Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Brake discs - twice.
Alternator - twice.
Blown front strut.
Leaking - now failing transmission.
Rotting hoses.
Leaking doors (rains in).
Seat on driver's side collapsing (190#).
Stress cracks in many interior plastic parts.
Poor body fit (as new).
I chose an SL2 as my first American built car in 33 years. I (along with others) wasn't entirely happy about the very prominent engine noise, but was generally pleased with the response and satisfied with the economy. The price with ABS and traction control was good and other items are of little interest to me. I waited 3 weeks for delivery since all the cars in their system also had high-end stereos and moon roof.
I was less pleased when, after a few days of ownership, I noticed the severe distortion of the driver's side door on the area at the bottom of the window, at the black trim strip. On further inspection, I found that same door very poorly matched at the lower forward corner, protruding about 3/4 inch beyond the surface of the fender.
Since these were cosmetic problems, I waited for the first inspection interval to have this and the intermittent ceiling courtesy light corrected.
When I received the car back from inspection, it was accompanied by an apology that stated they could do nothing about the distortion of the windowsill and the fender - door transition had only somewhat improved. The ceiling light seemed to function OK.
It failed again due to poor contact; if one hit or wiggled it, it would light. Had to remove the fixture and carefully bend the bulb contacts to make it reliable.
In the first weeks of ownership, I noticed several rattles and squeaks from the dash and the suspension noise is the worst I have ever heard in any car. After the car had ~10,000 miles on it, the interior noise when traveling over rough roads had exceeded that of my worn out Fiat. On those same roads, it is necessary to re-adjust the driver's sideview mirror daily. I also think the right strut blew out at around that odometer reading.
The first time I took the car above 80 MPH at about 6,000 miles and intentionally braked sharply to familiarize myself with its behavior in an emergency situation, I detected a warped front brake rotor. Since I don't often have a need to drive at that speed or faster, I didn't bring it in for service until the warranty was about due to expire. It was taken care of at no charge.
As of October of 2001, the same problem exists.
At three years old, the car suddenly no longer cranked at its normal speed and on checking the battery, found it had one dead cell. While I was accustomed to replacing the original equipment battery at 5-6 years in previous cars, this didn't bother me that much, particularly since it was a Delco from which I have never had good service.
2-3 days after replacing the battery, a pronounced whine appeared but because the car has an automatic transmission, I could not tell whether it is from an engine-related accessory or the transmission and frankly, I started not to care much about it.
A few days after the whine started, the car started missing at lower RPM at random; some days it ran fine, others it didn't.
The problem stabilized a few days later and the engine started missing frequently. I pulled the plugs since I have had cracked porcelain insulators act his way, but a high voltage check showed no defects. I regapped them and reinstalled them. The improvement lasted only a few hundred feet and the miss returned. With the sun down, I ran the car at an idle and checked for high voltage leakage, which I found. I pulled the plug wires and inspected them, finding one terminal oxidized which I cleaned. Wires reinstalled, the miss had become very regular. I removed them, one by one, measuring resistance. I found the #1 plug wire completely open.
The car was in no condition to drive to the dealership some 30 miles away so I called a local supplier and ordered a new set.
With a manual transmission, I have driven problem cars safely, but it was not even safe to drive home since there are many situations while on the road that would preclude simply stopping, shifting to Park and restarting.
I performed surgery on the bad cable to see if the open circuit was locatable. I found it at the coil end; the carbon filament had burned off at the contact. I proceeded to trim back the insulation and had to cut off fully two inches to find enough filament to re-terminate at the coil jack.
In all the years I have had resistor leads, on vehicles with conventional and electronic ignition system, including a high energy system I designed and built, I have never seen a conductor simply burn away like this.
Of course the cut open rubber ends leak a little high voltage, but it was at least drivable until the replacement set arrived.
A nasty flaw in the ABS system showed itself while the alternator (the first of two) was dying; when the charge/battery voltage had fallen to a point still allowing engine operation, but no longer sufficient for the ABS modulator, that item froze at an intersection in heavy traffic and would not release the brakes. I had to floor the accelerator to drag the damned thing to a parking lot. An email I sent to Saturn about this potentially dangerous flaw brought a "gee whiz" response and a promise to pass it on.
As mentioned before, the car is on its third alternator and now the death symptoms I have read regarding the much-vaunted automatic transmission have appeared.
The car has not yet reached 41,000 miles after six years.
In summary, in case anyone has taken the time to reach this point, I would have to say that my first American car in three decades isn't what I'd read it was, it has problems I never had with my lowly and much maligned Fiats or the English Ford that proceeded them and these at a low mileages for most cars.
I'll be glad to dump this sorry excuse for a car, I had originally planned on spinning the car off to my youngest son, but he hasn't done anything bad enough to deserve that kind of punishment.
I will be disposing of the car in the next months and hope to find someone I don't like very much to buy it.
I'm disappointed and will probably buy foreign next time again.
Steve Allison.
Seems to be the norm for people driving American made cars, too bad really. I drive Japanese vehicles and never suffer any problems. I would go back to foreign autos.
Really interesting to hear something negative about saturn, truly. I used to drive imports and had the worst luck with toyota camry head gaskets. I'm surprised to hear how much effort you put into plug and wire testing and fabrication. Couldn't you just have bought a whole new set for $30?
I wouldn't say that all American cars are bad. In fact I know of quite a few hondas with bad automatic transmissions. Honda civics seem to have very premature engine faliure. I know of about 3 of them that went out before they hit 80,000 miles. And I know someone who brought in thier 1998 honda and wound up with a 800 dollar bill for a bad head which the dealer claimed was "Normal Maintenance". And this was on a car with less than 40,000 miles. I have owned several japanese cars and the only one I liked was a Nissan Stanza. It had over 200K and it ran like a top. But I have also had american cars last just as long and not have any problems either. But I still wouldn't buy a Saturn. I have one and it is an oil burning piece of junk.
I need to tell you about saturn I have work on many cars trucks and suv and you now what I never saw a car with a saturn logo come in for more than an oil change and tune up I think they build a more than a good car it is one of the best out there for the price if you want to buy cars from the guys who have nukes pointing at us the same guys who will not sell or cars in there country that's fine that's your proragative, but remeber who has got your back when it comes to war you are american please show some respect and be that.
Hrm, odd. I have the exact same car, and have had just about zero problems in 112,000 miles so far. Besides normal stuff (brakes, new battery, etc), it has run pretty close to flawlessly.
The engine is rather loud when you accelerate, that's a given, but is generally quiet once you get up to speed. My suspension has held up amazing considering the amount of torture I have put my car through. I am not kind to my cars suspension, but it has held up REALLY well considering.
I change my oil when needed, and keep my fluids topped off, and I generally don't have to worry about much. I had to get the car towed once, when the alternator died, but it wasn't a faulty alternator, I hit a bump that knocked a wire loose and caused a short.
Overall I've had no complaints about my car. Lately I've been looking at new cars just because of all the hell I've put my suspension through is finally coming back to haunt me. (Saturns were not meant for going fast on shoddy dirt roads, farm fields, or getting somewhat airborne off of railroad crossings).
Anyone reading these reviews should take them with "a grain of salt." Who's most likely to write?.. Either those ecstatically happy with their vehicles or those who hate them. I purchased my "used" Saturn SL 1 in 2002 with 140,000 miles on it. I was of the opposite opinion of many when it comes to "high mileage" vehicles. Seems to me, if it has that many miles on it, it served someone very well! The car now has 170,000 miles on it and it runs PERFECTLY. It has never left me stranded. But for needing a new clutch shortly after purchase, I've done nothing other than change the oil every 3,000 miles and a new air filter every year. AND?.. yep, spark plugs... They may tell you that the plugs last forever these days, but, I find that both my gas mileage increases and performance increases significantly after changing the plugs on an annual basis... and?.. for $8.00... it makes sense to me.
Oh, by the way, yes, like EVERYONE ELSE who owns a Saturn, my car "uses" about a quart of oil every 900 (or so) miles... and?.. highway mileage is fantastic... I used to drive from new jersey to toronto every month, and would "average" 39 mpg doing speeds of 75 mph... * (on the new york thruway)... seriously, I LOVE my saturn and would replace it in a heartbeat!...
Unfortunately, I too own a Saturn (95). It only has 60,000 miles (since it is being fixed most of the time) and since it's reached 30,000 miles has had four (soon to be five) alternators. As I read your review I was laughing my head off because it reads much like my many predicaments. I could go on longer than you about the problems I have had, but it would take pages and pages. Needless to say, it is barely running (while my '72 Toyota runs fabulously) and is in constant need of replacements and fluids (it eats oil worse than any car I have ever owned).
By the way, when it runs, the dash shakes so hard it sounds like it is about to bounce into my lap. I will NEVER EVER make the mistake of buying a Saturn as long as I live. From this point on it is purely foreign cars for me.
I have owned my Saturn for three years now, and up till now I have only had to replace my battery and change and add oil. it eats oil like crazy. initially it only took one quartt every two fill ups, but recently it needs two quarts every fill up. the mechanic cannot find a leak, but it must have one. I can't imagine a car burning that much oil.
Overall this car has been pretty good, but recently it is falling apart. it has just under 140,000 miles, and everything electronic is breaking. the alternator has died, the starter has gone out, the a/c died, the dome light works when it chooses, and the seat belts (annoying automatic seat belts) no longer work.
Every Saturn owner I know has said there are a bunch of rattles. I think I have identified seven different rattles in the dash, and other interior parts. rattles don't hurt the car, but it is odd. there have not been major problems with it, but it is all adding up right now.
I don't know that I would buy another Saturn.
Having now purchased a 2nd saturn, I have to say they are reliable cars. Sounds like you just got a lemon which happens with any manufacture, or just beat the hell outta it when it was new, which is a no-no.
I will be first to admit saturns require routine maintance. But everyone should maintain their car. If you love it, it will love you back is the theory here...
I am adding to my original post titled "Avoid Saturn."
August of 2005, my wife and son went to visit our other boy about 150 miles distant.
They stopped 40 miles from home to get some soda and when they came back out and started that miserable junker, it threw a rod cap and committed its last act of terror.
The block is windowed and the odometer reads 57,765 miles.
That car had a much easier life than any of the several Fiats I owned (which I flogged) over three decades and Saturn paid me back with nothing but misery.
Our 2002 Subaru Outback in 49,000 miles: I've had to replace wiper blades and I dumped the original plugs for Bosch Platinum.
Otherwise it has been fluid changes and nothing else.
We live in hilly country, often driving in mud and currently in snow, where even the trumpeted Saturn traction control was useless.
I will never risk another American car and for the poster who wanted to remind me of who is watching my back, I can only say I'm glad it isn't General Motors.
I bought the very same Saturn just last year at a dealer in Glendale, and to say the least, I love my Saturn.
To say the least, she has been a great car for me. When I got her, she had 130,000 miles, and I am glad to say that almost two years later, she is still running great with 166,000 miles.
As far as the brake discs and the spark plug wires, what can I say, things wear out. Take apart a spark plug wire to see what is wrong with it, and fix it.
Oh, and the transmission issues that you are talking about - a simple fix, $800, a valve body is like any other part of a car, no matter what you do, it is going to wear out at some time or another.
I own a 1996 Saturn SL-2 (bought it used during the latter half of 1996 with 10K miles on it). I have been very pleased with this car over the years. It was my primary vehicle from 1996 to 2003, during which time it logged approximately 250,000 miles! The car still runs great, although it has an appetite for added oil every so often. The car is now the secondary family car and is driven a couple times per week... the odometer is about to turn over to 260,000. Never any major problems with it, other than a faulty emissions thingey that I had to replace several years ago. My Saturn experience has been a good one and I will probably buy another one in the future, if they come out with a hybrid gas/electric version. Currently I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid and have gotten spoiled from getting 600+ miles from one tank of gas (avg 41-42 MPG).
Wow all those problemes!?!?!? I have the same car and never had a probleme, maybe you shouldn't drive it so hard.
I purchased a 1991 Saturn SL1, manual transmission in 1994 with 54,000 miles on it. The most dependable, low cost of operation vehicle I have ever owned. 40MPG on the highway as well.
With 167,000 miles on it, it still runs great and the body looks great as well, due to the polymer dent resistant door and fender panels. Normal maintenance has only been needed during the last 13 years, with one radiator replacement and two alternators. For a car that is low in cost out of the chute, I don't know how America can ask for much more.
I have so much confidence in Saturn, we have purchased 4 more for the family. One we purchased with 213,000 miles on it, and it has been taken care of by a one owner so the car looks and runs great.
Saturn cars are probably the best kept secret in the auto industry. That little 1.9 engine has a timing chain as well, and at 167,000 miles no need to change timing belts.
Try a Saturn, you will love it.
I have purchased a 1995 Saturn SL2, and have NEVER found any of the problems mentioned on this. Maybe it just takes a person actually taking care of the car. Best car I've ever had.