1999 Saturn SL brakes problems

Filed Aug 27, 2011 · Brakes · 155,125 miles · CA

Hand break button comes off preventing the hand brake from locking in place.

Filed May 8, 2011 · Brakes · 164,012 miles · DC

Hand brake release button and spring popped out after parking the vehicle. Had this happened while the vehicle was unattended and parked on a hill (as it typically is), this car could have caused serious bodily harm or structural damage.

Filed Aug 24, 2010 · Brakes, Transmission · 103,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns 1999 saturn sl1. The contact was driving 45 MPH when the shift cable fractured and caused the vehicle to shift into neutral. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer made repairs to the vehicle. On a later date, the contact applied the emergency brake before exiting the vehicle. When he returned, the emergency brake had independently disengaged. The contact discovered that the emergency brake button was defective. The contact was able to order the necessary part from the dealer to make repairs himself. The contact was concerned that had he been parked on a hill, the vehicle could potentially have rolled away. The failure mileage was 103,000.

Filed Dec 3, 2008 · Brakes, Fuel system · 134,440 miles · NV

I bought a used saturn on 8/23/08 from desert inn motors, too many problems after 3 months , new battery, brake bad, motor problem too expensive to repair, so I told them I'm not making anymore payments, they told me to bring the car back and they would replace the car, they repo my vehicle, shady business practices.

Filed Dec 1, 2006 · Brakes · CA

My hand brake button suddenly popped out showing to be broken and I could no longer put the hand brake in place. Still trying to find a fix. Difficult to park on steep driveways.

Filed May 6, 2005 · Brakes, Engine · 4,700 miles · FL

In 2003 my daughter bought a 1999 saturn with 47000 miles that had just been turned in from a lease from a dealer and it started smoking and using a quart of oil per 1,000at which time we contacted this agency and gm because the car was alaways dealer serviced and had not yet reached it's half life. Saturn told us that this was normal howver, the condition has only worsed over time and it's now using 1.5 qt's per 1000 miles and smoking worse. I bet the epa would like to know that. Additionally the rotor have failed twice becoming warped and the motor mount has failed along with a coolent temp sensor. Many people have reported these same problems and gm knows it. Once again we asked them for some goodwill and they turned us down saying that the car (now) has too many miles even tho they said that it would be documented but it appears that they have strung us along doing leak down test at our cost from 2003 and from our gov complaint until now while telling us that this was normal use............ That was wrong and they should face a recall because they have allowed a problematic engine which they knew about to be sold to the general public and then they refused to help the consumers in need. I'll never buy a saturn or a gm again. And, I plan to sell my sons new saturn too after this poor treatment.

Filed Dec 3, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 64,000 miles · PA

Oil was leaking from the engine going under the intake manifold. Consumer contacted the manufacturer to resolve this issue. However, manufacturer was only willing to pay $200.00 toward the cost of repairing the vehicle. Consumer was afraid that the defect may cause the vehicle to develop a blown head gasket. *ak.....vehicle experienced vibration in steering wheel when driving 50 MPH due to defective brake rotors. Also, replaced engine head gasket.

Filed Oct 21, 2004 · Airbags, Brakes · MI · crash · 1 injury

When the consumer applied the brakes,the pedal went to the floor. The consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and hit a car head on. Both frontal air bags did not deploy. The consumer seeked medical attention the next day. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. Please fill in additional information.

Filed Jan 6, 2004 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · NJ

I purchased a 1999 saturn sl2 w/ 23,000mi. At 60,000mi I began to feel a judder/vibration from the steering wheel. I took it to a saturn dealer and was told the rotors we're warped and needed to be replaced. I went to a repair shop and had non-oem brake rotors installed and after approxiametely 65,000mi, began to have the same problem. After leaving the car with the repair shop, they could not find anything wrong, but my rotors keep warping. The repair shop cut the rotors "slightly" and now at 70,000mi I still have the same problem. There is definietly wrong with the design of the brake system. I have been told that rotors do warp but they should last for approx. 70,000mi, and I should not be feeling the judder/vibration in my steering wheel.

Filed Sep 16, 2003 · Acceleration, Brakes · 29,000 miles · PA

When the brake pedal was depressed while coming to a complete stop motor revved, but vehicle failed to stop. This resulted in extended stopping distance.