1994 Saturn SW Reviews

I have enjoyed driving my 1994 Saturn SW2 Station Wagon for a number of years. We are the orginal owners and recently while trying to reset my odometer for a reading on a trip, my odometer stopped working altogether? Other than gas/oil/tires, etc.. the car with its twin cam engines runs like a top at 65+ mph on highways.. any suggestions to get the odometer running again?

Very spunky engine and great handling automobile..

Ignition Cylinder at 118,000 miles.

Transmission Intermittent problems at 122,000 miles

(Found Transmissions on Saturns this vintage have problems with iron deposits and bad valve bodies. This can be frustrating at times because it will not upshift or engage if hot).

Burns approx. 1 qt every 2,000 miles.

Catylitic Converter at 114,000 miles (plugged with carbon from oil burning)

Some sun damage from being an Arizona vehicle (after 100,000 miles or so)

It's a nice car, gets better mileage than my '92 Cutlass Ciera did, but definitely not as comfortable. Too small to me, but then again this is coming from someone used to full size Cadillacs, Ford LTDs and Lincolns.

Good for travel, I use it going up north, and an optional roof rack helps a lot for carrying larger items.

I have had to replace two generators, 3 batteries and the starter. I have always suspected a problem with the electrical system, but the dealership says no. I have a minor oil leak that would cost $300 to repair because of the difficulty in getting to the oil pan. Three of the four electric windows stopped working, and Saturn wanted $300 apiece to repair them. A local auto glass repair shop repaired all 3 for $400 total. One window just needed reconnected; somehow the "band' that controlled it had come off. The driver's seat became very worn by 2002.

I was told by the dealer that this car would last as long as a Toyota. Not so - it's been falling apart by degrees for a number of years. My next car will be a Toyota again!

I have had to replace several exhaust pieces, including the catalytic convertor, the downpipe, and the muffler around 145k miles. I believe these were all original parts when I received the car, so they lasted their time.

Some people claim to have had longer life out of the clutch, but my car's is in need of replacement at 160k. This is completely normal as far as the current mileage is concerned.

This car is really nice and I've enjoyed having it as long as I have. It's time to find a replacement for it though.

Replaced front disc pads at @69k miles. An easy repair for me.

Clutch/throw-out bearing failure/replaced at 88000 miles.

Sparkplugs/wires/airfilter at 91000 miles. Easy repair.

Rocker-arm shaft broke/replaced at 92000 miles.

O2 sensor replaced at 93000 miles. All Service Engine codes now extinguished. Easy repair.

Oil consumption at 1 quart per 600 miles, starting from my purchase. Switched from 5w30 oil to 20w50 oil. Apparently oil consumption reduced to 1 quart per 2100 miles.

Seat partly caved-in due to heavy use. Not "necessarily" due to my slight over-weight problem. ;) ;)

Chronic shimmy circa 60mph due I suspect to out-of-balance tires. More later...

This is a good car that I use for work, five days a week.

Recent 5mph "collision" with taxicab was repaired by wiping his car's paint off my right passenger door. Microscopic damage is invisible.

I don't trust this TEN-year old car for cross-country trips. Still, I kinda like it. I wish it had all-wheel-drive, like my Subaru.

Overheating. Engine blew out on me. Stranded on interstate. Had to purchase a new engine.

Also: starter problems. Car would not start. Have had this looked at several times by service places. Power locks went out.

Horrible experience. Will never buy a General Motors car again.