During the smog test, my car overheated but the temp. Gauge did not indicate it was hot. The temp gauge was registering that the car was running at it's usual temperature. I have always gotten my oil changed when I'm suppose to, and I've had the engine flushed to try and keep it in good mechanical condition. It also is not starting at times, and today it was making a slight jerking motion as if a fuel filter is clogging. I've replaced the catalytic converter, & a couple of sensors. Plus, my seat belts have never retracted correctly and frequently get caught in the door. *Tr
Engine & cooling
Saturn SC1 Engine problems by year
67 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Saturn SC1's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Latest SC1 engine complaints
I own 1996 saturn sc2 purchased in 2007,it is sporty and I fell in love with it. Now however I am very unhappy,the starter went first,them the generator. The other day my husbands subaru was down while running him for parts my check engine light came on flashing the car started missing bucking and lost power,i managed to get it home,i am disabled my husband is laid off & does all repair work,has tried everything and it makes no difference. The car has had a oil leak since I purchased it we have been unable to find...
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were it is,and it just gets worse. This is my second saturn,i drove my first an sl1 4 years and never had to repair it. But this car has major issues and I must have a reliable auto,with no money where do I go? Help saturn knows about these issues and should pay for repairs,i expect to have some repairs with a car this old but this is outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Tr
Started engine immediately died! Timing chain broken. Second time since owned car. *Tr
1994 Saturn sc2 with rpm surging, transmission repair. Customer states that when the rpm's surged the vehicle would accelerate on its own. Customer also states that the motor mount was loose, which made all mounts and brackets have to be replaced. *Kb the consumer stated the radiator, catalytic converter, alternator, starter, battery first gear were all replaced. *Jb
While driving in the center lane on a 3-lane highway the vehicle shut off without warning. No lights were visible on the dashboard prior to the engine shutting off. The loss of power steering and power brakes resulted in a loss of control of the vehicle. The car swerved into the right lane striking another motorist and then spun out of control making at least two full revolutions before coming to a rest against the guard rails of the median. The other motorist involved in the crash was able to drive off the...
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scene after the police responded, but my car needed to be towed to a local dealer for an autobody and engine repair estimate. The engine diagnostic test indicated that there were 8 separate error codes in the computer. Two were cam shaft error codes, three transmission error codes, a low coolant error code and a communications error code. All together the mechanic estimated well over $1000 of expense to repair the engine. That expense in addition to the autobody estimate of $4100 dollars resulted in a total expense nearly equal to the total value of my car. *Nm
I have a 2001 saturn sc-2 coupe that was bought new in 2001. I have routinely changed the oil and done scheduled maintenance on the vehicle. The engine has ~75,000 miles on it and the timing chain recently went out while driving down a busy highway at 60 mph. I took it to the mechanic and learned the timing chain did not break but became loose. I have also learned saturn engineers designed the timing chain to run the oil pump. Therefore, when the timing chain became loose on my saturn,the oil pump failed to...
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maintain oil pressure on that side of the engine and subsequently sheared off a bearing that transfers power from the cam shaft to the pistons. The mechanic said this occurred as a direct result from the timing chain failing to deliver power to the oil pump. I am left with replacing the engine. I am aware of the technical service bulletin that saturn released in 2003 that directly involved problems with the timing chain and subsequent total engine failure. I don't understand why saturn owners have not been made aware of the problems that saturn has had with the timing chain. I spoke at length with saturn customer service and my local saturn dealership service manager on the phone. Both of which stated that since I did the oil changes and routine maintenance myself, there was no record of it being done and there was little they would do to help rectify the situation. They also stated that I could pay to tow my saturn from the mechanic shop that it was at to the dealership garage where they would give me an estimate of what it would cost to fix and whether or not they would be willing to help out with cost. No one at saturn would state that the timing chain could have been at fault in this incident, although everyone that I spoke with was aware of the technical bulletin being issued over the matter. I now am faced with replacing the entire motor with a replacement at an estimated cost of 2500 to 3000 dollars. The damaged engine can be made available. *Nm
Drove the car 2 weeks, defective crank shaft, banging in the motor, I can't drive my car. Want saturn to replace defective part. *Jb
1997 Saturn sc2 experienced transmission failure when the spider pin broke. *Mr while on an expressway an explosion occurred in the engine. The engine emitted steam and the consumer was unable to engage the gear. Under the vehicle was fluid and pieces of broken metal. The consumer was informed that the spider pin had broken and had come from the carrier jamming itself and caused immediate transmission failure. *Sc *jb
The indicator lights do not work properly. I get the proper maintenance required, yet the oil is now running out everywhere (69,000 mi.). Why doesn't the warning light come on, or flash - anything to warn me when the oil doesn't even register on the dip stick? I checked the oil, 1 minute later I drove 35 miles at a top speed of 67. The temperature guage wasn't even at the 1/2 way point, but when I stopped the car I could smell the car was hot, & the oil did not register on the dip stick. The only indicator...
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light that works properly is the low fuel. The car has always rattled, & the glove box handle just broke off. The front seat belts do not retract most of the time, causing the strap & buckle to get caught in the door. The passenger seat would slide back when accelerating & forward when braking (seat belt not locking into place either). Now it is stuck in one position. I have taken it to the dealer on 1 occassion for that, at least 2 times for the interior light, 2 times for sensors, & more. To end this, I am distraught at the moment, it appears as if my car has bathed in oil from the middle of the engine, all the way down & all over the underneath of the car. The plug gasket was mangled, changed, & still did not remedy the situation. My only transportation to a job interview this week!
2001 Saturn sc2 bought 2/04 20,000 orginal miles ....... Suporting documents state the car was sitting and not driven prior to purchasing. As of oct 2004 and 30,000 miles there has been a leak in exhaust, checked with saturn dealer and was told I needed a new resonator and pipe dealer wants to charge me approx. $400 To fix, 2nd problem is that my idler pulley is bad and in the process distroying the serpentine drive belt approx. $200 To repair. I feel gm (saturn) need to own up to these common problems with there...
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vehicles and repair them under recall. The nhtsa has a service bullentin on the exhaust problem that just came out oct. 2004 Bullentin #040605010 (service procedure for replacement of resonator and intermediate pipe) I also feel a car that has 33,300 miles shouldnt need all of this kind of work done to it when these kind of issues usually happen around 60-70,000 miles on any other normal car. I will never buy another gm product, this is my first especially with this low of milage - this has been a big disappointment and let down. Thank you - please put in effect a recall for these issues..... I think gm customers have spent enough on repairs. I very unhappy first saturn (gm) owner. *Ak
This has been an ongoing problem with saturn generally and saturn (galles) of albuquerque, nm specifically. 3 Separate times they have wrecked my engine! This has been due to oil leakage into the spark plugs and the valve gasket cover is warped. This has yet to have been corrected properly by saturn. I have now taken it to another mechanic who is able to fix it correctly. It has not caused a safety isuue...Yet.*Ak
1) Excessive oil useage after 60,000 miles on engine. ) No warning indicator light to show oil is low and needs added; engine seizes while driving. Could have caused accident trying to get out of traffic without power.*Ak 3) engine was replaced once at 65,000 mile. Same has happened again and engine needs replaced. This engine has approx 81,000 miles. Oil was changed less than 5000 miles ago and has been regularly changed between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. No prior indication of problem. Engine just seized while driving.
My 1995 saturn sc-2 began evaporating motor oil, at the rate of a full quart every 300 miles. I took it to the dealer and they did a full engine rebuild, which was very expensive. My car performed slightly better afterwards but needed follow-up adjustments of the repaired parts; saturn failed to honor their warranty on these repairs so I declined to have them done. After this hassle I decided to do research to see if this is a common problem, and there are dozens if not hundreds of reports on the web about...
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saturn owners of models built 1994-1996 that have had engine explosions and fires while driving, many of which have led to crashes and injuries. These are all traced to what appears to be an engine defect that leads to excessive oil consumption-- the same problem my car appeared to have. When I went to saturn with this information, they told me that they would only look at my car after verifying that it was still losing oil themselves, and that to do this I should drive my car for 3,000 miles and then bring it back. By that time, my warranty would be expired anyways. Other consumers have told me identical stories. It appears that saturn engines may be defective, and their customer service certainly is also. *Jb
1998 Saturn sc2- cam cover leak- 12/13/02 same cam cover leak 10/26/04 paid for it twice... $98.86 And 76.98. Electrical nightmare- electric window failed- sun roof motor failed- wants $925.00 To fix- horn had internal short 10/26/04 $112.11, Weatherstripping replace on drivers door 5/7/01, belt tensioner replace 12/13/02, idler pulley replaced 10/26/04. Exhaust replaced 5/08/00 & 8/01/00 & 12/13/02. *Ak
I own a 1998 saturn sc2 and I have had many costly problems with it. On october 5, 2004 the engine failed because of a timing chain and now the whole engine will have to be rebuilt. Prior to this incident, the car has been consuming an enormous amount of oil. In march of 2004 I had to have the fuel injectors and o2 sensor replaced. I have had many expensive problems with this car. *Nm
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data