10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 16,836 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The engine seems to consume excessive quantities of oil between changes and maintenance. The average consumption (that which is acceptable >1 qt every 3000mi) so I'm told... I'm consuming approximately 1 qt every 250 mi or more! what can I do about this" has there been any recalls on the engine of the 1995 Saturn SL2 line" I have been leaking oil at an alarming rate also.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
Oil change at Saturn dealership on 6/10/04. Car driven only every 10 days afterwards, then driven 400 miles to North Carolina. With no dash warning lights, oil was 3 quarts low. Refilled oil, drove 1 mile, engine blew with connecting rod through block. Stopped in heavy traffic on I-95. Engine replacement required, Saturn acknowledged no responsibility as car not maintained in their system. Car had 64,000 miles and oil was changed every 6 months. Suggest that Saturn has a manufacturing defect in engine block, lubrication or connecting rods.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
The caris a 1995 Saturn SL1 was bought in Oct of 2002 it had only 38,962 actual miles on it, when I seen the overall shape of this vehicle it was awesome, the low mileage was the ultimate reason for buying the car ( since all I heard was how great these cars run) from a local Chevrolet dealership in the area it has a SOHC 4cyc. Motor, within 10K miles of driving this car it started drinking oil uncontrolably, now the car has 84K onit and every month it needs a fresh set of plugs in it because the oil consumption that blows past the pistons fouls out the plugs.in 1000 miles of driving this car it will consume 3.5 quarts of oil, the car has regular oil chages at every 2000 miles(along with a case of oil in the trunk) needless to say the car still looks awesome...but loves that oil.
- Warren, MI, USA
1995 Saturn SL1 - crack in cylinder head causing oil to leak into cooling system. I had to purchase new head and gasket set, oil pump and various other misc. Parts in order to fix this. Saturn has known about this problem and has not corrected it-I am a very unhappy Saturn owner. Up until this point, I was happy with the car.
- Cromwell, IN, USA
My 1995 Saturn SL1 overheated in November 2002 due to a cracked cylinder head. There were 56,686 miles on the car. While there is a technical services bulletin related to this problem stating that Saturn built between 1994 and 1996 may develop cracks and offering compensation if his occurs within 6 years or 100,000 miles, my car was over the 6 years that the warranty covered. In researching this problem, I have found that this is not an uncommon experience for Saturn owners and feel that a recall of the cylinder heads is necessary and/or that Saturn needs to compensate owners beyond the 6 year limit.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
In June of 1999 the consumer received a notice from the manufacturer that her vehicles engine may develop a crack and they would cover the vehicle for a specified amount of time or mileage. Now the time and mileage has expired and the vehicle has developed this problem. The manufacturer does not want to help the consumer with the problem.
- Waveland, MS, USA
The vehicle has caused me nothing but problems, it eats oil without any sign of where it is going. The auto belt tightener is not working and cost an arm and a leg to fix. Sunroof broke without any notice or cause, the fan switch never did operate correctly, now it is shifting real hard all the time while your driving, once it is warmed up. This vehicle is definitely a lemon. Ak scc ***dimsii IVOQ posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****744336
- Spring Lake, MI, USA
The vehicle cylinder head cracked twice. The first cylinder head was replaced at no cost. The consumer had to pay for the second replacement.
- Jersey City, NJ, USA
Internal crack in cylinder head due to manufacturing defect, allowing oil to mix with engine coolant. Occurred at 103,000 miles and 8 year, so not covered by Saturn's extended warranty on this defective head! Saturn should have recalled and replaced all of these defective heads, at no charge to the consumers.
- Lakeville, MN, USA
The vehicle had a defective oil pan and oil gasket.
- Staten Island, NY, USA
While driving instrument panel light kept going on and off.had vehicle serviced. Engine cracked and oil leaked into radiator. Had problem fixed. However, problem reoccurred.
- Jersey City, NJ, USA
Car was using oil, but was not leaking or burning it. Car then started overheating, and I took it to the service station I always use. When changing anti freeze for overheating problem, found oil in the anti- freeze. This led to engine head problems. And head was sent out to be repaired and reinstalled. Drove car for about a week and it started using anti- freeze again. This time when the head was pulled off, it was found to have a crack in it and now I have to buy a new head. I have spent about $1,800 so far and hope I din't have to spend more. My mechanis called the Saturn mechanic in albany N.Y. and he said this was common with 1995 Saturn Sl-1S. I also looked it up on the internet and found it to be a big problem with consumers of this year car. Are you people going to do any thing about this problem. I think the comsumers of these junk cars are getting the shaft from you people, and you should be reinbersing all of us for these problems that your engines are causing. Right?.
- Gloversville, NY, USA
The radiator and engine mounts failed.
- West Hills, CA, USA
The radiator and engine mounts failed.
- West Hills, CA, USA
Vehicle was brought in for other repair (alternator failure). Dealer's service department indicated that their inspection revealed a cracked motor mount. Vehicle has not been abused or involved in any sort of collision, and manufacturer's recommended service has been performed at indicated intervals. This is an ususual part to fail at this mileage and under these circumstances. Review of usenet internet newsgroups indicates that premature failure of this part is widespread and well-known to dealers. Apparent cause is inherent weakness in the original design, now supplanted by a strengthened design in the replacement part - with no admission of responsibility by manufacturer for design flaw in the original.
- El Segundo, CA, USA
Loss of motor oil in engine, no sign of leakages. Vehicle taken to dealer, and was unable to locate problem. Vehicle taken to a independent repair shop, and informed that problem was due to a rod failure. Seeking NHTSA to look into this matter. Please feel free to provide us with any further information concerning this matter.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
This car has constantly had problems since the timing chain went at 15,000 miles. I'd like more information concerning engine failures on 1995 Saturn. That is the only year they manufactured this particular engine and am interested to know why, since I coming across large amounts of engine complaints for this year.
- Reisterstown, MD, USA
Car overheated after a week of problems with the coolant fuild. At time of failure, oil was found mixed with the coolan fluid, and coolant fluid was in the engine. A cracked cylander has since been found. Car has burned oil for 4 of the 6 years. Mechanic has documentation of identical failures on 2 other 1995 Saturn.
- Reisterstown, MD, USA
Engine excessivley burns oil. Head gasket has been replaced, and problem still occurs. Please add additional information..
- Tonawanda, NY, USA
- Anaheim, CA, USA