Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports9 fire reports23 injury reports

What owners actually said

227 reports

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL--I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2,000 TO 3,000 MILES BUT I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL EVERY WEEK--THERE IS NO OIL LEAK THAT IS VISIBLE AND ON ACCASSIO I HAVE HAD NO OIL BUT THE DAY OR SO BEFORE IT IS READING THAT THE OIL IS FULL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754129

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENG…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #898710

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2001

Power Train

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WAS THE FORWARD GEARS WHICH FAILED AND WERE NOT WORKING. DEALSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #898687

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2001

Tires

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, 15 INCH TIRE, CLAIM 18-0556-875. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900328

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2001

Tires

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, 15 INCH TIRE, CLAIM 18-0556-875. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #6900304

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SINCE 1999 THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAVE BEEN TURNED AND THEN REPLACED TWICE, ALONG WITH 3 SETS OF NEW BRAKES THAT WERE BAD WHEN TAKEN OFF, ALONG WITH THAT TIRE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE. NOW THERE IS A SEVERE VIBRATION THEN FOLLOWED BY A LOSS IN POWER AND RPM'S GO CONTINUOUSLY UP AND DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDENS UP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751296

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2001

Seat Belts

THE REAR SEAT BELTS(OUTBOARD) DO NOT FIT A SMALLER ADULT(5 FT) PROPERLY. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO ADJUST THEM.

NHTSA ODI #9003387

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2001

Seats

THE SUBMARINE SEATING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL CAR SEATS. MANUALS DO NOT GIVE SUGGESTIONS OR NUMBER TO CONTACT TO HAVE SEAT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALSO, FOR SMALLER ADULTS, THE REAR SEATS ARE DIPPED SO THAT THE SEAT BELTS DON'T GIVE A PROPER FIT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748272

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 1996. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALL OF WHICH I AM TOLD IF THEY CAN'T FIND IT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I STOPPED TAKING MY CAR TO THEM BECASUE THAT WAS WHAT THEY TOLD ME - I HAVE LOGGED COMPLAINTS TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ONLINE AND THEY TOLD ME I CAN NOT HAVE COPIES OF THOSE RECORDS - RECENTLY, I WAS LEFT STRANDED AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW $3800.00 ENGINE, MY HUSBAND WENT AND GOT THE CAR - IT WORKS FINE!!!!!!!!! NO NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WHEN I SOPKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AND OWNER THEY SAID OOPS BDA DIAGNOSIS - WHAT ID I HAD PAID THAT MONEY TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPAIRED? THEY STILL SAY THERE ISN'T AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MY CAR AND IF I WANT I CAN BRING IT UP WHENEVER THE ELECTRICAL GUY IS THERE NEXT. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SATURNS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING. I BELEIVE THEY ARE HIDING THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR AND BY "NOT FINDING IT" THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR CAR DIES FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE FRREEWAY - OR YOUR BRAKES COME ON FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE MOVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT....... - I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747465

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001

Vehicle Speed Control

FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO RE-ENGAGE AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #561780

Official recalls

97V155000 · Seats

Sep 12, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT COLD WELDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE TUNNEL AREA OF THE FLOOR PAN. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.

97V138000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Aug 29, 1997

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.