1996 Saturn SL 2 review from North America

Starter went out within a week of getting the car.

Alternator went out about a week and a half later.

Starter went out again a week after that.

Engine fan motor died.

Coolant system leaks rapidly (refill every 3 days)

Valve gasket wore out.

Engine Belt tensioner wore out.

Air Conditioning Compressor Rattles badly.

Sunroof stopped opening and started leaking.

Front Sway bar bracket broke off.

Transmission failing.

Hesitation going into reverse.

Electrical system generally poor.

Poor-quality plastic components kept breaking.

Brake Master Cylinder failed.

Rear right drum cylinder burst, causing complete brake system failure.

Oil leaked onto spark plug, causing failure of plug.

I have no idea why I bought another Saturn.

This car was usually fun to drive and has a surprisingly high level of performance for what it is.

However, in the first month owning the car, we spent almost 1000 dollars on repairs, and subsequently spent more than 4000 over the next 8 months on various other problems - unacceptable for a $3700 car.

The brakes on this car were absolutely horrible. Beyond the numerous small issues with the brakes, the system itself is fundamentally poor and was the cause of the demise of both this and my previous car (also a Saturn).

The transmission is no prize either - even on a good day it's not smooth, and on a bad day it's downright jerky. The car also had serious problems shifting into reverse.

Beyond that, the electrical system on this car was horrible. The starter died twice, the alternator died once, and fuses blew on a regular basis.

The interior is made of some of the cheapest material I've come across - I get higher quality product from McDonald's.

Don't be tempted by the price tag - steer clear of these disasters.