2001 Saturn Sl Engine Problems

MY SATURN THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, COMPLETELY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I WAS AT A DRIVE THEY SO SO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. COULD NOT GET IT TO START BACK UP FOR A GOOD 5-10 MINS. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN IT AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD FLUID SO IT DOESNT SKIP. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT.

NHTSA ID

10826037

Incident

Sep 19, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

1ST INCIDENT: I WENT IN TO THE SATURN DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALER FOUND A FUEL LEAK BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE FILTER. THERE WAS FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK TOP AND ALSO DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A CRACKED LINE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM CLOSE TO THE TANK TOP. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE LEAK OF MY POCKET AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. 2ND INCIDENT: YESTERDAY I WENT FOR A STATE INSPECTION AT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER THAT TAKES CARE OF MY SATURN AND THEY REPORTED THAT I HAVE A FUEL TANK LEAKING AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. BECAUSE OF THIS IT FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 41152 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN MOSTLY FOR PLEASURE. IS THERE A CURRENT RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OR THE FUEL TANKS OF THE SATURN L300 SERIES? *TR

NHTSA ID

10610022

Incident

Mar 7, 2008

Mileage

27,291 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10439385

Incident

Dec 10, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. ....UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF UPDATED 01/11/12

NHTSA ID

10435002

Incident

Nov 2, 2011

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL ON HER VEHICLE, BUT THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,636.

NHTSA ID

10265707

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

Mileage

66,636 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10233617

Incident

Jul 2, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

MULTI ENGINE MISFIRE, KNOCK SYSTEM, IDLE SPEED HIGH, IGNITION SYSTEM VOLTS. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING. MY REPAIRMAN THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SATURNS ESPECIALLY IN THE SL1 MODEL. IF NOT FIXED, IDLE WILL INCREASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224218

Incident

Apr 11, 2008

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION - EPA PROBLEM AT 75,000 MILES OUR 2001 SL2 BEGAN TO CONSUME OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. 1 QT IN LESS THAN 150 MILES. THIS IS LESS THAT ONE QUART PER FUEL STOP. NO OIL IS DRIPPING AND THE ENGINE IS DRY OF OIL. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SUCH CASES POSTED ON NUMEROUS WEB SITES. ALL WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS STARTING AT BETWEEN 60,000 AND 80,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THAT GM USED LOW TENSION OIL RINGS AND THEY STICK EASILY ALLOWING THE OIL TO BURN IN THE CYLINDER. A TEMPORARY FIX CAN BE OBTAINED BY REMOVING THE SPARK PLUGS AND FILLING EACH CYLINDER WITH CAR CLEANER. A SOAKING OF SEVERAL HOURS WILL STOP THE OIL USAGE FOR ABOUT 3000 MILES THEN IT WILL START AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO AN EPA PROBLEM AS THE OIL IS GOING OUT THE EXHAUST. THE RESPONSE FROM SATURN IS THIS FALLS IN THE REALM OF NORMAL OIL USAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218553

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR MADE A PFFFF SOUND AND I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THE TIMING CHAIN JUST SNAPPED AND THEN 12 OUT OF THE 16 VALVES IN THE CAR BENT. I FOUND THIS INCREDIBLE ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197989

Incident

Jul 14, 2007

Mileage

57,777 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN SL FROM A SMALL CAR DEALERSHIP AT THE END OF JUNE 2006. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A 30 DAY WARRANTY. IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, MANY COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL - ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, STARTER. ALL WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE FAILED. JUST TODAY (12/27/06) THE CAR STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN. WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177132

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

64,000 mi

WE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES THE CAR WAS ENGINE WAS RACING WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE BAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM A NORMAL 750 RPM TO APPROXIMATELY 1750 RPM WHILE IN NEUTRAL, INTERMEDIATELY, SOMETIMES RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR, SOMETIMES AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. THE CAR ENGINE WHEN IT DOES THIS WILL EXCEED 1100 RPM WHILE IN DRIVE WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONE TIME SPECIFICALLY WHILE IT WAS EXHIBITING THE HIGH IDLE AND NO CAUSE WAS DISCOVERED, NO PARTS REPLACED; THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS TODAY. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH WE TOOK IT IN WHILE THE ENGINE WAS HIGH IDLING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144634

Incident

Dec 4, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

WE HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED ON OUR 2001 SATURN SL2 WITH ONLY 41,500 MILES. THE CAR RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES AND BELIEVE THAT SATURN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058564

Incident

Feb 13, 2004

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE ENGINE IN MY CAR, A 2001 SATURN SL, SEIZED. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 43000 MILES. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND THE ENGINE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE MOVING SLOWLY, AS SOMEBODY MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

10039604

Incident

Aug 23, 2003

Mileage

43,000 mi

THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH *AK

NHTSA ID

10037767

Incident

Aug 27, 2003

DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS ON 2001 SATURN SL. *MR FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES. INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE BUCKED AND STALLED AT IDLE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN ON ROAD TEST. RADIO LIGHT INOPERATIVE. RADIO ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10024545

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

Mileage

8,715 mi

TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND TOP MOTOR MOUNT BOTH CRACKED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10020861

Incident

May 24, 2001

Mileage

63,400 mi

2001 SATURN 1.9 LITER L4 SL2 5 SPEED. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT BAD CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE WATER PUMP TO GO BAD. THE CAR HAD 46,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011082

Incident

Jan 5, 2003

Mileage

43,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLES ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID

8018609

Incident

Sep 13, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID

8018606

Incident

Aug 25, 2002

NUMEROUS BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PEDAL FADES TO THE FLOOR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, NOTICE NOT FLUID AT RT FRONT BRAKE LINE, REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER. POWER BLEED AND RT 26 MILES AFTER RAPAIR, NORMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE, SOMETIMES A LOUD SNAP OR CLICK BEFORE FAILURE, SOMETIME NO WARNING, SOMETIME JUST A SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL. BATTERY LEAKING ACID INTO BATTERY BOX, VERIFIED AND FOUND BATTERY LEAKING AT POSSITIVE CABLE REPLACE BATTERY, COVER, POSSITIVE CABLE, TRANS FILTER AND CLEANED ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HOSE FROM COOLANT TANK TO THROTTLE BODY RUBBED, REPLACE HOSE. ADJUSTMENT PARKING BRAKES HARD TO PULL, ADJUST PER SERVICE MANUEL.

NHTSA ID

9005681

Incident

Aug 1, 2000