Comments: 1-15, 16-23
If I'm at a drive-through or in stop-and-go traffic, it starts to overheat. I have to put the "heat" on full blast to fix the problem.
The floor on the passenger side is always soaking wet.
The transmission had to be replaced 5 months after I bought it. It cost me $2,100. I had to borrow against the car and raise how much I owed on it. Guess what... the car isn't worth that.
The driver's side window is slow when it's cold.
The sunroof doesn't work. It won't close all the way and only opens about three inches before freezing up. It won't even slide shut. I have to use a screwdriver to close it. I use the tip to shove the slide shut. So, there's constant wind noise.
The lining of the sun shade that closes under the sunroof is coming off. So is the lining in front of me on the driver's side. I think because the sunroof is leaking.
The flip-up lights are broken. Only one side will shut. The other side emits half the light. It looks like I've got a faded headlight at all times.
The handle for the passenger side chair popped off.
The little "holders" on the doors (the place where you can put maps and other stuff) are loose on both doors. They pop off every day.
The stereo is loose. It just dangles in the hole. The casing that's suppose to hold it is loose.
The back speakers are blown. They were that way when I got it I just didn't know it. That's because they were not hooked up in the back.
A week after I drove it off the lot it started making a funny noise in time with the wheel turning. Even now, no one can tell me what this.
I'm scared to learn what the next problem is going to be.
I've owned 5 cars since I began driving and this is the worst vehicle I've ever owned. Every time I fix something on it something else goes wrong. Not only that, but my friend who has an SC2 that's a year younger (1997) has almost identical problems. From the sunroof to the leaking floor. It's so ridiculous. And, I can't get out from under the car because every place tells me Saturns are worth next to nothing after two years. (mechanics have told me used Saturns are the worst vehicles they see) It's a shame because I love the way it looks and the way it drives when it works. I was so excited when I bought it.
Sounds a lot like my Saturn. Driving the car off the lot, the car stalled. I've had the car 6 years and it has around 86,000 miles on it. It's been pretty decent, but around 50,000 miles, the sunroof broke and I had to force it shut and it costs too much to get repaired so it's still forced shut. The alternator went out around 55,000 miles. What a day that was. The "service engine soon" light always stays on and my husband is constantly having to stay under the hood to make sure everything is OK. The car is driving very raggedy now and I'm afraid of driving over 60 mph. I'm thinking of buying a Honda. I don't think I'll buy another Saturn.
At 40,000 miles the belt tensioner broke. At 50,000 there went the alternator. The sunroof is inoperable, the headliner/liner on the slide roof, sunvisors is a mess. The leather seats were all cracked and worn after 56,000 miles. Didn't put on my first set of front brakes, though, until 138,000. The EGM Module went out (whew, was that one costly), then the water pump, and the O2 sensor. After about $1000 in a month, the car still runs rough. It's OK until I slow down and then try to give it gas again. I don't know what's causing it. Could be transmission? Could be fuel filter? Not sure... afraid to take it to any more dealers... been ripped off. One dealer put on new plug wires and the car was running rough after 1 day, so I took it south to another dealer on my way shopping and they told me never to put in after market plugs. Enough said? The car is not worth what I owe. I was told after repeatedly asking questions if it was a lease... that it was not... it was simple interest loan. WRONG... it was a loan. I had a very bad experience since the time I bought it. But... with all I owe on it, can't get out from under it. It now has 155,000 miles and the one good thing (hold my breath) is that it uses no oil. I have that changed every 3000 miles without fail. Another Saturn? NOPE!
Everyone I know who has a saturn has not had any serious problems, except for a transmission in one of them. I have a 1999 saturn sc2 with a manual transmission and have had very little trouble with it. The starter went out 3 days after I bought it and a belt slips after puting a high flow exhaust on it. It has 86000 miles on it now, and I am quite hard on it at times. maybe you shouldn't buy saturns at other dealers.
Kind of interesting, because I've never known anyone who has owned one to have these problems or bad experiences with them. Our family has three of them, a '96 SC2, 99 SC2, and 99 SL1, both 99's have high mileage and run like the day they were driven off the lot. Although the '96 uses a decent amount of oil, I drive it about 800mi/week. Everyone I've ever met who owns one says they'd consider buying another one. Good luck with yours in the future.
I have to say that I am surprised with some of these comments. My car may have a few problems, but nothing like was is mentioned here. I have never had any major problems with mine. I own a 1996 sc1 and its great. It still runs like new. My next car will be a Saturn.
Hey I just bougth a 1996 sc2 and so far every things good on it it has 78,000 miles on it the only problem I had with since I bought it was one of the front light when it closes it makes some noise and that's it.
I would like to say that Saturn's are very nice cars. Me my mother and brother own saturn's. Me and my brother own Sc2's. Mine is a 96 his is a 94. They run perfect never had any trouble with them. They do consume oil, but that is normal. It consums oil because the motor has really high compression which makes the motor last a lot longer and run fast. Saturn's are very nice cars and as long as you take care of it, it will take care of you!
I have a 96' Saturn, and it has taken very good care of me. I've only had minor problems with it. I have also noticed that the better you take care of it, the better it'll run. The people who owned before me took very good care of it. I find that Saturn's are very good cars.
Wow, I own a '96 Saturn Sc2 now for 6 years and have never had these many problems on it! Yes, alternators, oil consumption, and small backseats that would be uncomfortable for anyone over 4 feet tall is all well and good. Like some of the other comments a lot of these problems can be corrected or prevented with simply maintenance. My mother owns a '95 SW2 for which I maintain as well, and again no major problems with it also. I guess the bottom line is don't treat your saturn like a formula 1 race-car and keep it maintained on a regular basis and you can get a good 300,000 miles off the original engine and trany! My SC2 has 160,000 and it drives like I just rolled it off the dealers lot. I would definitely buy another saturn!! I have my eyes on the all new '07 saturn sky.
I have a 96 SC-2 that's been running fine for the last 60,000 miles. But every now and then, the car rough idles after coming down from a fast acceleration. I've always just revved the engine to get the idle to stabilize.
It's stalled out on me maybe three times over the last year or so. The problem has always gone away in the past, but it seems to recur frequently now.
I also noticed that the electric fan don't seem to be running no matter how hot the temperature gauge indicates. It only comes on when the AC is turned on. So I've had to keep my eye on the temperature.
Also, my speedometer has begun to bounce and sometimes stop altogether. I know this probably means I need a new speedometer head. I had the same problem with my Nissan Maxima.
I must admit that I have not taken the car to a mechanic on any of these problems. I know I really should. But before I do, I'd like to know if anybody have any similar experience or any idea on what caused some of these problems?
I’ve owned both a 95 and 97 Saturn SL2. I sill own the 97 at it has 255 000 km on it.
1) If you don’t clean the drains on the sunroof, you will get water in the car and it will mess up the head liner. This is the SAME for any car with a sun roof.
2) If you don’t get the transmission serviced regularly it will break down.
3) If the carpet is wet, you’ve not cleaned the drains on the sun roof, or the heater core has a leak. Fix it.
4) The tracks on the sun roof need to be lubed on occasion.
Sorry most of the complaints sound like they are from people you does little preventative maintenance on their cars.
I have a 97 sc2 and I haven't had much trouble with it besides the oil consumption. But just the other day my clutch cable broke (it's a 5 speed manual). so now I have to come up with the money to get that fixed and I should be on my way again. Oh yea, and my sunroof won't close, open, or anything else, it just sits there, cracked open for the rain to come on in. This is my first car and I hope to get it fixed up before it breaks any more.
I purchased a second back up Saturn 1996 sc 2, my other car is a Saturn 2001 L 300, I like the older Saturn 1996 more than the younger Saturn. The 1996 its cute fast and fun! Yes its old, but I love it! The air runs cold, the motor is sweet, yes it has a loud engine sound, and its been worn in the seats, but I like it more than the Saturn 2001. I think they made a better car 10 years ago.
I have a 96 SC2 with 204,000 miles on it.
I'm the original owner and have had minor issues/problems with it. Just recently I had the muffler/tailpipe replaced and I am having the radiator replaced - formed a bulge and started leaking.
But I can't complain for having the car for 10 years. As the other comments state - take care of your car and it will take care of you.
Here are the problems I had with 1996 Saturn SC2 before the 120000KM warranty was up. The pipe connected to the exhaust manifold busted twice and had to be replaced. The dealer said it was an $1100 part both times. The Rad had to be replaced once. Some clip came of the shifting mechanism once and I only had 3 and 4 gear. I had to replace the entire back half of the exhaust system, it was not even covered by warranty. The worst was when some kind of pin sheared off in the trans-axle and blew a hole in the transfer case. Fortunately this was warranty because the Saturn mechanic told me that the parts alone would have been more than $5500. I had problems with the antenae. After the warranty was over I had to replace all wheel bearings and hubs at only 140000km. This is all that I can remember. I bought a second hand 1999 SC2. I had to replace the exhaust system. The terrible thing is that the pin inside the trans-axle sheared off and blew a hole in my transfer case like on my 96 SC2. This time there is no warranty so I am getting a used trans-axle. Hopefully my 2006 Saturn will be more reliable with its GM engine and drive train. If not it will be my last.