Howdy all. I'm brand new to this forum (first post) and I'm hoping I can at least get a general idea of where to start with the issue we are having. My GF is visiting her mom in TN right now. She just video called me and showed me some "amazing" news about her 2004 Saturn L300 and the back passenger side wheel. It's at an angle and it happened to her as she was pulling into her mom's driveway (great timing I guess?). The car was bought here in WNY (got some rust and all the stuff that comes with salty winters). I'll attach a few pics (and sorry in advance for the quality they were screenshots of video call). Any help/ideas on what it could be or where to start checking would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve.

The wheel in question at an angle sitting on the ground.

 

It looks like a control arm failure. The upper and lower control arms locate the wheel side to side and control the camber. The trailing arm locates the wheel front toe rear and sets the toe. It looks like either the upper arm collapsed or the inner mounting point on the lower arm tore out. Neither will be fun to repair on a rusty car. A good alignment shop would be the place to start.

 

Thank you very much for the reply. We are looking for a trustworthy alignment shop to take it to now. Thanks again! Take care and stay safe out there!

 

My grandson hit curb during icy conditions and the rear wheel bent under. It had destroyed a wheel and a lower arm. Just the opposite of what your car looks like. The complete rear suspension and sub frame unbolts from the unibody on these cars. Depending on how rusty everything is this might be easier.

 

If it the rear tires. It’s the spindle bushings. I just had the same thing happen. They can’t align the rear wheels on the machine. It is a shin and the spindle bushings align the rear tires.