1999 Saturn Sl Engine Problems

I JUST RECEIVED A 1999 SATURN SL 2 SERIES A YEAR AGO FROM MY MOTHER FOR MY VERY FIRST CAR. I GOT IT AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES AND IT IS NOW CURRENTLY AT 122,446. I NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING, USUALLY AFTER ABOUT 1-2 MILES AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR AND DRIVING, MY GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP. I KEPT UP WITH JUST ABOUT MONTHLY OIL CHANGES, ACCOMPANIED BY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF. MY TRANSMISSION OIL HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. THEN, ABOUT 4 DAYS AGO I WENT TO LEAVE FROM MY WORK ORIENTATION, AND I COULDN?T BACK UP MY CAR FROM MY PARKING SPOT, THE REVERSE HAD WENT OUT. SO I PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE, THEN BACK TO REVERSE THINKING MAYBE IT DIDN?T GO INTO REVERSE ALL THE WAY AND IT DID NOT WORK. I REVVED UP THE ENGINE, NOTHING HAPPENING UNTIL I DID IT PRETTY HARD, AND EVENTUALLY IT STARTED ROLLING BACK A LITTLE. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A PRETTY BIG ISSUE OR NOT, AND I REALIZE I SEE IT A LOT IN 1999 SATURNS. A RECALL I BELIEVE WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION FOR FIXING THIS ISSUE AND WOULD FURTHER PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND IT?S CURRENTLY SITTING THERE NOW. I DON?T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME. I BELIEVE IT COULD BE A SMALL PART THAT JUST NEEDS REPLACED, BUT I?M SURE THEY?RE GOING TO JUST HAVE ME PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS NOT WHAT I PREFER TO DO AS A 18 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT. ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR WAS ONLY 700$ THAT I PURCHASED IT FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329753

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 11/23/15*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10766344

Incident

Jun 17, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

OIL KEEPS COLLECTING IN THE WATER RESERVOIR SEEMS TO HAVE DEVELOPED THE PROBLEM VERY SUDDENLY TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THE HEAD MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS SO I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED,AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE INFORMED ABOUT. WONDER IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER FIX FOR THE PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10236351

Incident

Jul 4, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

ONCE MY SATURN SL AS AT LEAST 2 OTHERS THAT I KNOW OF THAT OWN THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, HIT 100K MILES OR JUST SLIGHTLY OVER, THE HEAD GASKET BLOWS. I LOVED THE CAR UNTIL THIS POINT AND WOULD HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER IF THIS WASN'T A COMMON ISSUE WITH SATURNS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197621

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

Mileage

100,400 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE USED UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE DRIVEWAY, HOWEVER THE RESERVOIR HAD TO BE REFILLED EVERY 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE, UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS MOISTURE AROUND THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR TANK, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR TANK HAD LEAKED FROM THE TOP.

NHTSA ID

10171576

Incident

Sep 6, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 TO 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/15/06.

NHTSA ID

10158318

Incident

Nov 28, 2005

Mileage

107,327 mi

1999 SATURN SL1 44300 MILES ON IT. 3-4 WEEKS AGO COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL WAS FINE BUT MILKY SUBS FLOATING ON TOP. CHECKED WITH RADIATOR SHOP, SUGGESTED FLUSH SYSTEM AND REPLACE COOLANT. 2 WEEKS LATER OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED OIL, NONE ON DIP STICK (3 WEEKS AFTER OIL CHANGE). ADDED OIL AND VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 15-20 MILES AND BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF MONROVIA WHERE THEY FOUND A CRACKED BLOCK. DEALERSHIP AND SATURN CORP. ARE NOT WILLING TO COVER FIXING THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES. EARLIER MODELS HAD WARRANTIES EXTENDED TO 6 YEAR/100,000 MILES. SATURN CORP. STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS PAST THAT WARRANTY AND I AM OUT OF LUCK. I THINK THAT SATURN SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE AS THEY KNOW OF THE DEFECTS BUT CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $2,000 TO HAVE THIS DEFECT FIXED. I DO HAVE RECEIPTS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (LESS THEN A YEAR) AND MY BROTHER OWNED THE VEH. PRIOR BUT DIDN'T USE SATURN EXCEPT TWICE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY WERE NOT CLOSE TO HIS RESIDENCE WHILE HE LIVED IN TEXAS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143488

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

44,300 mi

I PURCHASED MY SATURN SL2 4-DOOR BRAND NEW IN 1999 WITH ONLY 10 MILES ON IT. IT WAS A PERFECT CAR UNTIL IT OVERHEATED ONE DAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME TO USE ONLY DEX-COOL IN MY ENGINE. SO I WALKED AND PURCHASED SOME AND WENT ON MY WAY. SINCE THAT TIME MY ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY GETS OVERHEATED, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE RADIATOR CAP AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A CRACKED RADIATOR HEAD WITH WARPED GASKETS WHICH WILL COST TOO MUCH FOR ME DUE TO MY BEING ON DISABILITY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY. I FEEL THAT DEX-COOL OR THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN FIXING MY VEHICLE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136162

Incident

Jul 14, 2002

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 SATURN SL. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER TOOK IT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED. FOUR DAYS LATER ON 6-25-05, SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION; THE CAP ON THE RADIATOR COOLANT HAD POPPED OFF. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GUSHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE THE COOLANT AND OIL MIXED. THIS MIXTURE IS CURRENTLY SPLATTERED ON THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. AFTERWARDS SHE CONTACTED THE PLACE WERE SHE GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY TOLD HER TO BRING IT IN. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE THEM ON 6-27. THEY TOLD HER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. AFTERWARDS WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THEM SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL NUMBER 0304. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO REPAIR VEHICLES JUST OIL CHANGES AND SUCH. SO SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SATURN OF AMARILLO, WHICH TOLD HER THAT IT WAS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD, THERMOSTAT, AND THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENT BEING FIXED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WHEN ASKING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RECALL THEY TOLD HER THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. AFTERWARDS, HER DAUGHTER CALLED AND THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON HER VIN NUMBER. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST CAUSED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10128892

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

Mileage

94,000 mi

IN 2003 MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A 1999 SATURN WITH 47000 MILES THAT HAD JUST BEEN TURNED IN FROM A LEASE FROM A DEALER AND IT STARTED SMOKING AND USING A QUART OF OIL PER 1,000AT WHICH TIME WE CONTACTED THIS AGENCY AND GM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ALAWAYS DEALER SERVICED AND HAD NOT YET REACHED IT'S HALF LIFE. SATURN TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL HOWVER, THE CONDITION HAS ONLY WORSED OVER TIME AND IT'S NOW USING 1.5 QT'S PER 1000 MILES AND SMOKING WORSE. I BET THE EPA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT. ADDITIONALLY THE ROTOR HAVE FAILED TWICE BECOMING WARPED AND THE MOTOR MOUNT HAS FAILED ALONG WITH A COOLENT TEMP SENSOR. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THESE SAME PROBLEMS AND GM KNOWS IT. ONCE AGAIN WE ASKED THEM FOR SOME GOODWILL AND THEY TURNED US DOWN SAYING THAT THE CAR (NOW) HAS TOO MANY MILES EVEN THO THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BUT IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAVE STRUNG US ALONG DOING LEAK DOWN TEST AT OUR COST FROM 2003 AND FROM OUR GOV COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW WHILE TELLING US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL USE............ THAT WAS WRONG AND THEY SHOULD FACE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALLOWED A PROBLEMATIC ENGINE WHICH THEY KNEW ABOUT TO BE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THEN THEY REFUSED TO HELP THE CONSUMERS IN NEED. I'LL NEVER BUY A SATURN OR A GM AGAIN. AND, I PLAN TO SELL MY SONS NEW SATURN TOO AFTER THIS POOR TREATMENT.

NHTSA ID

10120135

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

Mileage

4,700 mi

AT ABOUT 81200 MILES, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. UPON REFILLING THE RESERVOIR, I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS DISCOLORED. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS CONTAMINATED (MILKY COLORED). I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD WAS CRACKED. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH SATURN SOHC ENGINES AND THAT I SHOULD TRY TO GET SATURN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE. I CALLED SATURN, AT SPRING HILL AND WAS TOLD THAT "SINCE I HADN'T TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO SATURN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET, FOR REPAIRS." I DO ALL MY PM'S AND HAVE RECEIPTS AND MILEAGE RECORDS TO PROVE IT. I WAS TOLD, WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THAT "THAT WOULD BE FINE." ALL SATURN HAS DONE SO FAR, IS GIVE ME A CASE NUMBER (1-5883104). MY PROBLEM IS, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SATURN AND COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, YET SATURN WON'T PAY FOR A TOW AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, REGARDING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, WITH OTHER SATURN OWNERS, ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR CAR, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE JOB AND IN SOME CASES, THEY SIMPLY WONT. I REALIZE THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10118242

Incident

Apr 9, 2005

Mileage

81,280 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111764

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

Mileage

84,000 mi

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE GOING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY WILLING TO PAY $200.00 TOWARD THE COST OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEVELOP A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK.....VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO, REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103089

Incident

Dec 2, 2004

Mileage

64,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10094219

Incident

May 20, 2004

THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED BY #5 CYLINDER BY CAM JOURNAL ON A 1999 SATURN SL-1 4 DOOR SEDAN WITH 54,950 MILES. DEALER COST WAS $2,100.00, SATURN COVERED $700.00. DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT YET HAD THE REPLACEMENT HEAD ASSEMBLY IN STOCK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088087

Incident

Mar 8, 2004

Mileage

54,950 mi

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RESONATOR CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE RESONATOR CRACKED. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE RESONATOR WELDED BUT THE DEALER SUGGESTED A NEW RESONATOR BECAUSE THEY WERE REDESIGNED AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD ONES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER REALIZED THERE WAS A FLAW WITH THE RESONATORS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10075489

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

I HAVE BEEN ADDING COOLANT CONSTANTLY. I TOOK CAR FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING. SATURN ISSUED A BULLETIN 01-T-07 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SENSOR PROBLEM. THEY WILL ONLY REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER IF IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I AM UPSET BECAUSE I CONTINUE TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT I PROBABLY DON'T NEED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064068

Incident

Feb 7, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

SATURN WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK AND WATER IN THE OIL. OVER HEATING REALLY BAD THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND NOT START UNTIL COOL, AND IT BOILS OVER IN THE RADIATOR EXPANSION TANK. OCTOBER '03 HAD HEAD GASKETS REPLACED, AND THE HEADS SENT OFF FOR SERVICE, ONE MONTH LATER, ITS BACK TO LEAKING OIL IN THE COOLANT AND WATER IN THE OIL. OXYGEN SENSOR WENT OUT, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED AND SO DID THE IGNITION MODULAR, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064044

Incident

Oct 31, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

1999 SATURN SL1 -OVERHEATING, WATERPUMP, RADIATOR FAN MOTOR, THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR ALL REPLACED WITH FACTORY PARTS. STILL OVERHEATING. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED HEAD - SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS EXPERIENCED ON EARLIER MODELS WHER THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO SIX YEARS/100,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060196

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

7,500 mi

A MIXTURE OF OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE WERE NOTED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD WAS CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD AND COOLING SYSTEM HOSES ONLY. NOW 10,000 MILES LATER I AM HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE INFORMED ME THAT THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE IS GONE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT THE DEALER (SATURN OF MORRISTOWN, NJ) SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE INSTEAD OF JUST THE TOP HALF. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054721

Incident

Oct 27, 2003

Mileage

61,000 mi

AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AT 4 YEARS, 4 MONTHS. NEW COMPRESSOR NEEDED, ACCORDING TO BOTH SATURN DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT GARAGE. NOT YET REPLACED. WAITING TO SEE IF THERE IS A HIDDEN SERVICE BULLETIN BY WHICH SATURN WILL REPLACE AT REDUCED COST.

NHTSA ID

10069202

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ENGINE WAS VERY LOUD, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO FOUND NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THREE QUARTS WERE ADDED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT. TWO DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED, AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATING. THE CONSUMER ADDED COOLANT, BUT DRIVING UNDER THREE MILES VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT OIL AND COOLANT WERE MIXING TOGETHER IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049961

Incident

Nov 25, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 50587 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045073

Incident

Oct 30, 2003

Mileage

50,587 mi

COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL

NHTSA ID

10043484

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

Mileage

63,900 mi

FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *PH. LAST FEBRUARY THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE AND FINALLY HAD IT TOWED, WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10042451

Mileage

23,000 mi