Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61
Needed new brakes and rotors TWICE before reaching 15,000 miles. Car decided not to start one day at only 3,000. The paint can't even handle a fingernail scratch. Car wouldn't start when it was in the mood. Doors were not properly assembled. I get ice inside my vehicle in the Winter. Reverse trans. problems.
This car has been a total nightmare since I had it. If it wasn't under warranty for the first couple of years, I would have spent around $2,500 - $3,000 in repairs.
I cannot speak for all Saturn dealerships but Saturn of Dartmouth, MA is horrible. As soon as I had problems they gave me a hard time. I eventually had to bring it to another Saturn location for help. Came to find out some problems like the brakes and rotors being replaced twice was because the stupid dealership where I originally purchased the vehicle didn't properly adjust all the wheels to the same torque. Please, don't buy your vehicle from Saturn of Dartmouth!
Your comments, complaints and experiences with your Saturn are certainly in line with my own! I fully empathize and sympathize.
I traded my Saturn, and it was a wise decision.
We are currently experiencing a melt-down at just under 60,000 miles. Apparently, the head cylinder is cracked, probably due to overheating because our dealership never checked, let alone flushed the coolant, despite our going for routine maintenance. They are balking at fixing it even though it still under extended under warranty (7 year/100,000 miles).
We are seriously contemplating legal action as the car's blue book value is over $6000, but it is in fact worth less than a few hundred bucks without repair.
We suspect we have been receiving fraudulent service at this dealership for at least two years. This is our second Saturn and we will never buy another one. Neither should you.
We agree, we shall never buy one again. Useless dealer.
I too will never buy a Saturn again. My 1996 SL1 Saturn also had a cracked head cylinder at 75,000 miles. My six year old car was denied the extended warranty because Saturn states that my warranty began the day the car arrived on the lot in September 1995. This problem is a known manufacturers defect and several other people have told me that this has happened to them when their mileage reached between 40,000 and 82,000 miles.
My 1997 SL1 had a cracked head gasket at 50K. Currently, we own two Saturns and, but we will not buy another one.
I am currently experiencing hesitation upon acceleration when I first start the car in the morning or after sitting 8 hours while I am working. After it warms up, it doesn't happen. Does anyone have any ideas?
Our 1996 Saturn's cylinder head cracked tonight. We received a letter saying Saturn was aware of the problem in 1999 and that nothing needed to be done, unless the car was overheating or there was discoloration in the coolant. Coolant and oil were changed last month. Routine maintenance, along with documentation has been performed to manufacturers specification. The letter also stated that Saturn would cover the costs of cylinder head replacement for 160,000km or 6 years, whichever comes first. We have 148,000 km and lucky us... we are 2 weeks past 6 years. I wouldn't buy one of the cheap little pieces of trash again... problem is,the only people reading this have already, and know the truth...they're garbage!
I have a 96 Saturn SL1 and I now have a second cracked cylinder head. My dealer has also refused to help me with this problem because they said they fixed it the first time. They fixed the car 20 months before the service bulletin came out. I feel they fixed the car with another part that would eventually break. Now I too have a car that is worthless to sell, trade or even fix because the $2200 estimate is too much in my opinion to put into a car that is 7 years old. This car was also taken care of properly with the maintenance done at my Saturn retailer for the first 6 years.
Same old story from me too. My 1996 SC1 at 101,000 km presented with an overflowing coolant reservoir with a fluid that looked like sewer sludge. Verdict? A cracked cylinder head that allowed engine oil to mix with the coolant. The initial estimate of $3100 ballooned to $6100 when problems were found with the lower block. Along the way problems were found with the timing chain and the cam shaft (which for some ungodly reason would not fit inside the new cylinder head!) The service staff were polite and apologetic, but how they can deal daily with a shoddy product is beyond me. This was my first and definitely my last Saturn. T. Pellar, London, Ontario, Canada.
I HAVE to add to this list. 1995 Saturn SL1 with 103,000 miles and the infamous cracked cylinder head. Dealer estimate of over $3000 to fix, assuming no other problems are found (good luck, right?).
They did offer to contact Saturn for assistance, even though the extended 6 year/100K warranty for the head has expired. Not good enough, as I would still be stuck with labor bill of $1400!
Lucky me, I get to replace the head myself. $350 for the head at Autozone, a $75 head gasket kit and some miscellaneous stuff. I am fortunate enough to have the manuals, skills, and tools.
This is OBVIOUSLY a manufacturing defect, evidenced by the swarms of people having this problem. Saturn should own this problem 100%, and should have replaced all defective heads when it was discovered - at no charge to the customers!
30 years old and will never own a Saturn again...
Ryan - Twin Cities, MN.
I have a 1999 Saturn SC1 with 48,000 miles on it and as everyone else is stating, I have a cracked cylinder head. The cost, $2,650. I am really upset and Saturn has put the problem all in my hands. I received no assistance!! I will never buy a Saturn again.
I continue on these sad stories. I bought a 1996 SC1 and I found out it now has a cracked head at 76,000 miles. I received no help only from a friend and had to pay 1,800$. I'm worried still because the sludge that has built up in the coolant will not stop coming out. This is the last Saturn I will buy (which is one I bought for a friend). NEVER AGAIN!
I have a 95 Saturn that also just cracked its head. The car only has 65K miles on it. Has anyone had success with Saturn making reparations?
I currently own a '96 SL1 and have recently been dealing with the cracked cylinder head issue. 75,000 miles and VERY well maintained through the dealer (HA!) since its purchase. The dealer quoted me $3,000 in repairs provided no other problems occurred. Ironically, I never had a problem with this car until now. But when it rains it pours, I guess. I will NEVER purchase another Saturn either. The stress of dealing with this alone has turned me off completely!
Frustrated and Broke in Chicago, IL.
Just got off the phone with my mechanic who told me that my fiancee's Saturn 95 SL-1 cylinder head is cracked. Her car has 70,000 miles and is well-maintained. I was amazed to go online and find so many other people had the same problem. If Saturn is not recognizing the problem and making it right on an individual basis, perhaps we should organize and seek collective action. I happen to be an attorney and just set up a yahoo account. Contact me at saturncrackedhead@yahoo.com.
Mine too. I got it "fixed." 10,000 miles later, same thing. Does any body know anything about any class action law suits?