2000 Saturn SL 2 from North America - Comments

The transmission has broken Twice! Each time it was the differential pin therefore not covered under warranty. Each time the transmission had to be replaced. ($2000 each time)

Clutch gave out after 2 months of ownership (50,000 miles). ($800)

My mechanic just told me the brakes need to be replaced. ($600)

The interior was literally falling apart due to loose screws and poorly glued parts.

Handles and accelerates like an elephant.

Quite possibly the most offensive mechanics I've ever met.

Comfortable seats, despite half asked interior.

My old Volvo 850 has 95,000 miles on it and it still has the original clutch and transmission, and both show no sign of breaking.

After all the bad things I've written I must give Saturn credit for the engine, I live in Wisconsin and it has started and ran strongly on the coldest of mornings.

It sounds like you're getting ripped off on your repairs. You should shop around, the dealership will always be the most expensive. The clutch in my 2000 Sl is still strong after 85000 miles. The clutch life depends a lot on how you treat it (or abuse it). It should definitely last for more than 50000 miles. I just had front pads and rotors put on my car and it cost me like $150 at Tuffy. I also guarantee your rear brakes are in fine condition after only 50000 miles, the rear brakes last a long time (they do like 30% of the braking). Your Volvo runs like a top because it is made better and cost more brand new than a Saturn. You should seek someone you trust about cars and ask them before doing any repairs. Good luck.

I have a 2000 Saturn SL.

Currently it has 73,000 miles on it. I bought the car as a in 2003. I was a certified car with 27000 miles. For the first year the only problem I had was a motor mount came loose. After-market warranty covered it a Saturn Dealer made the repairs. The next year in 2004, I noticed that the car was running sluggish. I went to 2 Saturn dealers to look at and both stated that the manifold system needed cleaning. A 1500$ job. I then took it to an independent mechanic who is certified to repair Lexus and Toyota. The mechanic there put dye in the oil and had shown me where it was leaking around the head gasket. It took some patience, but the aftermarket warranty covered it. During this repair job the mechanic called me and said the piston ring on #2 piston cracked. Having never heard of a piston ring cracking I called saturn and was told that they can't do anything about it. More patience later and after market warranty covered it. Cost of rebuilding the engine with new seals rings and gaskets came to 2700$. Of that, 2500 was covered by after market warranty. This past December the transmission was replaced due to a seal leaking clutch fluid. Aftermarket warranty covered the bill for a "USED" transmission, but I was forced to replace the clutch on my own. Saturn even billed me the full price of a clutch replacement with labor even though the whole transmission needed replacement anyways. The cost of the clutch was 1400$.

Never again will I purchase not just Saturn, but GM and a whole.

A friend of mine, when having his car serviced at an independent shop, was told by the mechanic that the worst cars he had ever worked on were Saturns. He said they were incredibly cheaply built and had horrible reliability.

Proof, yet again, that American cars are made to the lowest legal quality standards they can get away with.

I find it hard to believe that the reason these cars break down is by people and their horrible habits on servicing a car.

You buy a saturn because it is affordable, you have to remember that you are nto buying a BMW or Volvo, if you bought onw of those and this crap happened... you have a right to complain.

The guy with a cylinder head leak, there really is only a hand full of reasons why a cylinder head cracks:

Overheating #1.

Over Revving #2.

Racing the car #3 (although if you are racing a saturn you must be joking)

Bottom line... ANY car will last forever... it depends on HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.

The only way you can blow diff pins is if you do burnouts and race. The wheels catch suddenly and the transmission jerks, blowing the diff pin. Essentially, you are damaging your own car.

My Grandmother's differential pin failed in her saturn.. must have been a result from her days at the track and all those burnouts!!!

My saturn is a tank I replaced the transmission at 160,000 miles it was original and to replace the clutch with it was no labor added. the whole transmission is out anyway. but now its doing some over revving crap. aside from the dealership always trying to charge me over double what it should I have enjoyed this car to its fullest. I am 20 yrs old and I have not babied this car but it has run fine. it is not an expensive car and you get what you pay for!!!

Comparing Saturn to Volvo doesn't make sense, or maybe Volvo are expensive cars with good handling power and comfort like Saturn's. On a Saturn the cost of repair is a lot cheaper than Volvo, and they generally don't break often.

I will never trade my Saturn (problem free @ 80K miles) for a Volvo. Maybe if I win the lottery (then I will have enough money to spend on failure)

I have over 230,000 on my Saturn SL1 and just replaced the clutch for the first time and no previous tranny problems. I have pulled trailers and an 18ft fiberglass boat. I agree that you should shop around with your mechanic and most cars last as you take care of them. $1400 for a clutch is unreal.

$1400 for a clutch you have got to be kidding. The parts are only about $250.00. That leaves the rest for labor $1150. You got ripped. This is billed as a 9 hour job, and at $70 an hour you are only at $630. For a grand total of $880. I believe you got taken to the cleaners.