1997 Saturn SL from North America - Comments

5 new tires needed in the first year.

Bolts holding rear axle sheared causing tire mounts to buckle.

Structural fault in windshield design, have replaced 5 windshield in 5 years.

All motors in electric windows have ceased to work.

Moon roof leaked several times flooding interior of car, dealership's solution was to remove the fuse to the moonroof and no longer use it.

Engine mounts collapsed.

Brake disks pitted and rusted after 36,000 miles, needed replacement.

Service engine light is constantly on, no detectable problems.

Lots of oil added frequently.

Coolant fluid seems to be mysteriously evaporating.

It rides like an all terrain vehicle, even on smooth surfaces.

Country music blew out 4 factory speakers.

The car drives like a tank, sounds like a tank, but I doubt a tank would require this much repair.

I wouldn't even give this car away in fear of it tarnishing MY name!!!

Don't waste money, effort, or most importantly your time on these cars or this company.

I agree with the previous statements about the customer service. The pneumatic devices must be used to fill the employees with air instead of the tools.

You come into customer service with a problem and leave with a headache and a multiple problems.

Right on, correct and to the point.

There is no question that these are deliberate falsehoods, or the result of poor maintenance on the part of the "owner." This car is the first new car I've ever owned, and other than routine maintenance, and a faulty dome light, it has been flawless. It has over 75,000 miles on it. I have had at least three 20-year old used cars that had far fewer problems than the reviewer had.

I was curious as to how removing the fuse for the moon roof stopped it from leaking? Also I do own a SL2, manual transmission and I love it. I find it hard to believe that all of your mishaps were the cars fault. Did you do regular maintenance?

I see this comment/question all the time. "Did you do maintenance?" It is irritating, because how is maintenance going to prevent things like leaks, the windshield and power windows failing, the axle bolt breaking, the speakers blowing, and coolant disappearing? Maintenance basically keeps the engine from blowing up before its time. Assuming he's writing an honest review, all these other annoying faults with the car are obviously not the driver's fault!

It is unfair to call the poster a liar or irresponsible because he obviously got a lemon. I have a 1997 Saturn SL2 that has had a couple of problems here and there, but nothing like what this poor fellow has had. That doesn't mean I don't believe him; even the best manufacturers can produce an inferior product from time to time. Just be thankful, fellow posters, that your car was not one of those lemons!

And right on about the speakers blowing; mine have all blown too.

I bought my 1997 Saturn used. It had 70,542 miles. I have had it about 1 year now. The transmission makes a funny sound going from first gear to second gear. My moon roofstopped working because of a fuse.{Big Expense}And Yes, I need to regularly add oil. Other than that I love this car. The person with the hydroplane problem may need to use different tires. I have no such problem. Yes, my back electric windows to not work.

{Too bad, Heat in the winter and Air conditioning in the summer.}And the best testing ground for any car I have found is NYC. Which I drive in everyday.

Totally Happy!!!

Best testing ground for a car is south central Canada. Winnipeg Manitoba has yearly extremes of +40 to -50 celsius or 100 to -55 F.

We have the greatest temperature range of any city also we have great rural area with gravel roads a car will show its true colours when driving over potholes at -40 or sitting in traffic at 90 F. New York is far to mild too really test a car.

I don't think he meant temperature wise. Overall, NYC is as hostile as you can get: Heavy/slow traffic, huge potholes, banged into by other cars, road debris, vandalism, theft, etc. It is a totally nasty place to drive and own a car.