While applying the brakes the pedal went to the floor vehicle was unable to stop on its on. Driver was able to stop by turning off the vehicle for fifteen minutes, then restarted it and drove to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that ABS control unit system needed to be replaced.
Saturn SL abs comes on
34 of the 2,211 owner complaints about the Saturn SL describe aBS light or ABS activating, most of them for the 1993 model year.
- owner complaints
- 34
- worst model year
- 1993
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Brake failure 14Grinding brakes 3Pulling 2No deployment 2Warning lights 1Premature wear 1Power steering loss 1Overheating 1
What owners say
Consistent problem with engine check light/ABS light, and battery light coming on and off. *ak the vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. After the consumer left the dealer all the dash lights illuminated and the vehicle shut down.
Abs light was coming on and off intermittently, currently, ABS light remains on while driving, and causes ABS to be non operational. Dealer was notified. *ak computer found error and if the code resets consumer will need to replace ABS controller.
According to diagrammed police report and personal photos taken (I can provide copies of all, saturn skidded approximately 80 ft due to left, front brake locking at 35 MPH. Vehicle started to turn to right just before impacting a suburban rearend. Saturn does not have ABS; however, at 35 MPH most vehicles will stop before 80 feet. Would like to know of other incidents.
Vehicle has had 3 multiple incidents of heavy brake pulsation caused by front rotors, and one failure of ABS sensors causing ABS failure. Dealer cannot correct recurring pulsation problems.
Brakes do not work sometimes no matter what your speed is sometimes they stop and sometimes they hit the floor.dealer does not know why,apparently the ABS system runs a check when you first start your car that is what it appears to be doing when I loose my brakes no one knows why
The brakes with ABS (I have experience driving vehicles equipped with ABS braking) tend to provide extended stopping distances, especially at low speeds, where near loss of control of the vehicle is experienced. During braking, the brakes will feel as if they are only partially applied, so more pressure is placed on the brake peddle, eventually depressing it fully, without any further braking response. The car feels as if it is gliding on ice and simply slides to a stop in about two to three times the typical stopping distance. The car does not feel like it is going to stop at all and feels, instead, as if it is going to continue rolling. This problem has been reported to the saturn dealer where the car was purchased from, yet they can not find any problems (identical saturn cars provided while this car was in the shop did not experience similar braking problems, they had higher mileage and stopped without incident). This issue has resulted in one vehicle accident due to failure of the brakes to stop the vehicle at speeds under 40 MPH (3/8/99 @ 596 miles) and has resulted in at least twelve other near collisions. Although the dealer can not find a problem they have sanded the front pads (6,554 miles), replaced the front pads (11,385 miles brakes were grinding, found front rotors and pads to be overheated and glazed, only 40% remaining on pads), and resurfaced the front rotors (6,554 and 11,385 miles). The vehicle needs to go in again to have its brakes inspected and rotors resurfaced at only 22,500 miles (braking quality is degrading and the vehicle and steering wheel shakes, pulsates, and vibrates during braking). Neither my wife or I feel safe driving this vehicle because we do not know if it will stop every time and how many car lengths it will take to finally come to a complete stop. The braking problem is somewhat more likely to occur when the cruse control is switched to the on position, even if it is not actually controlling the vehicles speed.
When applying ABS brakes pedal went to the floor, causing extended stopping distance. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Abs brakes failed resulting in multiple accidents, no deployment of both air bags during collision, passenger seat collapsed during impact injuries due to failures. Yh
Vehicle's traction control failed, causing the vehicle to hydroplane and spin out of control and off highway. While spinning, ABS brakes failed and caused wheels to lock up.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." these vehicles were produced with brake pipe attachment nuts that may not be tightened to specifications.
- Risk
- If the brake pipe nuts are not properly tightened, brake fluid leakage could occur, increasing the brake's stopping distance.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the brake pipe nuts for leakage, verify they are tightened to specifications, and replace the brake pipes if needed.
Recall number 99V231000 · Recall details
Questions about the Saturn SL abs
Why does the abs come on in the Saturn SL?
Owners who report it most often also describe brake failure, grinding or squealing brakes and pulls to one side.
Which Saturn SL years have aBS light or ABS activating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1993 (9 complaints), 1994 (7 complaints) and 1996 (6 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Saturn SL?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history