1996 Saturn SL from North America - Comments

Steering shakes when driving 55-60 miles per hour. Car was recalled for steering, but I still have the problem. The car requires frequent wheel balancing also.

Crack in engine block at less than 64,000 miles.

Oil in coolant reservoir causing a thick mud-like liquid. The oil runs low and car overheats.

I have replaced thermostat, fan, frequent flushing of coolant, frequent oil changes.

Finally I have replaced the engine for cracked block which cost $1700. The new engine, only three months old, has now started with the same problem.

In researching the problem I have found many people with the same problem I am having.

Saturn released a "Special Policy" in 1999 regarding problem in which a faulty mold causing block to crack. They will only cover the cars for 6 years from first service up to 100,000 miles, which ever comes first.

My car is now too old, but only has 65,000 miles with two faulty engine blocks. It seems like they have created an umbrella for themselves so they will not be liable.

Has anyone thought of a class action suit?

Oil in coolant reservoir causing a thick mud-like liquid. The oil runs low and car overheats.

That stuff is called Bar-Soal (don't know exactly how to spell it). If you bought it used, or something there was a problem with the radiator leaking..Basically, you put the stuff in, and it clogs up the holes after a while. The problem is that the stuff is still in there! clogging up your radiator, and making it overheat. I bought my SL2 used, and it the exact same thing! Just get somebody knows how to flush them right to flush it out for you... The person who did mine instead of just running flush through it or whatever actually had to go in, remove all the radiator hoses, run a water hose through them to get it out.

That'll take care of that problem. And that is the reason that your engine block cracked, and really is your problem altogether. My car got so hot that my spark plug cracked, and then seeped oil down in it. I was lucky I didn't crack a head though (dunno how it didn't). So, get that taken care of, and your car will probably be fine. Mine would also use a lot of oil, but that is cuz your car burns it up! (literally).

I have a Saturn Ion 2002. It was less than a year old when I had to take it in and have a cylinder head replaced. 6 months later it is back in the shop to have the engine block replaced. According to the shop at Saturn, this was probably the problem to begin with. I was told that the engine block was too porous so the problems are continuing. I questioned just simply replacing the engine block and addressed being concerned that the problems would continue past my warranty period (which is up at 36000 miles; I am at 26000). I am so frustrated. I did not have these problems with my first saturn and I am fairly certain that I will not ever own one again.

My son just bought a used 97 Saturn SL1 about 7 months ago. His check engine light also had a habit of coming on for no reason, the mechanic that he took it to thought that the O2 sensor was the cause of the problem. He replaced it and about a week later the light started coming on and going off for absolutely no reason again. Now all of a sudden the oil in his car has started disapearing into thin air. His car has now started to have a problem with overheating and we found brown oily sludge in the coolant overflow reservoir. I suspect that he also has either a blown head gasket or a cracked block now. I took the hoses lose and flushed out the coolant system, refilled it and also refilled the oil. I have also written to Saturn, we'll see how that turns out. I am totally dissatisfied with this car, wish he had never purchased it and will never own another one.

Hi I bought a 1996 Saturn -1 Vehicle had 68000 miles I checked the recovery tank and found, Mud like slime in recovery tank some People call it sludge, I had seen a report on a b c about this problem with saturn cars, and no easy fix only temp, fixes buy fluhsing the block at best saturn has a problem and they know it, other vehicles made by G.M. with dexacool coolant have cooling system problems similer to, sludge in the recovery tank, a class action law suit is pending. there should be a class action suit against Saturn. Hundreds and Hundreds of saturns have this same problem. I am a Automotive Tech (Mechanic for over 40 years and still working as a Tech. You can flush the block, recovery tank, radiator, and in time the condition will been seen again Part of the problem is Vehicle engines to day are run so lean, causeing them to run hot, G.M. sells a round tablet to put into the cooling system and has done so ever since the old 4.1 engines were marketed and even used in northstar engines, they don't make cars the way they once did, I started working on cars at age of 13 I am now 60 and have seen many changes some good and some bad. buyer be ware Good Luck.

If someone adds regular antifreeze to Dexcool, it will cause the formation of that delightful sludge.