RoadVitals

1995 Saturn Sl Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
68
Latest Apr 10, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 355 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Saturn Sl submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 68 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 68, in the owner's own words

EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 10, 2014

INSTALLED MICROGARD FUEL FILTER ON A 1995 SATURN SL1 A MONTH AGO STARTED SMELLING GAS HAD IT LOOKED AT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HOSE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE. THE HOLE IS IN THE BLACK PLASTIC, THIS PIPE ATTACHES TO THE ALUMINUM PIPE, BY THE TEST VALVE. I T RUBS ON THE EGR VALVE? (THIS FILTER HAS THE HOSE ATTACHED TO IT, ALL ONE UNIT.) THIS LEAK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MASSIVE FIRE BECAUSE IT ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND IS A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ANOTHER MICRO GARD AND PUT A THICKER HOSE AROUND THE BLACK PIPE. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578963
Incident
Mar 20, 2014
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 2006

LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ENGINE CONSUMES OIL BUT NO LEAK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR AND TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SOMETIME IN THE PAST. ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE AS RECOMMENDED BY SATURN. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE $2600. ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE ON BRINK OF FAILURE AT 83,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10177211
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 18, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FRACTURED ENGINE HEAD. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
10157806
Incident
May 18, 2006
Mileage
168,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THERE WAS STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE ACCESSORY BELT HAD COME LOOSE AND REPLACED THE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER.

NHTSA ID
10151329
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2005

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, USES 1 QT EVERY 500 MILES, NO LEAKS. SATURN SAYS THIS IS NORMAL! *NM

NHTSA ID
10139145
Incident
Oct 8, 2005
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2005

THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CONSUME EXCESSIVE QUANTITIES OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION (THAT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE >1 QT EVERY 3000MI) SO I'M TOLD... I'M CONSUMING APPROXIMATELY 1 QT EVERY 250 MI OR MORE! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE ENGINE OF THE 1995 SATURN SL2 LINE? I HAVE BEEN LEAKING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10112483
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2004

THE TEMPERATURE SENDER ON A SATURN 1995 DOHC ENGINE HAS FAILED 4 TIMES AS OF 106K MILES. THEY SOLD ME NEW SENDER AT DEALER, ONLY $20, BUT THEY CHANGED CONNECTOR, FOR NO GOOD REASON, SO THAT OLD CONNECTOR WON'T FIT, AND NEW CONNECTOR COSTS $30. I WONDER, DID SATURN AGREE TO SELL TEMP SENDERS CHEAP BECAUSE OF KNOWN DEFECTS, BUT THEN MAKE CONNECTOR DIFFERENT SO THEY CAN STILL NAIL YOU? *AK

NHTSA ID
10091227
Incident
Sep 18, 2004
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2004

OIL CHANGE AT SATURN DEALERSHIP ON 6/10/04. CAR DRIVEN ONLY EVERY 10 DAYS AFTERWARDS, THEN DRIVEN 400 MILES TO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS, OIL WAS 3 QUARTS LOW. REFILLED OIL, DROVE 1 MILE, ENGINE BLEW WITH CONNECTING ROD THROUGH BLOCK. STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95. ENGINE REPLACEMENT REQUIRED, SATURN ACKNOWLEDGED NO RESPONSIBILITY AS CAR NOT MAINTAINED IN THEIR SYSTEM. CAR HAD 64,000 MILES AND OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 6 MONTHS. SUGGEST THAT SATURN HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN ENGINE BLOCK, LUBRICATION OR CONNECTING RODS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10088154
Incident
Aug 17, 2004
Mileage
64,750 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2004
Fire reported

CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING THEN A BANG NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING UP AN INCLINE AT 30 MPH. THE NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONSUMER THEN PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE, AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS BAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10063100
Incident
Feb 17, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 2004

THE CARIS A 1995 SATURN SL1 WAS BOUGHT IN OCT OF 2002 IT HAD ONLY 38,962 ACTUAL MILES ON IT, WHEN I SEEN THE OVERALL SHAPE OF THIS VEHICLE IT WAS AWESOME, THE LOW MILEAGE WAS THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR BUYING THE CAR ( SINCE ALL I HEARD WAS HOW GREAT THESE CARS RUN) FROM A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA IT HAS A SOHC 4CYC. MOTOR,WITHIN 10K MILES OF DRIVING THIS CAR IT STARTED DRINKING OIL UNCONTROLABLY, NOW THE CAR HAS 84K ONIT AND EVERY MONTH IT NEEDS A FRESH SET OF PLUGS IN IT BECAUSE THE OIL CONSUMPTION THAT BLOWS PAST THE PISTONS FOULS OUT THE PLUGS.IN 1000 MILES OF DRIVING THIS CAR IT WILL CONSUME 3.5 QUARTS OF OIL,THE CAR HAS REGULAR OIL CHAGES AT EVERY 2000 MILES(ALONG WITH A CASE OF OIL IN THE TRUNK) NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR STILL LOOKS AWESOME...BUT LOVES THAT OIL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10057006
Incident
Feb 8, 2004
Mileage
49,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2004

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10055720
Incident
Jan 21, 2004
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2003

MY 1995 SL1 SATURN DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AT ALMOST NINE YEARS AND ONLY 55,000 MILES. SATURN ISSUED A LETTER DATED JUNE 1999 STATING THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST (ONLY HAD 1 1/2 YEARS MORE TO GO). THE COST TO REPAIR WAS GOING TO BE $2,400. SATURN KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IGNORES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10050712
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Mileage
55,600 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2003

1995 SATURN SL1 - CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO COOLING SYSTEM. I HAD TO PURCHASE NEW HEAD AND GASKET SET, OIL PUMP AND VARIOUS OTHER MISC. PARTS IN ORDER TO FIX THIS. SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT CORRECTED IT-I AM A VERY UNHAPPY SATURN OWNER. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I WAS HAPPY WITH THE CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10049175
Incident
Sep 26, 2003
Mileage
114,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2003

MY 1995 SATURN SL1 OVERHEATED IN NOVEMBER 2002 DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THERE WERE 56,686 MILES ON THE CAR. WHILE THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM STATING THAT SATURNS BUILT BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996 MAY DEVELOP CRACKS AND OFFERING COMPENSATION IF HIS OCCURS WITHIN 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, MY CAR WAS OVER THE 6 YEARS THAT THE WARRANTY COVERED. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE FOR SATURN OWNERS AND FEEL THAT A RECALL OF THE CYLINDER HEADS IS NECESSARY AND/OR THAT SATURN NEEDS TO COMPENSATE OWNERS BEYOND THE 6 YEAR LIMIT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023914
Incident
Nov 14, 2002
Mileage
56,686 mi
Engine
Filed May 5, 2003

IN JUNE OF 1999 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VEHICLES ENGINE MAY DEVELOP A CRACK AND THEY WOULD COVER THE VEHICLE FOR A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME OR MILEAGE. NOW THE TIME AND MILEAGE HAS EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018184
Incident
May 5, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2003

THE VEHICLE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED TWICE. THE FIRST CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE SECOND REPLACEMENT. PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10011633
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2003

INTERNAL CRACK IN CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT, ALLOWING OIL TO MIX WITH ENGINE COOLANT. OCCURRED AT 103,000 MILES AND 8 YEAR, SO NOT COVERED BY SATURN'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECTIVE HEAD! SATURN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED AND REPLACED ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE HEADS, AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMERS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010930
Incident
Mar 16, 2003
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2003

THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PAN AND OIL GASKET. *DT *JB

NHTSA ID
10008855
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2003

I PURCHASED A 1995 SATURN SEDAN SL1 WITH 32,000 MILE. AT 54,000 MILES, THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WATER AND OIL MIXING. I CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE CAR. THEY STATED THAT THE CAR WAS OVER THE YEARS BUT UNDER THE MILES FOR THIS RECALL. I CONTACTED STEVE AT SATURN CORP. AND HE GAVE ME THIS CONFIRMATION NUMBER (1-2120506).

NHTSA ID
10005568
Incident
May 7, 2002
Mileage
54,908 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 27, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SMOKE EMMISION FROM THE TAIL PIPE DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE BECASUE OF A DEFECTIVE RING ON A PISTON IN THE NO.1 CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ON SUCH A BIG RESPONSIBILITY. IT WAS ADVISED THAT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS THE ONLY REMEDY. CONSUMER FEELS SATURN SHOULD RESOLE THIS AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. *JG

NHTSA ID
568439
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2002

WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. ENGINE CRACKED AND OIL LEAKED INTO RADIATOR. HAD PROBLEM FIXED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
8018664
Incident
Oct 16, 1999
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2002

CAR WAS USING OIL, BUT WAS NOT LEAKING OR BURNING IT. CAR THEN STARTED OVERHEATING, AND I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE STATION I ALWAYS USE. WHEN CHANGING ANTI FREEZE FOR OVERHEATING PROBLEM, FOUND OIL IN THE ANTI- FREEZE. THIS LED TO ENGINE HEAD PROBLEMS. AND HEAD WAS SENT OUT TO BE REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED. DROVE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT STARTED USING ANTI- FREEZE AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN THE HEAD WAS PULLED OFF, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK IN IT AND NOW I HAVE TO BUY A NEW HEAD. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1,800.00 SO FAR AND HOPE I DIN'T HAVE TO SPEND MORE. MY MECHANIS CALLED THE SATURN MECHANIC IN ALBANY N.Y. AND HE SAID THIS WAS COMMON WITH 1995 SATURN SL-1S. I ALSO LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH CONSUMERS OF THIS YEAR CAR. ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THE COMSUMERS OF THESE JUNK CARS ARE GETTING THE SHAFT FROM YOU PEOPLE, AND YOU SHOULD BE REINBERSING ALL OF US FOR THESE PROBLEMS THAT YOUR ENGINES ARE CAUSING. RIGHT?.*AK

NHTSA ID
758688
Incident
Feb 12, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2001

TOOK CAR TO SATURN OF SAN FRANCISCO WHEN IT DIED SUDDENLY FOR 120K SERVICING. MECHANICS TOLD ME ENGINE CYLINDER PLUGS #2 & #3 WERE LOADED W/OIL DEPOSITS. RECOMMENDED REBUILDING OR REPLACING ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED CAR USING EXCESSIVE OIL. 10 MOS. EARLIER I TOOK CAR TO SATURN OF SANTA MARIA FOR 100K SERVICING AND TOLD MECHANICS THAT ENGINE WAS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. MECHANICS DISMISSED THE PROBLEMS AS BEING NORMAL FOR OLDER SATURNS. EARLY MAINTENANCE COULD HAVE PREVENTED ENGINE FAILURE WHICH EVENTUALLY OCCURRED. POSSIBLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN ENGINES. I HAVE LETTER FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM, AND SAME PROBLEM WITH MECHANICS AT SATURN OF SANTA MARIA.*AK

NHTSA ID
755658
Incident
Oct 13, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 30, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE RESTING ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT IGNITED UPON STARTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 22-V641-822. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900640
Incident
Oct 29, 2001
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Sep 25, 2001

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT FAILED.*YH

NHTSA ID
785591

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .