NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
34 reportsClear category filter94,000 miles · Sep 8, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
A 2000 SL1 SATURN PASSENGER VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF THIS COMPLAINT. SATURNS ARE OFTEN RECOGNIZED AS BEING 200K MILE CARS - LOOK FOR THE WALL AT THE SERVICE CENTERS. - POLAROIDS OF 'HAPPY' SATURN CUSTOMERS. AFTER 94K MILES, MY SATURN HAD A PISTON FRAGMENT INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE MOTOR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I JUST PAID IT O…
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A 2000 SL1 SATURN PASSENGER VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF THIS COMPLAINT. SATURNS ARE OFTEN RECOGNIZED AS BEING 200K MILE CARS - LOOK FOR THE WALL AT THE SERVICE CENTERS. - POLAROIDS OF 'HAPPY' SATURN CUSTOMERS. AFTER 94K MILES, MY SATURN HAD A PISTON FRAGMENT INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE MOTOR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I JUST PAID IT OFF 6 MONTHS AGO. SATURN REFUSED TO SUPPLY ANY EXPLANATION OR OFFER TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10135824
26,920 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 SATURN SL2 INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. *MR *SC
NHTSA ODI #10119250
21,476 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 SATURN SL-2 WITH 021500 MILES; ANTI-FREEZE LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM.THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT,CAUSING A BURDEN ONTO THE CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10116118
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. *AK WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC TOLD HER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10111466
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A RISK PIN FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING SHE STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS, SHE HAD HER VEHICLE TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10089334
60,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
60,000 MILES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, IT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD A CRACK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE FOR FREE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10058980
73,568 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteeringFire
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION CASING HAD A BAD LEAK WIRING HARNESS FROM IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE AT RISK RATTLES REAL BAD IN REAR PORTION OF CAR HEATER QUIT WORKING
NHTSA ODI #10070025
29,220 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10053383
60,000 miles · Oct 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60000 MILES AND WAS THREE YEARS OLD. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN ONE OF THE HEATER CORE HOSES BLEW. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. *AK *NLM *JB
NHTSA ODI #10032084
51,000 miles · Aug 18, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I HAVE A 2000 SATURN SL1 (AUTO TRANS). THE OIL GALLEY PLUG COME OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND BROKE MY FLYWHEEL, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND THE TRANSMISSION. SATURN SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED, BUT THIS PLUG CAN NOT BE TOUCH WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE ENGINE OUT AND TAKING THE ENGINE APART. …
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I HAVE A 2000 SATURN SL1 (AUTO TRANS). THE OIL GALLEY PLUG COME OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND BROKE MY FLYWHEEL, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND THE TRANSMISSION. SATURN SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED, BUT THIS PLUG CAN NOT BE TOUCH WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE ENGINE OUT AND TAKING THE ENGINE APART. KNOW THIS NOW THE LAST ONE TO TOUCH THIS PLUG IS SATURN WHEN THEY WERE PUTTING THE ENGINE TOGETHER NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, NOW A PLUG THAT DOES NOTHING AND CAN NOT BE TOUCH OR A REASON TO BE SERVICED, HAS CAUSED $2200 OF DAMAGE. KNOWING ALL OF THIS, WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. IS THERE ANYWAY THAT YOU CAN HELP ME. CALL IF YOU CAN OR CAN'T HELP PLEASE!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033003
Official recalls
7Oct 12, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE VENT VALVE WELD ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR DURING REFUELING OR IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE IS PROPERLY WELDED. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.
Oct 12, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY. IF IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.
Remedy: SATURN IS ASKING OWNERS AND RETAILERS TO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND IF NECESSARY, TO HAVE THE CABLE ADJUSTED. IF OWNERS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONAL CHECK THEMSELVES, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALER PERFORM THIS INSPECTION FOR THEM.
Oct 27, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A CONSOLE ARMREST FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS." THE ARMRESTS WERE PRODUCED WITH A LATCH THAT WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE VERTICAL FORCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE LATCH MAY OPEN AND THE ARMREST OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSOLE COULD INJURE AN OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONSOLE ARMREST LATCH.
Oct 20, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS THAT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AT THE CENTER PILLAR AND COULD FALL OUT, MAKING THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE OF THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER GUIDE ANCHOR BOLTS.
Aug 24, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PIPE ATTACHMENT NUTS THAT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS ARE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE BRAKE'S STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE NUTS FOR LEAKAGE, VERIFY THEY ARE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPES IF NEEDED.
Aug 23, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WELDS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT DO NOT MEET SATURN QUALITY STANDARDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT, PARTICULARLY AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT, MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL CARRIER ASSEMBLY.
Aug 23, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 581, "BUMPER STANDARD." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH REAR BUMPER FASTENERS THAT MAY BE LOOSE OR MISSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING, THE REAR BUMPER MAY NOT ABSORB ENERGY AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE REAR BUMPER BEAM FASTENERS ARE PRESENT AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED AND, IF MISSING, INSTALL NEW FASTENERS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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