NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
168 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
I CHECK MY CAR WEEKLY. WITH NO WARNING OR TELL TALE SIGNS, I FOUND WATER IN THE CRANKCASE AND OIL IN THE RADIATOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CLAIMS I HAVE EITHER A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD WITH ESTIMATED REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $2, 000.00. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CAR HAS A WARRANTY…
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I CHECK MY CAR WEEKLY. WITH NO WARNING OR TELL TALE SIGNS, I FOUND WATER IN THE CRANKCASE AND OIL IN THE RADIATOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CLAIMS I HAVE EITHER A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD WITH ESTIMATED REPAIRS IN EXCESS OF $2, 000.00. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CAR HAS A WARRANTY OF 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #759056
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. ALSO, BATTERY IS LEAKING FLUID, DETERIORATING WIRE HARNESS TO TRANSMISSION. DEALER STATED PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR BECAUSE WIRES DO NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE COVERING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003027
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED IN ENGINE AFTER APPROX. 85000 MILES. ALL ENGINE OIL LEAKED FROM THE AUTOMOBILE AS A RESULT. ENGINE WAS COVERED WITH OIL UPON INSPECTION BUT LUCKILY, DID NOT IGNITE. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF $2400 AS REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN RISKY AND AT A HIGHER COST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756691
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002
Suspension
VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD AN ALIGNMENT CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS DONE , BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8001354
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 57000 MILES. SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN THIS HAPPENS THIS OFTEN WITH THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756044
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95, MILE MARKER 277 (NORTH OF DAYTONA) WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 72 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND AS I APPROACHED A CAR GOING SLOWER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, SO I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND TRIED REPEATEDLY TO RELEASE …
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MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-95, MILE MARKER 277 (NORTH OF DAYTONA) WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 72 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND AS I APPROACHED A CAR GOING SLOWER, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, SO I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND TRIED REPEATEDLY TO RELEASE IT. I WAS ABOUT THE HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, AND IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ACCELERATING RATHER THAN DECELERATING. I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN SO WENT INTO THE MEDIAN STRIP, AND STILL WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN.IT SEEMED I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT SEEMED FROZEN. IT WAS ROUGH GOING, AND I WAS AFRAID OF GOING INTO THE NORTHBOUND LANES, SO I STEERED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT, AND SEEMED TO SLIDE ACROSS THE NEAREST LANE INTO THE SIDE OF A U-HAUL TRUCK. THE IMPACT SPUN US AROUND AND WE CAME TO REST IN THE MEDIAN STRIP.
NHTSA ODI #753785
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2001
SeatsCrash
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR AT 50 MPH WHILE IN A STOP POSITION AND DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #897996
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I TOO HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY SL1. THE FIRST TIME SATURN REPLACED THEM BECAUSE AT 25,000 MILES, THEY SHOULD NOT BE BAD. THEN AT 45,000 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS "RIDING" THE BRAKE. OF COURSE IT WAS MY FAULT - NOT! I ARGUED WITH HIM, BUT LOST. HAD TO PAY ALMOST $…
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I TOO HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY SL1. THE FIRST TIME SATURN REPLACED THEM BECAUSE AT 25,000 MILES, THEY SHOULD NOT BE BAD. THEN AT 45,000 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS "RIDING" THE BRAKE. OF COURSE IT WAS MY FAULT - NOT! I ARGUED WITH HIM, BUT LOST. HAD TO PAY ALMOST $400 DOLLARS FOR A BRAKE JOB THAT WAS ALREADY REPLACED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED HIM IF I WAS GOING TO BE CHANGING THE ROTORS AGAIN IN 30,000 MILES, HE SAID NO. IT SHOULD LAST TILL 50,000 MILES. GUESS WHAT?!? 25,000 MILES LATER, IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. NOT ONLY THAT, I NOW HAVE A CRACKED/BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO WHICH AFTER MANY INQUIRIES, SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT IN THE SL1 MODELS. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NOT BE INVESTING IN "A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR COMPANY" ANYMORE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753327
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Power TrainStructureVisibility
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #752535
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Structure
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND BY THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT DAMAGED VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #895471
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