52 of the 379 complaints filed about the Saturn SC are about the engine — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
52
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
ENGINE
LIGTHLY APPLIED BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP AT INTERSECTION; THOUGH I HAD FOOT PRESSING HARD ON BRAKE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ENTERED INTERSECTION AND STRUCK A PASSING CAR; THIS WAS WITHIN AN HOUR OF PICKING UP THE CAR FROM GARAGE WHERE REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM; AIR BAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE AT IMPACT
NHTSA complaint #10948081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
1994 SATURN SC. CONSUMER STATED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING SO CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND. *SS THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OPENED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE GEAR ON ITS OWN, AND THE RPM'S WERE EXTREMELY HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #10654353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
2001 SATURN SC WITH FAULTY IGNITION. KEY BINDS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT ALSO FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN DRIVING. KEY HAS BEEN GRINDING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CYLINDER. THIS IS A HAZARD AND DANGER TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY RECALLED. I WANTED A CASE OPENED AND TOLD THEM IF ANYTHING HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN I WILL SEEK RESTITUTION. THE SR. ADVISOR WAS NOT HELPFUL AND TRIED TO DISMISS ME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GM IS NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES OR THEIR CUSTOMERS. POOR DESIGN, POOR QUALITY, POOR SUPPORT = BODILY HARM, MORE LAWSUITS AND NO MORE CUSTOMERS!
NHTSA complaint #10658524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ALMOST FROM THE START THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP TRYING TO START THE CAR. FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS HAVE WATER INSIDE, BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT GOING ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH NO AIR IN LINES. SUNROOF ALSO QUIT. FRONT DRIVER DOOR METAL CRACKS WHEN OPENING. ENGINE ALSO LOOKING LIKE TROUBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10575621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE (SATURN SC1 1997) NORTH BOUND ON FL TURNPIKE WHEN THE ROAD FELT REALLY BUMPY AND SUDDENLY PIECES OF DEBRIS STARTED FLYING BY THE WINDOW AND A LARGE BUNDLE OF WIRES WAS FLAPPING ON THE HOOD, COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR; WHICH I HAD TO EASED OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACTED GEICO ROAD SERVICE. APPARENTLY, THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT OCCURRED WERE AS FOLLOWS: THE LEMANS/BRIDGESTONE TIRE (P195-60R15) TREAD COMPLETED PEELED OFF THE TIRE WITH SUCH FORCE..THAT IT GOT SHREDDED THE FENDER AND RIPPED OUT A LARGE BUNDLE OF ELECTRICAL CABLES THAT WAS IN THE FENDER. THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED, THE WIRE CABLE RAN FROM THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OVER THE WHEEL IN THE FENDER, TO PROVIDE POWER TO VIRTUALLY EVERY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE CAR, AND WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A HIGHLY HAZARDOUS & DANGEROUS INCIDENT...THE PICTURES ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE! BE CAREFUL!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10523229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 SATURN SC1 LOST ENGINE--OIL IN COOLANT AT 80,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT JOURNALS WERE WORN SO BAD THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. REPLACED ENGINE 5 MONTHS AGO, LAST WEEK, AUTO TRANSMISSION STOPPED ENGAGING REVERSE GEAR. DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHO OFFERED NO HELP. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR. MY CAR--2002 SATURN SC2 HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE OVERHAUL AT 46,000 MILES DUE TO BURNED VALVES IN #2 CYLINDER. EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED REPAIRS. OIL CONSUMPTION PRIOR TO OVERHAUL WAS EXCESSIVE (QT EVERY 1000 MILES--DEALER SAID NORMAL) MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS AN INTERMITTENT EXTREMELY ROUGH DOWNSHIFT, WHICH WAS REPORTED TO SATURN DEALERS 4 TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY. EACH TIME, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OUR FAMILY BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. AT THIS TIME, I FEEL THAT SATURN HAS SOME WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE SINGLE CAM AND TWIN CAM ENGINES, AS WELL AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10243382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 SATURN SC1 WITH 68,000 MILES, THIS CAR HAS HAD FOUR HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ORIGINATING WHEN THIS CAR WAS UNDER A YEAR OLD. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPEATED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ALARM SYSTEMS, RADIO, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS WHAT I PURCHASED FROM SATURN AND I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION. THE MOST RECENT HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER '06. AS I WAS EXASPERATED BY SATURN AND THIS VEHICLE I WAS SOLD, I SUED THE SATURN CORPORATION IN THE RICHMOND COUNTY SMALL CLAIMS DIVISION FOR THE COST OF THE FOURTH HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10218841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SC1. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE THE CONTACT TRADED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08
NHTSA complaint #10199770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SC1. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED COOLANT IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08
NHTSA complaint #10199774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT AROUND 75000 MILES I PULLED INTO WORK, PUT IT IN PARK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO REV, (INCREASING WITHOUT LEVELING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR TO STOP THE INCREASED REVVING. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN , HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE. AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD A VACCUUM LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED. AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE WORK TO REPLACE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10191555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR HAS ONLY 37,315 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF $463.44. I DO NOT HOT ROD THIS CAR OR ABUSE IT IN ANY FASHION, I AM 52 YEARS OLD. IF I HAD IGNORED THE SES LIGHT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10183160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 2/1/07 MY CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO SES LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. A DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD CAUSED THE ROUGH IDLE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I LEFT GO TO LONG ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. MY CAR HAS ONLY 37,315 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED FOR A COST OF $463.44. I DO NOT HOT ROD THIS CAR OR ABUSE IT IN ANY FASHION, I AM 52 YEARS OLD. IF I HAD IGNORED THE SES LIGHT I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10183160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 SC1. THE WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 75000 MILES. THE REPAIRMAN AT SATURN SAID HE HAD NEVER REPLACED A HEAD GASKET ON A SATURN IN 14 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THEY ALSO FOUND CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE MOTOR THAT THE REPAIRMAN WAS SUPRISED TO SEE. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEIR FINDINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE IN DETERMINING IF THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR WAS ADVERTISED USING TWO EMPLOYEES DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SEE HOW MANY DEPENDABLE MILES THEY COULD GET ON THE CAR WITHOUT AN UNSCHEDULED REPAIR. I THINK AT ONE TIME THEY WERE AT TWO MILLION MILES. IF THEY REALLY FEEL THEIR CAR IS THAT DEPENDABLE I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THIS UNSCHEDULED REPAIR AT 73000 MILES. THE ADVERTISING, WHICH LEAD ME TO PURCHASE THE CAR WAS VERY MISLEADING. I HAD EXPECTED TO DRIVE A LOT MORE THAN THIS BEFORE HAVING TO CONSIDER A REPAIR THIS COSTLY. MY EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME TO LOOK PAST THE ADVERTISING LIES AND HIPE THEY USE TO INSTILL FALSE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE SATURN TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE REPAIRMEN LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS CONDITION WAS VERY UNUSUAL.
NHTSA complaint #10145252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR OVERHEATED ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER WHILE CARS WERE DRIVING BY. REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AT 101,000 MILES. CAR IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AS HEAD WAS REPLACED AND NOW A PING HAD DEVELOPED. 8JB
NHTSA complaint #10130524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED CAR JUNE OF 2004. CAR WAS ONE DAY OLD AND THE FUSE PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEN OIL WAS HAVING TO BE ADDED. CALLED SATURN AND WAS INFORMED SATURN CARS HAVE A BEEN KNOW TO GO THROUGH OIL. CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT ADDED COOLENT TO NOTICE THE COOLENT SEEMED TO BE THICK WITH OIL. FLUSHED SYSTEM ADDED NEW COOLENT. CAR RAN EVEN HOTTER WAS TOLD OIL IN RADIATOR, NEED TO PUT IN NEW RADIATOR. DID THIS AND PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. WAS THEN TOLD HEADS WERE CRACKED. CALLED SATURN AFTER SEEING NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON WEB SITE WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS RECALLS ON FAULTY ENGINE UP TO 1999 MODEL. AND 2000 MODEL. MY CAR YEAR WAS MISSED.
NHTSA complaint #10128938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE BECAME SQUARELY. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD, SPILLING OIL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED SMOKE AND GOT OIL ALL OVER THE TIRES. IT BLEW OUT 4 QUARTS OF OIL VERY RAPIDLY, CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SWIRL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH OIL SMOKE, MAKING VISIBILITY VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. IT ONLY EFFECTED THE OIL. THIS DEFECT WAS NEXT TO THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. THE CASTING DID NOT LOOK LIKE VERY GOOD QUALITY. IT WAS NOT REINFORCED AS IT SHOULD BE.
NHTSA complaint #10101232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED FROM THE ENGINE, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10090121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLES STARTED CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND MARCH 2003. REPORTED TO DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES.ON APRIL 18TH 2003 THE DEALER DISCOVERED AND HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING VALVE SEALS, CARBONED PISTON RINGS AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. IN DEC. 2003 THE VEHICLE BEGAN MIXING OIL & COOLANT. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD COSTING OVER $2000.00. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED 2 MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10072775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLES STARTED CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AROUND MARCH 2003. REPORTED TO DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES.ON APRIL 18TH 2003 THE DEALER DISCOVERED AND HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING VALVE SEALS, CARBONED PISTON RINGS AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. IN DEC. 2003 THE VEHICLE BEGAN MIXING OIL & COOLANT. DEALER REPLACED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD COSTING OVER $2000.00. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED 2 MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10072775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CRACK INSIDE OF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10072273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.