1996 Saturn SL: engine failure

Filed Jul 6, 2003 · Seats, Transmission · 46,500 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Unsatisfactory responses from saturn customer service; repairs that should be covered per californias lemon law for our 1996 saturn sl1 with only 46k miles. Rote to gm & saturn ceo's. They lie and do not stand behind their crappy product. We will never buy american again!per my recent conversations with saturn customer service, there has been absolutely no effort of goodwill to reimburse and fix the below aforementioned mechanical problems from the inferior materials used in building our saturn vehicle. The failures we need reimbursement for are: 1.starter replacement: $211.08 + 45.17 = $256.25; we were broken down and had to get fixed immediately at a pep boys shop, 2.new interstate battery: $108.15; we were broken down and had to get fixed immediately at a chevron shop, 3.transmission gasket parts and labor: $ ~150. (tbd); already paid and in saturn database; trans. Seized up now and needs $3000 work; saturn won't pay for repairs, 4.alternator parts and labor: $176.61; we were broken down and had to get fixed immediately at a pep boys shop, the work that needs to be done at saturn now is: 5.radiator parts and labor (saturn work order estimate so# 123412): $417.16 6.oil gasket parts and labor (saturn work order estimate so# 126859): $ tbd 7.repeat transmission service and gasket parts and labor (saturn work order estimate so# 126859): $ tbd, this has already been done 18 months ago and is leaking again! Also complete rebuild/ $3000.8.front passenger seat reclining mechanism needs repair.

Filed Feb 10, 2003 · Engine · 70,000 miles · TN

I purchased my saturn sl2 new in 1996. After 70,000 miles it started using an inordinate amount of oil. Oil consumption started to eclipse 1 qt. For every 500 miles. My oil change service said saturn engines were notorious for bad rings. I took to saturn dealership. They wanted several thousand dollars for a new engine. I replaced engine with a saturn engine with 23,000 miles. After another 40,000 miles the replacement engine exhibited the exact same behavior. I now need to purchase a third engine.

Filed Sep 10, 2002 · Engine · CT

I bought my car in 1996 brand new from stamford saturn car dealer. During the first year, I experienced that my car is using one quart of oil per month. I reported to my car dealer that my car is using 1 quart of oil every month, they recommended that I bring the car to them for oil consumption study for six month. I did not bring my car to the dealer at that time. After six years, my car was using 3 quarts of oil within ten days. I called saturn representative and the local saturn car dealer for help. They recommended that I authorize the dealer to do tear down of the engine. I authorized the dealer to the tear down of the engine; after the tear down dealer recommended that, I either have the car repaired for $3000.00 or replace the engine for $4300.00. I decided to have the engine replaced with new engine. The saturn representative would not admit that my car has manufacturer defect, I explained to them this is not normal for a new car to use up 3 quarts of oil in ten days. In the beginning, the saturn representative agreed if the car had oil consumption or manufacturer defect they would help with the repair cost. However, after the repair they are not helping me with the repair cost. Please try to understand I have family wife and two year old son, my wife cannot work full time because she has to take care of our son. To pay $4300.00 is too much for me to handle, please help. I paid the dealer with my american express card.

Filed Oct 28, 2000 · IL

Purchased the car used with approx 24000 miles. Seemed fishy at first but dealership insured me that everything was okay. Oil light came on after only a week from purchase. Did not look like dealership serviced engine. I called the dealership and informed them of the oil light. They never told me that there is a problem and to bring it in, they just brushed it off as a short. When questioning the dealership about the servicing of the car, they replied "you should never assume anything." now here I am with a car that has only (supposedly) 33000 miles on it and the engine is no good. Harold motors laughs in our face when I told them about the engine. They will not help us in any way nor will saturn. For a car with only 33000 miles on it, I cannot see it breaking, especially the engine which saturn brags about in every commercial. We are at a standstill trying to contact saturn to alleviate this problem. With the engine breaking with only 33000 miles on it, it is defective. Saturn has defective engines on their sl1 models in 1996, so this matter needs to be looked into. The quote for a new engine is 3400.00 which we should not have to pay . Thank you.

Filed Oct 2, 2000 · Electrical, Engine · NY

Squealing noise from engine area in rainy weather, dealer replaced the engine drive belt due to it being dry and cracked.

Filed Jun 2, 2000 · Engine · CA

While driving at low speed saw water and oil coming out of the engine. A technician stated that this was due to a blown engine head gasket. Dealer found the problem to be a cracked cylinder head. Owner told that this was a manufacture defect and saturn would pay repairs cost. *ak

Filed Jan 19, 1999 · Engine · FL

I really feel that a car that is well taken care of and have only 47000 miles shouldn't have need a new engine in it.

Filed Jan 19, 1998 · Engine · MA

Engine seized without warning shortly after maintenance.