2000 Saturn SL Problems, complaints & recalls

Hit mountain head on and car rolled and air bags did not deploy. Rear tire and drum broke off car while doing 50 mile per hour

There is no issue with my brake light bulb it is not burnt out. All the fuses have been checked over by qualified salesperson who had shown me that my that my brake light was still working, and yet my brake light does not work. I am afraid of driving at night, and worry constantly that I will be stopped during the day, as I don't have any explanation as to why this one driver's side brake light does not work. I read somewhere on a saturn forum that there had been a recall over this issue, but I am unable to locate.

The timing chain went out and needs replaced. The engine cranks but will not turn over. Our mechanic told us we're looking at a $1000 plus repair. *Tr

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. *Tr

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...

Car will turn over and immediately stall. This will continue for approx. 10 To 15 min.Each time you turn the key,it will turn over and immediately stall. As if there is no gas going to the fuel injectors; or the fuel injectors stop . No mechanic can seem to find the problem since it never happens when I'm at the repair shop. Like I said when this problem happens, it will last for approx. 10 To 15 min. Then the car will start as if nothing ever happened. *Tr

Roll pin on retainer in transmission differential sheered off causing the retaining pin to wear through the bell housing and seize transmission. A roll pin is like using a rivet to hold a very important mechanical component together. This is another horrible gm design. This is an accident waiting to happen. $2300 Later to replace the transmission. *Tr

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! *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn sl. The contact stated that while traveling at unknown speeds, the key could be removed and the vehicle would continue to operate as normal. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the entire ignition system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

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. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn sl. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and it was coasted to the emergency lane. The contact made several failed attempts to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The ignition switch, ignition control module and cylinder were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

Had a few months, hot summer and key would not turn in ignition. Manual that came with car said this could happen and if it did to turn the wheel, jiggle the shift, etc. Would not have this trouble except in hot weather. On oct 29, 2010 I had lock cylinder & keys replaced at my expense by an authorized gm dealership. Now it is doing it again (6/26/2014) with only 44,000 actual miles on it. Only authorized dealership has ever worked on this vehicle. This has happened to my daughter who has a newer saturn and to a saturn of my granddaughters. I hate to have to spend another $310 at my expense to fix this known defect. *Tr

Important, I do not know the dates so I had to just put in a random one. This car turned itself off on 3 occasions. I brought it to saturn on all the incidents. I would be driving and start to break and downshift and the car would literally just turn off, and I was literally at the cars mercy till it would turn back on. As a former drivers ed instructor, I am just lucky I remained calm. At saturn they tried to tell me this could not happen. I demanded it did, and the one time even left the car with them for a week....

I inserted the key to start the car and the cylinder would not turn; the steering wheel locked; had to have the car towed. Happened again 4-3-08 and had another new key cylinder installed, odometer then 35449. It still feels "sticky" when I turn the key and feels like it could easily happen again. I looked on-line and this is a common problem. Now I drive the car as little as possible. I don't want to be stuck somewhere with a locked steering wheel. I'm reporting this now because of the recent ignition problems with the saturns. *Tr

Rear door latches do not always latch after closing rear doors (sl2-4 door sedan). Exterior door handles will stick in open position. If not noticed, doors will open when driving, usually when braking or making a turn. Rear seat passengers or items could be ejected from vehicle or doors could strike other vehicles.

Timing chain failure of saturn 2000 today while driving on an interstate highway my saturn stopped working and I had to drift to the side of the road park in a dangerous location get towed only to find out it was the timing chain that broke causing a catastrophic engine failure. I have to junk my car and get a new one. I am very distressed to find the recall of the timing chain in this vehicle and since it was lawfully registered to me am wondering why I have no recall from you? *Tr

Key fit in ignition but would not turn, tried turning steering wheel back and forth in locked position while turning key but to no avail. After approximately 5-10 minutes key would finally turn and allow me to start vehicle but the same thing happened the next time I tried to start the car. *Tr

Twice I was stopping the car--once to park and once at a light and instead of stopping the engine revved up at full throttle dragging the car forward even with the brakes pressed fully down. I had to throw the transmission into neutral and cut the engine off to stop it. No reason was ever found. *Tr

Fuel system,gasoline:storage tank assembly.Nhtsa id #00v309000. Spoke to a person today and they said that my cae is not one of the affected vehicles in this recall. I have this car almost 7 years and never received a notice of this. How can I make sure that my car is not affected I feel that I will get a hard time if I ask them to inspect to make sure. Also gave them my vin number to verify to make sure. Please help! *Tr

When I start my car or park it after driving the rpms shoot up extremely high & the engine races. When I shut the car off the engine makes a loud clunk due to shutting it off with the rpms that high. I have had it diagnosed several times & no one knows what is wrong. I had the air idle sensor replaced thinking it was the problem but it is not. This is very bad for the engine.*Tr

My 2000 saturn sl1 sometimes has reverse & sometimes not & to get it to go into reverse you have to give it a lot of gas & it has went in reverse at low & high speeds. This could be dangerous. *Tr

The gear shift can be operated without the key in the ignition and not running. *Tr

Car will turn over and immediately stall. This will continue for approx. 10 To 15 min.Each time you turn the key,it will turn over and immediately stall. As if there is no gas going to the fuel injectors; or the fuel injectors stop . No mechanic can seem to find the problem since it never happens when I'm at the repair shop. Like I said when this problem happens, it will last for approx. 10 To 15 min. Then the car will start as if nothing ever happened.*Tr

My 2000 saturn sl2 is becoming increasingly difficult to start. When the key is inserted into the ignition it refuses to turn to the "start" position without extensive jiggling of the key. This problem surfaced four years ago and was "fixed" by the dealership. The problem has since returned and is worse than ever. This seems to point to a design defect in the ignition switch that could result in a driver and passengers being stranded without assistance in inconvenient or dangerous situations. Googling "saturn...

Timing chain on my 2000 saturn l broke. I only have 83,000 miles on it. I have read a lot of complaints online about this problem occurring consistently with gm cars, especially saturns. *Tr