Consumer Safety Complaints

Incident date: Nov 1, 1996

THE SPEEDOMETER OPERATES IRRATICALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. IT FUNCTIONS OK WHEN WARM. THIS IS CAUSED BY BAD MATERIALS USED ON THE SPEEDOMETER PCB BOARD. A NUMBER OF BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND FIXES ARE SUGGESTED ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS. HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/SPEEDO/SPEEDO.HTM AND AT HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/E30/INTERIOR/E30_SPEEDO_SENDER_PROBLEM.... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 1998

REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS THREE TIMES. ALSO REPLACED 2 SETS OF REAL WHEEL BEARINGS. IN ADDITION, GAS GAUGE AN DSPEEDOMETER ODOMETE RFAILED; HEATER CORE IS LEAKING, AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS GET STUCK.

Incident date: Jan 27, 1998

SPEEDOMETER PERFORMS ERRATICALLY WHEN CAR TRAVELS OVER 45 MPH OR MORE, ALSO MAKES NOISE.

Incident date: Aug 4, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Incident date: Jun 14, 1997

SPEEDOMETER STARTS TO FLUCTUATE AFTER 323 ORIGINAL MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD WAS REPLACED. THE CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE. BUT IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM KEPPS ON COMING BACK.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1998

THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER BROKE, WONT BE ABLE TO READ ACCURATELY THE MILEAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

REPLACED ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER ON 4-23-98. REPLACEMENT FAILED ON 8-20-98 WITH ONLY 15000 MILES. FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSED TO HELP. TED RUSSELL FORD OFFERED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST TO REPLACE.

Incident date: Nov 3, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER GOES UP TO 80 MPH AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES 30MPH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Incident date: Feb 17, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY.

Incident date: May 1, 1997

THE SPEEDOMETER JUMP IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ONLY WE ARE EXPERIENCING. OTHER'S WITH THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL ARE ALSO. WE DO NOT FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY IN EXCESS OF $300 TO CORRECT AS IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSIDENT AND HAS HAD NUMEROUS TSB POSTED FOR THE PROBLEM.

Incident date: Nov 7, 1998

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Incident date: Jun 14, 1998

SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES AT THE SPEEDS BELOW 50 MPH. THE DEALERS REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND REPLACE THE CABLE ASSEMBLY TWICE. BUT THE PROBLEM KEEP ON COMING BACK.

Incident date: Nov 3, 1997

THE ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT 27719 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER NOW HAS 28333 MILES. ON 03 NOVEMBER I REQUESTED A SPEEDOMETER BE PUT ON MY AUTO. I WAS NOT REQUESTING THAT THIS WORK BE DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD MOTOR CO HAS A HOLD ON ALL ORDERS FOR SPEEDOMETERS FOR FORD TARUS AND MERKERY SABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER RELATED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SPEEDOM... Read more

POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD.

Incident date: Apr 3, 1998

TRANSMISSION STICKS INTO GEAR.

Incident date: May 1, 1998

SPEEDOMETER FAILED, UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS DUE TO BACK ORDER.

INPUT SHAFTS AND REVERSE GEARS FAILED.

Incident date: Nov 22, 1998

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, STOPPED AT TOLL BOTH TO GET TICKET. WHEN STARTING TO GO AGAIN SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO WORK AND WAS STUCK AT 0. STILL HAS NOT WORKED SINCE.

Incident date: Jun 11, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR DOES NOT WORK--IT STOPPED AFTER 23,000 MILES. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK/THROTTLE KEEPS STICKING, AND EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE & DEALER HAD IT REPLACED. SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Incident date: Nov 24, 1998

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS WHEN GOING IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH. THIS RESULTS IN INACCURATE SPEED READING. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL JUMP TO 80, THEN FLIP BACK AND THEN WILL CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS CAUSING DISTRACTION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AND CAN CAUSE A CRASH.

Incident date: Jun 15, 1997

MY PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATING LAST SUMMER. IT WOULD WAVER ABOUT 20MPH UP AND DOWN AT EVERY SPEED. SOON AFTER, IT STATED GETTING EVEN WORSE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT EVER SO OFTEN, MY TRANSMISSION GEAR SEEMED TO RAPIDLY JUMP BACK AND FORTH (BETWEEN THE CURRENT GEAR AND THE NEXT LOWEST(?)) BETWEEN 20000-2200 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP (MAC ... Read more

Incident date: Nov 15, 1998

SPEEDOMETER JUMP AND BOUNCES AROUND, I HAVE FOUND TSB'S ON THIS. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED AT APX 29000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEN AT APX 29000 MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. (THIS TIME IT COST ME ALMOST $200 TO FIX, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FREE). THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FIXED AT THE PURCHASED DEALER (MARION FORD, ILLINOIS), THE SECOND TIME AT ANOTHE... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 1998

WHEN DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED ON, AND IT CAME ON/OFF. WHENEVER IT WANTED TO. ALSO, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF WHENEVER IT WANTED. IN ADDITION, SPEEDODMETER DIDN'T WORK, AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DASH BOAR... Read more

Incident date: Aug 23, 1995

POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD.

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

Incident date: Nov 18, 1998

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER DO NOT READ THE SPEED CORRECTLY, THEY ARE BOTH OFF BY ABOUT 5 MPH OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTATED. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1998

FAULTY SPEEDOMETER CAUSING CRUSIE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION.

Incident date: Nov 17, 1998

SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER SHOWING SPEED OF CAR. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS. P.S. I PICKED CA. AS A LOCATION BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE CANADIAN ADDRESSES. THANK-YOU. ADRESSES IS NB CANADA POSTAL CODE IS E4E 1G7

SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND PLUG FAILED.

Incident date: Aug 21, 1996

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

SPEEDOMETER CABLE FAILED.

SPEEDOMETER FAILS CONTINUALLY.

Incident date: Oct 31, 1998

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE REACTS NORMALLY UP TO 35-45 MPH. AFTER THAT, THE NEEDLE BOUNCES BETWEEN 40-85 MPH AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 35MPH. A SLIGHT NOISE, SIMILAR TO AN ELECTRIC RATTLE CAN BE HEARD DURING MALFUNC- TION. COMPLETED 1500 MILE TRIP AND WAS ABLE TO JUDGE SPEED BY USING TACHOMETER. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND DRIVE CABLE ($400). HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR... Read more

Incident date: Nov 12, 1998

TRANMISSION: GRINDING NOISE HEARD AT START-UP. VEHICLE LURCHED WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTION, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE. VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, IT WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE IN ANY GEAR. SPEEDOMETER: SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES, MAKES NOISE AND THE NEEDLE PEGS AT 85 MPH WHEN CAR HITS BUMP IN ROAD OR G... Read more

SPEEDOMETER BOUNCED UP AND DOWN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 75 MPH. REPLACED ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER, APROXIMATELY 24000 MILES LATER REPLACEMENT STARTED DOING SAME THING, INFORMED REPLACEMENT HAD ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY NEW ONE WOULD COST AT LEAST 300 DOLLARS.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1998

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT ACCURATELY READ VEHICLE SPEED. AT TIMES, SPEEDOMETER WILL READ IN EXCESS OF 85 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY GOING MUCH LESS THAN THAT. DEALER HAS ADMITTED THAT MANY SPEEDOMETERS ON VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED MINE TWICE (ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE OUT OF POCKET). THE COST EXCEEDS $350.00 FOR REPLACEMENT. INACCURATE SPEED INDICA... Read more

Incident date: Oct 28, 1998

WHEN PARKING AND PUTTING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE POPPED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING TOWARD THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN AND JUMP INTO THE VEHICLE AND PRESS DOWN THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. ALSO, THE SPEEDODOMETER DOESN'T WORK, AND THE MILEAGE INDICATOR DOESN'T WORK EITHER. DEALER TOOK THOSE TWO PARTS. *AK

Incident date: Nov 5, 1998

THE DEFECTIVE HEAD OF THE SPEEDOMETER BROKE IN THESE 3 VEHICLE BETWEEN 50- 60,000 MILES. 2ND VEHICLE VIN #[XXX], 3RD VEHICLE VIN # [XXX]. CAUSE UNKNOWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CRUISE CONTROL/SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER/AIR INTAKE SENSOR/GLOVE BOX DOOR HINGE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER INDOOR FAN/ RADIO ANTENNA/INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR/DOME LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT LENSE/CATALITIC CONVERTER/WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT/PLASTIC COVER UNDER ENGINE/WHEEL STUDS/THROTTLE CABLE/BRACKETS THAT HOLD SUNVISOR/ROCKER PANEL TRIM MOLDING AROUND WHEEL WELLS/VENT LINE FOR GAS TANK, AND ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Incident date: Mar 1, 1998

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. ALSO,PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, AND ANTENNA WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A CPV THAT BURNT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Nov 3, 1998

SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK . *AK

Incident date: Oct 12, 1998

WHEN DRIVING HEARD A HUMBLE NOISE, AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPED. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING. NOW THE ENTIRE NEEDLE IS OFF THE SPEEDOMETER AND IS LYING ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK *ML

Incident date: Jan 1, 1997

SPEEDOMETER KEEPS BREAKING. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND CANNOT TELL HOW FAST HE IS DRIVING. SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK *ML

Incident date: Oct 15, 1998

THE CONSUMER IS AN OWNER OF A FLEET OF FORD WINDSTARS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLE, THE SPEEDOMETERS HAVE NOT BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETERS HAVE BEEN READING TOO HIGH. IN ADDITION, THE NEEDLE BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH TO DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

Incident date: Jul 1, 1996

THE SPEEDOMETER'S RPMS GO UP, AND THE CAR SEEMS TO ROAR AND STAY IN NEUTRAL GEAR OR ANOTHER GEAR. IT WON'T SHIFT GEARS. AFTER A WHILE THE CAR JUST TAKES OFF, NO WARRANTY, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Sep 10, 1998

WHILE DRIVING FOR A HALF AN HOUR OR MORE THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONES, CAUSING ERRATIC READINGS. THE OCCUPANT CAN'T TELL HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES BACK AND FORTH WHICH DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE READING. DEALER CLAIMS MAY BE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER HEAD OR THE SPEED SENSOR. *AK

Incident date: Apr 26, 1997

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS HARSHLY & ERRATICALLY. IT'S NOT ONLY UNCOMFORTABLE BUT DANGEROUS AS WELL. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE A COPY OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN(#93-T-22A) THAT THEY ISSUED WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM. I WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OF SATURN (DON HUDLER) IN APRIL 1997. THE REPLY I RECEIVED FROM HIS OFFICE WAS THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY IS UP, THE NEED FOR REPAIRS IS UN... Read more

Incident date: Sep 30, 1998

BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IT HAD 295 MILES ON IT FROM DEALER ASSURED ME IT WAS NOT A DEMO POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED AFTER A FEW DAYS EVERYTHING DIED AS I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC DEALER REPAIRED AFTER 4 DAYS FUEL GAGE NOT READING PROPERLY DEALER REPAIRED ENGINE HAS SLIGHT MISS DEALER CHECKED TWICE REGAPPED PLUGS SO THEY SAY NO IMPROVEMENT REAR END IS STARTING TO WHINE FLUID CHECKED AT OIL CHANGE... Read more