36 of the 274 complaints filed about the Saturn SW are about the engine — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
36
Complaints
13%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
ENGINE
AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND WAS IN SYSTEM BUT NOT REPLACED. IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH FUEL NOT ABLE TO REACH. IGNITION SWITCH WIRE BURNED AND WAS RECALLED PRIOR BUT NOT GIVEN TO MY MAKE MODEL. MUFFLER NOT ABLE TO CONTROL EXHAUST SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10925999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SOHC LK0/L24 (FROM HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/SATURN_I4_ENGINE#SOHC_LK0.2FL24) THE SOHC (LK0/L24) CYLINDER HEAD HAD 8 VALVES AND WAS MADE OF LOST FOAM CAST ALUMINUM. THE CAMSHAFT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. MOTION FROM THE CAMSHAFT WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE EIGHT VALVES BY THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND ROCKER ARMS. THE LK0 ENGINE FIRST USED TBI (THROTTLE BODY INJECTION) FOR FUEL DELIVERY AND WAS RATED AT 85 HP (63 KW) AND 110 FTLBF (149 NM) OF TORQUE FROM 1991 TO 1994. THE L24 ENGINE RECEIVED MPFI (MULTI-PORT FUEL INJECTION) IN 1995 WHICH INCREASED POWER OUTPUT TO 100 HP (75 KW) AND 114 FTLBF (155 NM). THIS ENGINE WAS USED FROM 1995 TO 2002. THE SOHC ENGINE WAS AVAILABLE ON THE BASE MODEL S-SERIES VEHICLES (SC1, SL, SL1, SW, SW1) 1992 THROUGH 1998 L24 CYLINDER HEADS DEVELOPED ISSUES WITH CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE FIFTH CAMSHAFT JOURNAL, LOCATED CLOSEST TO #4 CYLINDER. THE HAIRLINE CRACK WOULD DEVELOP BETWEEN THE OIL FEED PORT OF THAT JOURNAL AND THE COOLANT PASSAGES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. SYMPTOMS WOULD RANGE FROM OVERHEATING TO LOW COOLANT, HOWEVER, MOST CARS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE EXHIBITED OIL MIGRATION INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE RESULTING MIXTURE OF THE TWO FLUIDS WOULD RESULT IN A THICK BROWN "MILKSHAKE"-LIKE MIXTURE, VISIBLE IN THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK. SATURN RELEASED UNADVERTISED POLICY WHICH WOULD COVER THIS ISSUE, EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE CYLINDER HEAD TO 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (160K KM). REPAIR REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. AND FLUSHING OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. BADLY AFFECTED CARS WOULD SEE COOLANT IN THE OIL, AS WELL AS OIL IN THE COOLANT, AND WOULD REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE CYLINDER HEAD CASTING WAS REDESIGNED ...
NHTSA complaint #10440907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE SATURNSW2 GASKET COVER WARPED YEAR AFTER YEAR;THEY REDESIGNED IT;IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL; MANY THOUSANDS OF THESE COVERS HAVE PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER OF A FIRE WITH THE OIL LEAKS;THE EXPENSE OF CHANGING OUT THE ENGINE IS HORRIFIC, FOR A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC THEY NO LONGER MAKE FROM PLASTIC; IT IS NOW ALUMINUM OR SOME FORM OF METAL. SMALL LEAKS ARE ONE THING;THESE MAJOR LEAKS ARE ANOTHER.
NHTSA complaint #10255221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE TURNS OFF DURING DRIVING OR COMING TO A STOP IF I LEAVE THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT OR 4HRS LATER IT WILL START AND RUN FOR ABOUT A HOUR THEN IT TURNS OFF, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CHECK AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG CABLES, GAS FILTER, CLEAN THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING. SPEED ODOMETER MAKES A RUBBING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10220011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 1995 SATURN FROM PRECISION TUNE AUTO. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANED, AND WIRING FIXED. NO MENTION OF SEAT PROBLEM. THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SOME FAILURE WITH TOP PART OF SEAT, TO FALL BACK FOR SOME REASON. FRONT SEAT. TROUBLE WITH CAR. BAD GAS MILEAGE, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE VALVE TROUBLE, NO POWER ON HILL, GEAR SHIFT STICKS, CLUNK IN REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY, BLEEDING BRAKE LINE, BACK BRAKES. CVC CLICKING, AND SO ON. HIT ON AUG. 22, 2006. NOT SURE IF THIS CAUSED ALL THE ABOVE.
NHTSA complaint #10179143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEARING WORE OUT COMPLETELY ON ONE SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10111244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TWO MAJOR GASKET PROBLEMS WITH A SATURN 2000 SW2 WAGON. TOTAL REPAIR COST $1,500.
NHTSA complaint #10104537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PRESSURE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *MR *SC
NHTSA complaint #10092220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING, ANTI FREEZE LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10059714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE BURNS OIL PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #10057210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10054109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10044503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10043961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL IN COOLING SYSTEM,CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. I HAD JUST SLOWED DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN IN A 35 MPH ZONE. OTHER WEB SIGHTS CLAIM THIS TO BE AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGH WAY. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I REGISTERED AS THE NEW OWNER THAT THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR BULLENTINS, CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH " NO DEFECTS".
NHTSA complaint #10038889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL CONSUMPTION, CAUSED A BLOWN ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10028429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED SAID CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS VEHICLE USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. I MUST ADD AT LEAST ONE QUART EVERY 200-300 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #765633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN DID NOT WORK, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND. YD
NHTSA complaint #785726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN DID NOT WORK, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND EXPAND. YD
NHTSA complaint #785726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
STRESS INDUCED CRACKING OF EXHAUST SYSTEM RESONATOR OUTLET END PLATE.
NHTSA complaint #751157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.