plastic housing surrounding the fusebox, and the housing is now a pile of melted goo on the carpet in the driver's side of the car. The dealership has yet to determine the cause of the short.

- Bradford, MA, USA

problem #1

Mar 012003

L200 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75 miles
2003 L-200 purchased Feb 03. Soon found numerous issues with car, to this day have not been fixed. Tried Saturn 800 # to no avail. Rep was rude. Flat out told me nothing to be done by Saturn if local dealer can't fix. Told by local svc mgr supv I was making probs up & no one else had these problems. He told svc reps halt correcting or reviewing warranty work on our car. Escalated & wrkd w/ dir of oprtns. He wasn't able to fix probs due to resistance frm Saturn. Was told no more work on probs becz Saturn intervened in doing more warranty work. In "all" instances were given final resolution per Saturn all problems are "working as designed", have no intention to fix them. Said not going to invest money to fix in '03 but use complaints look at possible changes future cars. We have had and continue to have problems with 1) "safety issue": exterior lights flashing on/off 2) "safety issue": exterior auto on/off for day running and headlights doesn't register properly which one to use & when 3) interior lights dim higher & lower intermittently 4) automatic climate control does not work properly. Does not properly regulate the heat & A/C. temp must be set a min. 84 degrees for heat then will only stay for awhile when suddenly it goes away &the A/C comes on. Only 1/2 way fix for issue is to use this unit in a manual mode set to a min. 84 degrees & burn up the inside then turn off, turn back on to warm, keep repeating. In manual mode you also experience cold air when it runs out of hot air. 5) six disc cd/cassette philips system: Volume goes from very soft to very loud in 1 click with no inbetween. The dealership replaced system with like one to find it does same thing. Told an outside vendor piece of equipment & can't do anything about it. Figure out way to balance it, push all sound to back of car, listen to it low or not at all. As you might well imagine I would "not" recommend to anyone to purchase a Saturn vehicle.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA