Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. After parking the vehicle and returning twenty minutes later, the ignition key would not turn and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Saturn SL steering lock-up problems
10 of the 2,211 owner complaints about the Saturn SL describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2002 model year.
- owner complaints
- 10
- worst model year
- 2002
- typical mileage
- 80,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20023
- 20002
- 19971
- 19961
- 19952
- 19941
Often reported together
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn sl. While coming out of a left turn at an unknown speed, the power steering failed. The steering wheel seized and excessive force was required to steer the vehicle. The failure caused the contact to drive into a ditch, over a levee, and crash into a pipe. Once the vehicle came to a stop, the contact noticed the ignition key was on the floor. The air bags deployed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.
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.
The key comes out of the ignition while running. There is also trouble turning the key in the ignition to start it. Similar to what can happen when the steering wheel locks, sometimes the key wont turn. This happens without the steering wheel locked and takes 20-30 tries before it finally turns over.
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.
Steering wheel locked, car hit curb.
On 6/17/99 at 6;30pm I was making a right hand turn from rte 73s to atco jughandle. Once I made the turn the steering wheel locked in place and the brakes would not work. The car shuttered and crashed into the curb. My speed was 20mph and the weather conditions were drizzling.
Traveling about 5 MPH there was total loss of steering, resulting in steering lock up diagnosis, the retaining clip omitted during assembly.
Driving vehicle at speed 45mph, making a right turn, steering locked up, impact 12:00 position.
Steering wheel locked up while vehicle locked up very hard to the left, causing loss of control impact 11:00 position speed 45 MPH. Tt
Related recalls
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual steering. The pinion bearing cage in the steering gear can separate under high steering system load conditions, such as parking lot or similar low speed maneuvers.
- Risk
- This could result in the pinion gear disengaging from the rack causing a loss of steering control.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the manual steering gear assembly.
Recall number 97V138000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- The steering gear pinion shaft was improperly heat treated causing the shaft to fracture during vehicle operation.
- Risk
- Fracture of the steering gear pinion shaft causes complete loss of steering control which can result in an accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the manual steering assembly.
Recall number 94V170000 · Recall details
Questions about the Saturn SL steering lock-up
Which Saturn SL years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2002 (3 complaints), 1995 (2 complaints) and 2000 (2 complaints).
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