1994 Saturn SL SL1 review from North America
"I will never buy another Saturn"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front rotors needed replacing.
Alternator went bad.
Exhaust gas recirculation valve was sticking and caused the engine to buck.
The timing chain tensioner that is made of plastic broke and all the pieces ended up in the crank case.
Two weeks later the water pump bearings were pulled out of the mount.
One month later the serpentine tensioner spring broke.
The rocker arm shaft broke and the car was towed from 25 miles away.
One week after, the alternator failed.
General comments?
This car has the oil filter mounted between the firewall and the engine which makes it difficult to change. You have to remove the front wheel and stone guards to reach in and replace it.
The cabin area is too small for a person of 5'10" to get in and out of.
Recommended reviews
| Not a terrible car for the money, but you can probably do better over the long term. |
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| Actually, I would have to say this car has been about the most reliable one I have owned |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1994 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 0 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 0 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 1 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 18000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 72000 miles |
| Previous car | Chrysler LeBaron |
| Date of Entry | 1st July, 2001 |