1994 Saturn Sl Engine Problems

THE FBI WAS MY FIRST CHOICE. THE CAR OVERHEATS FROM A COLD START AFTER I JUST FILLED UP THE COOLANT AND DROVE THE CAR FOR A FEW FEET IN 2 MINUTES FROM START. THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY OVERFLOWING. I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS EATING THE BATTERY LOAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME MAKING THE CAR LOSE POWER WHEN I CHECKED THE READING ON THE CARS INSTALLED VOLTMETER. THIS AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MILE. THIS EXTREME HOT TEMPRETURE CAUSES THE COOLANT TO BOIL AND OVERFLOW EVEN IF I AID IT WITH A REWIRED RADIATOR FAN ON I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATERPUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE HELP CAPTAIN AMERICA. THE RECEIPT FROM THE ATTACHED FILE IS THE LATEST.THIS CAR IS POSSESSED.

NHTSA ID

10876661

Incident

Jan 27, 2016

IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED INTIL 2001 BY THE LOCAL DEALER WITH A USED ENGINE THAT LEAKED OIL EVERY WHERE I PARKED, MY COMPLAINTS YIELDED NO RESULTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, COOLING FAN FAILED AND IN AUGUST 2004, THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE OTHER USED ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE AND ALSO BROKE, SO TODAY I AM CARLESS AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN TIMING CHAINS. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING?*AK

NHTSA ID

10112407

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093917

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

VEHICLE WILL RUN HOT WITH CAUSE OF ACTUAL FAILURE NOT INDICATED. SEVERAL ITEMS WERE REPLACED BY A MECHANIC IN WHICH VEHICLE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET, AND STILL RUNS HOT. VEHICLE IS NOW NON-DRIVABLE, PARKED AT IMPACT AUTO. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK

NHTSA ID

8019173

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS IS A RESULT OF A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH. MANUFACTURER NOT HELPFUL IN RESOLVING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

759595

Incident

Mar 17, 2001

I FEEL THAT SATURN MADE A LEMON AND I BOUGHT IT! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SALES PERSON. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE NAMES OF THE "HIGHER-UPS" IN WHICH TO BRING MY GRIEVANCES TOO. I FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS FOR ONLY 29,000 MILES THAT I HAVE PUT ON THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

755106

Incident

Nov 26, 2001

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATED THAT MOTOR MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR FAILURE OF A MOTOR MOUNT. REVIEW OF USENET INTERNET NEWSGROUPS INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN TO DEALERS. APPARENT CAUSE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, NOW SUPPLANTED BY A STRENGTHENED DESIGN IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, WITH NO ADMISSION OF FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE DEFICIENT DESIGN IN THE ORIGINAL.

NHTSA ID

752134

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CONSUMES OIL BECAUSE A HEATING CHIP HAS MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING. MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

883521

SATURN RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON IF PROBLEMS WERE OF FACTORY DEFECTS, THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR IN FULL (EXTREME AMOUNTS) BY MYSELF. ALSO, THE PRODUCTS, AFTER REPLACED FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED. SATURN REFUSED TO COMPENSATE . NOS AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

721694

Incident

Nov 10, 1999

WITH NO INDICATION, ENGINE WAS SHORT 3 OR MORE QUARTS OF OIL CAUSING A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LIFTERS AND/OR VALVES. OIL WARNING LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. VEHICLE IS NOT USABLE AND MAY REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE HEARD THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM TWO OTHER SOURCES WHO HAVE SATURNS. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS SINCE WE PURCHASED. DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGE.

NHTSA ID

721641

Incident

Apr 12, 2000

HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID

784606

Incident

Mar 17, 1998

MY CAR'S TIMING CHAIN AND ASSEMBLY EXPLODED KILLING THE ENGINE OF THE SATURN SL1 I HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN WAS 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES AND I HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 15,000 MILES. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 65,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM SATURN OF LEWISVILLE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A SATURN DEALER CALLED SATURN OF IRVING IN TEXAS. I FEEL THAT SATURN HAS A MEASURE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I CAN NOT FIND ALL MY RECEIPTS BUT DO HAVE SOME SHOWING MAINTENANCE I HAVE DONE AND THE EMMISSIONS TEST RESULTS FROM 12/29/99. I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SATURN SINCE 2/24/00. SATURN SENT A SAMPLE OF THE OIL FOR TESTING ON 2/25/00 WITH A PROMISE OF RESULTS WITHIN A WEEK. I AM STILL WAITING! I HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM A FIRESTONE ON THE INITIAL CONDITION OF THE CAR AFTER THE FAILURE AS THEY WERE THE FIRST TO SEE THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

720617

Incident

Feb 22, 2000

CALIF. REQUIRED THE RECALL OF 1994 SATURNS DUE TO FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY USE THE DATE OF PURCHASE AS A REASON NOT TO COMPLY. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 1995 WITH OVER 300 MILES ON IT. ALSO, I NOTICED ONE TIME WHEN I WAS HAVING ANOTHER PROBLEM TO REPAIR, SATURN HAD REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE WORK FORM. I WATCHED THE REPAIR AND NO ONE TOUCHED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SATURN IS NOT COMPLYING WITH CALIF. RECALL COMPLETELY BY USING PURCHASE DATE INSTEAD OF MFG. DATE. CALIF. DEPT. OF AIR RESOURCES AND AUTO REPAIR ASK ME TO NOTIFY NTSA. THE RECALL WAS NOV. 22,1999. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MARGINAL ON SMOG READINGS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING THIS OUT. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

716343

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

549313

RE: BRAKES; I GET A THROBBING, PULSING SENSATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF PAD LEFT; RE: SEATS; SEAT IS LOOSE AND MANY TIMES THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS COLLAPSED BACKWARD WHEN I PUT SOME PRESSURE ON IT, I.E. PUTTING MY HAND INTO MY POCKET TO GET TOLL BRIDGE CHANGE; RE: RADIATOR; IT IS RUSTED, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PROPERLY SERVIED THE CAR W/ RCOMMENDED SERVICING (DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT WANT FIX)

NHTSA ID

711821

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

VEHICLE RUNS HOT AND NEEDS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1K MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

841772

HEAD GASKET CRACKED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS

NHTSA ID

546218

Incident

May 22, 1999

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID

546435

Incident

Jun 2, 1999

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR AND TWO OTHERS THAT I AM AWARE OF WORE THROUGH THE PLASTIC GUIDES, CAUSING METAL TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE RUINING THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED TO ALL THREE CARS WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. ONE ENGINE HAD 58,000 MILES AND MINE HAS 62,000 MILES . THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER BOTH SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE OR A USED ONE AT MY EXPENSE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM IF I KNOW OF TWO OTHERS THAT FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON. CAN YOU HELP? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? *AK

NHTSA ID

707519

Incident

Jun 4, 1999

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AS A WHOLE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BELT BREAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

838618

Incident

May 12, 1999

OIL IS IN MY RADIATOR FLUID. PROBABLY A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

706928

Incident

Apr 28, 1999

BROKEN ROCKER SHAFT CAUSED CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

705666

Incident

Apr 12, 1999

SAFETY ISSUE, CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN TIMING CHAIN BROKE

NHTSA ID

705531

Incident

Mar 29, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME OFF AND ON, AND THE OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF THE PISTONS. WHEN THE CONSUMER TAKES OFF,SMOKE COMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR. SATURN AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

831415

Incident

Dec 12, 1998

VEHICLE WOULD LEAK OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUGS. ENGINE HEAD GASKETS SEALING IS NOT RETAINING THE OIL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

832882

Incident

Oct 31, 1998