1996 Saturn SL SL2 from North America - Comments

Add our 1996 SL-1 SOHC to the list. I went all the way to Detroit (new Saturn Head Office) with registered mail, after several Customer Service Managers through escalation. 86K miles and was purchased new in 1996, with an extended warranty. I asked for data and they indicated most fail between 60K and 100K regardless of years in service. I pleaded my case that I was within the Miles, but over the years due to low miles driven around town for several years. After being refused by the head honcho in Detroit, I wrote one final email to Saturn Customer Care expressing my disappointment. I indicated that I would be seeking other opinions from local/national media, consumer groups and legal community friends. I indicated I was very unhappy that after $2700 in repairs, they did not even offer a free oil change for the known problem I had to pay to get fixed. I received back a very curt email stating that I would receive NO MORE correspondence from Saturn Corp. Ouch! Must have hit a nerve.

I have a 2001 SL 1.9 SOHC. I think the timing chain is bad, hearing a chattering/dieseling sound under 3,000RPM's. Anyone else have this problem? Any known problems with the 2001 heads?

Dec 16th 2008

Add me to the list. 96 SC1. My daughter, with her Natl Guard boot camp money, bought her 96 to get back and forth to work and drills, used with 123,000 on it. Ran good for about 1500 miles then had the now familiar choc milkshake. Sounds like you can't visibly see if there is a crack in the head. Is it worth just putting on a new gasket to see if that's the cause? Is there any good manufactured head brands that are worth installing? I can't believe how many letters with the same symptoms that are out there without Saturn acknowledging what was going on. They should be ashamed. I think I know how my weekend before Christmas is going to be spent. In the garage.

I bought a 96 Saturn SL1 with 150,000 miles. I noticed the chocolate milk substance the next day, even after I had the car looked at. I spent all I had on this car. I have to have it flushed every two or three days, and fill the oil and antifreeze. I don't know what to do, I'm so disappointed in Saturn, this just can't be legal. They told me they have no record of this so called problem and they can't go by what's on the Internet because people say anything in blogs.

Add my 1997 sw1 to the list of chokomix; on a positive note

it has 323000 km, time to scrap it I guess.

Chocolate milkshake. '96 118K miles, bought it at 101K. Was rear-ended about 2 months ago & a friend & I had just repaired the body damage. Smelled coolant & had seen a small coolant leak. Bought UV dye to track it down when I discovered the sludge. Had been running slightly rough on start-up but smoothed with higher RPM - coolant was clear not that long ago (last week?).

Because of the accident I had already bought another '96 that turned out to have electrical issues, but that is from aftermarket alarm installation, so not Saturn's fault (seller was dishonest - first time I've had an issue with a private party seller in 25+ years). 4 Saturns so far, but I will probably go Honda or Toyota for my next car. The Saturns look nice & have good gas mileage, but too many tranny/head issues at relatively low mileage for my tastes.

I have a 96 Saturn SL1 with 178,000 miles. It sounds like I am one of the few fortunate ones who did not have a problem with a cracked cylinder. Additionally, I think it should be noted that I have not had a single major problem with the car. Other than having to replace the alternator and the ignition coil, there has been almost zero work on this car. I was pretty much set on getting another Saturn until I saw all of this negative feedback. Hopefully this was just a problem with those specific models. Happy trails everyone.

I just bought a 96 Saturn SL2 for $250. Nothing seems to be wrong with it. It was a family friends car except for a fender was cracked. They bought a new one and were gonna junk this one because they were moving.

But anyways, I don't know much about cars, so if anyone could email me about their problems so I could get a head start just in case, I would really appreciate it. My email's crissy_compton@hotmail.com thanks.

1996 Saturn SL SOHC - 98,000 K (60894 miles) and same result. It's clearly a problem in the manufacturing. Mechanic thinks it's better to get a new (rebuilt) engine than replace the head, as the mixing of fluids is probably already at work corroding other parts. 1500 bucks C$ installed. Would love to get a new car (not a saturn) but with only 100K on it it SHOULD run for another 100K if I get the work done.

This may all be moot soon anyway, as GM's many years of making inferior products looks to be catching up to them in the form of Bankruptcy.

Saturn was a legend in creating such remarkable marketing campaigns. Major universities studied them and other auto manufactures copied them. The no haggle/hassle sales tactic was a godsend to those who hated dealing with the nasty salesmen. Of course, it also meant that you'd have to pay a higher premium. I used to be a Saturn car owner. They tried so hard to please me in the beginning but then it was a tough job because the product was just not up to par with the competition. So, GM ended up spent whole lot of money servicing these cars. The lack of refinement and major redesign let down all the initial loyal customers. The final blow was the lost of identity... plastic panel gone. Unique engine design gone... Innovation...gone.

Eventually, the goose got sick and died and then all the golden eggs were no more. Does GM deserve this fate? Sigh.

Guess what, I have a 1996 Saturn with just 29,000 miles. Yes only 29,000 miles, and it's making chocolate milk shakes. My mechanic said that the head is cracked because the oil is mixing with the antifreeze. I have taken very good care of this car, changed the oil every 2,000 miles, did all the maintenance that was required. This car has been a headache since day one and has always reminded me that it was American made crap!

Now I've got a bill for a new motor which cost more than the piece of crap is worth, $2,400. No way; I called the junk yard and they didn't even want it, so I called another junk yard and they told me to donate it. So I did.

Never ever buy American made cars, they truly are horrible.

I always had Nissans and was able to put at least 300.000 miles plus on them without any major troubles. Why did I buy American made?

Bought a Nissan Murano, 45.000 miles, only oil changes. Please don't buy American made cars! It will cost you big time. I hope all American car company's go out of business; they should be shot for making such garbage.