The vehicle's head gasket cracked causing the oil from the engine to pours into the radiator coolant. This causes the engine to over heat.
1996 Saturn SL engine complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 63, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My wife and I own a 1996 saturn sl1 with 69001 miles on it. I notice that oil was in the coolant reservoir. Contacted saturn of corpus christi and asked if they had an idea of the problem. Maybe a bad head gasket and gave me an estimate of $840 plus $2.30/mile to tow it in. Living outside of beeville 65 miles away a total of 13o miles. Contacted my mechanic told him the problem and he gave me an estimate of $900 saving on towing fee, I went to him. He looked at it and told me that my cylinder head was also cracked. He then showed me a technical service bulletin #96-t-65b that saturn sent out in may 1999 documenting this problem with the cylinder heads cracking. He then showed me that my cylinder head was cracked just like the diagrams on page 2 of the bulletin showed. I contacted saturn in tennessee talked to chad of customer service, his supervisor ms. Ramirez, her supervisor brenda salsberry, her supervisor joey fitzgerald and all gave me the same answer that our car was over 6 years old. They said that they'll sent out to all saturn owners special policy#99-p-01 in june 1999 extending our warranty for this specific problem for 6 years or 100,000 miles we never received any extension policy from saturn for us to be aware of this problem. After them knowing and documenting problems with cylinder heads does this not make it a defective or flawed part, and there is no warranty time on defective parts. I'm asking you to investigate this for us individuals who are getting no where with saturn. I don't think that it is just a coincidence that my cylinder head crack just as they drew up on page 2 of bulletin 96-t-65b. Help!
Engine oil leaking into coolant resulting in a cracked head gasket.
If you would take a look at the driver side of the radiator. Would you believe it's plastic? Where this plastic is molded together there is a crease and in every person I have spoke with who has one it split open right down the crease in which causes water and coolant to leak sometimes spray out. This is a defect on the manufactures part and should be redesigned and replaced free of charge, instead they are over looking these problems and saying it's after warranty. Saturn should stand behind the making of their vehicles and admit their mistakes, better yet correct them. This is not the only problem I have found to be wrong with these cars it's just the only one that's a design flaw and only saturn can make right. Several others I know have gotten new radiators and replaced them and still they break open same place. The temp gauge doesn't show the vehicle running hot and says in the manual that the gauge will default and return to the middle position now you tell me what good that does for telling if your car is running hot. Come on saturn do something about your mistakes!!!!!!!!
I have a 1996 saturn, sl1 with 65,000 miles on it. When I took it in for a regular oil change, I was told that there was a problem with the water cooling system. The cylinder head cracked and oil leaks into the radiator system. I called saturn and was told that I need to talk to a local dealer. I was not even able to explain the problem, and was dismissed humiliatingly. I contacted the dealer and they told me they would contact saturn, after which I was told that I was on my own as the purchase date was before the 6 year window they had designated (6 year/100,000 miles warranty). It has come to my attention that saturn knew about the design fault so they went with this secret warranty. It is costing me over $1000 for a problem I did not cause! I do not believe saturn should get away with such a practice, and I would like to be reimbursed for the repairs and my time (I cannot stress enough the hardship and inconvenience I have experienced because of this deceptive action by saturn.) I hope you will be my (and the other citizens in my situation) advocate and help us in this matter. Sincerely,fassil ghebremichael.
Cracked head cylinder - manufacuturer has "secret warranty" on this part for 1994-1996 saturns. Saturn wouldn't cover whole replacement because the "secret warranty expired in june 2002" on my car. Reason I believe they should pay for all of it: (1) known design defect with engine (2) my car was in the dealership garage for engine work during the secret warranty term and during my warranty coverage, for an oil consumption problem. Engine was rebuilt but head cylinder was never checked for known problem and I wasn't notified of the known problem. Now both warranties are expired so they wanted me to pay the whole bill. I refused but they only offered to cover half. I have put a complaint into the attorney general's office and the better business bureau.
I replaced my brakes and rotors today. The mechanic wanted to show me the mess that they were. I looked at them and he pointed out how unusually destroyed the inside pads are. He said he rarely sees anything that bad. The horn works when it wants to. The key gets stuck in the ignition and some days I really have to work hard to get it out or get the steering wheel to release so I can turn the key. Also the exhaust system is just hanging on before the rust overruns it.
Cracked cylinder head.
Consumer stated that she had her automobile insspected ,and was told that head gaskets were leaking. She did some research and found that other saturn owner were having the same kind of problem. What could she do about it?
About three weeks ago the engine overheated. The engine oil and coolant mixed together because the head gasket was cracked. *ak *ts
The engine oil and the antifreeze is mixing together in the vehicle. This causes the engine to overheat while driving. Had taken vehicle to dealership and was informed by the mechanic the engine cyclinder bead was cracked and needed to be repaired or replaced.
1996 saturn - engine oil leaks into coolant. Dealer said there was a manufacturing design flaw. 1997's under 100,000 miles saturn would pay to have it fixed, but not 1996's.
Nar 02/28/2003 mr malfunctioning engine.
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.
Consumer states that while car was running the engine caught on fire, fire started under the hood.
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.
There is a cracked cylinder head and oil is leaking from vehicle. Contacted dealer, and the dealer is not willing to do anything.
Engine had a cracked head which was causing loss of oil. Dealer contacted. *ak the head gasket was replaced and was leaking. Consumer is requesting a refund for the cost of repair.
Cracked head cylinder caused by oil mixing with coolent. Saturn refused to honor supplimental warranty provided in tsb 99p01.
The alternator failed.
This vehicle was previously repaired approx. 1 1/2 years ago. The engine was rebuilt because of a cracked cylinder which allowed the oil and coolant to mix. This november 2001 the same problem occurred once more. A cracked cyclinder head, oil and coolant mixed. Saturn corp. Paid for 1/2 ($720) the cost of the repair but the dealership refused to pay the other half. Has this problem been reported with other same or similar models?
Loss of coolant due to a blown head gasket. Dealer and manufacturer were notified, and informed consumer that it was not covered under a recall. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
The vehicle was in tow when it caught fire in the engine compartment, the entire vehicle became engulfed, there were no injuries (ohio traffic crash report). Nlm
Engine cut off, engine surged,tachometer bouces,replaced valve guides at 60000 miles, compresion still not correct, ck engine light always comes on, burns oil, 2 qts more than specs say. Seat belt light stays on even when in use.
While driving engine stalled without warning. There was no leak or evidence of burning oil.*ak the consumer found out that the vehicle stall because there was no oil in the engine. It was just 3000 miles since last oil change.
Engine oil leaked into coolant system cause overheating after engine ran out of oil. Cracked cylinder head was the cause after talked to dealer. Also found there were quite a few complaints about exactly the same problem.
Power steering pump shaft seal replaced due to a leak, the inner and outer tie rods on the right front of the vehicle separated due to wear.
The cylinder head cracked while I was commuting home from work. It cost me 2000.00 plus to repair. Saturn told me they would cover the repair up to 100,000 miles. Of course I was about 7,000 over that. I never received any info on any problems to look out for from the dealer. Prior to this I did notice my coolant was discolored so I had the fluid replaced. I did not suspect any interenal engine problems. I want to know who I can get in contact whith to get a refund of my money. I.
Squealing noise from engine area in rainy weather, dealer replaced the engine drive belt due to it being dry and cracked.
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