NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
38 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABL…
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IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED INTIL 2001 BY THE LOCAL DEALER WITH A USED ENGINE THAT LEAKED OIL EVERY WHERE I PARKED, MY COMPLAINTS YIELDED NO RESULTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, COOLING FAN FAILED AND IN AUGUST 2004, THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE OTHER USED ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE AND ALSO BROKE, SO TODAY I AM CARLESS AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN TIMING CHAINS. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING?*AK
NHTSA ODI #10112407
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE…
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AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10093917
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WILL RUN HOT WITH CAUSE OF ACTUAL FAILURE NOT INDICATED. SEVERAL ITEMS WERE REPLACED BY A MECHANIC IN WHICH VEHICLE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET, AND STILL RUNS HOT. VEHICLE IS NOW NON-DRIVABLE, PARKED AT IMPACT AUTO. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK
NHTSA ODI #8019173
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS IS A RESULT OF A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH. MANUFACTURER NOT HELPFUL IN RESOLVING ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #759595
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering
I FEEL THAT SATURN MADE A LEMON AND I BOUGHT IT! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SALES PERSON. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE NAMES OF THE "HIGHER-UPS" IN WHICH TO BRING MY GRIEVANCES TOO. I FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS FOR ONLY 29,000 MILES THAT I HAVE PUT ON THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFEC…
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I FEEL THAT SATURN MADE A LEMON AND I BOUGHT IT! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SALES PERSON. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE NAMES OF THE "HIGHER-UPS" IN WHICH TO BRING MY GRIEVANCES TOO. I FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS FOR ONLY 29,000 MILES THAT I HAVE PUT ON THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755106
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATED THAT MOTOR MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTA…
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VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATED THAT MOTOR MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR FAILURE OF A MOTOR MOUNT. REVIEW OF USENET INTERNET NEWSGROUPS INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN TO DEALERS. APPARENT CAUSE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, NOW SUPPLANTED BY A STRENGTHENED DESIGN IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, WITH NO ADMISSION OF FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE DEFICIENT DESIGN IN THE ORIGINAL.
NHTSA ODI #752134
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CONSUMES OIL BECAUSE A HEATING CHIP HAS MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING. MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #883521
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
SATURN RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON IF PROBLEMS WERE OF FACTORY DEFECTS, THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR IN FULL (EXTREME AMOUNTS) BY MYSELF. ALSO, THE PRODUCTS, AFTER REPLACED FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED. SATURN REFUSED TO COMPENSATE . NOS AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721694
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WITH NO INDICATION, ENGINE WAS SHORT 3 OR MORE QUARTS OF OIL CAUSING A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LIFTERS AND/OR VALVES. OIL WARNING LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. VEHICLE IS NOT USABLE AND MAY REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE HEARD THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM TWO OTHER SOURCES WHO HAVE SATURNS. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 3,000 …
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WITH NO INDICATION, ENGINE WAS SHORT 3 OR MORE QUARTS OF OIL CAUSING A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LIFTERS AND/OR VALVES. OIL WARNING LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. VEHICLE IS NOT USABLE AND MAY REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE HEARD THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM TWO OTHER SOURCES WHO HAVE SATURNS. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS SINCE WE PURCHASED. DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGE.
NHTSA ODI #721641
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM
NHTSA ODI #784606
NHTSA investigations
4RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA98017 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available