1996 SATURN SL Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD HER AUTOMOBILE INSSPECTED ,AND WAS TOLD THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. SHE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT OTHER SATURN OWNER WERE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. WHAT COULD SHE DO ABOUT IT?*AK

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 1996 BRAND NEW FROM STAMFORD SATURN CAR DEALER. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED THAT MY CAR IS USING ONE QUART OF OIL PER MONTH. I REPORTED TO MY CAR DEALER THAT MY CAR IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY MONTH, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR TO THEM FOR OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY FOR SIX MONTH. I DID NOT BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER AT THAT TIME. AFTER SIX YEARS, MY CAR WAS USING 3 QUARTS OF OIL WITHIN TEN DAYS. I CALLED SATURN REPRESENTATIVE AND THE LOCAL SATURN CAR DEALER FOR HELP. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO DO TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE. I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO THE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE; AFTER THE TEAR DOWN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT, I EITHER HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED FOR $3000.00 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4300.00. I DECIDED TO...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IN TOW WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED, THERE WERE NO INJURIES (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

ENGINE CUT OFF, ENGINE SURGED,TACHOMETER BOUCES,REPLACED VALVE GUIDES AT 60000 MILES, COMPRESION STILL NOT CORRECT, CK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON, BURNS OIL, 2 QTS MORE THAN SPECS SAY. SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN IN USE.

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO LEAK OR EVIDENCE OF BURNING OIL.*AK THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE STALL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. IT WAS JUST 3000 MILES SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE. *YH

AIR CONDITIONER STARTED - SMELLED TAR-LIKE SMELL - TURNED A/C OFF, NO SMELL & CAR RAN BEAUTIFULLY, NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. TOOK ON ROAD TRIP, RAN FINE BUT NOTICED ENGINE WAS HOT WHEN STOPPED - ADDED OIL, OTHER FLUIDS FINE - IMMEDIATELY ABORTED TRIP & DROVE TO DEALER- NO PROBLEMS (SMELLS, INDICATOR LIGHTS, ETC.) ON RIDE, - NOTICED THAT SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED 1.5 MOS. AGO WAS FRAYED & LOOSE. OIL SPEWED FROM FRONT TO BACK OF CAR (ALTHOUGH CAR DROVE FINE & NO INDICATOR LIGHTS, NOISES OR INDICATION OF TROUBLE) - DEALER SAYS ENGINE MAY BE SHOT & CAR MAY NEED TO BE JUNKED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 60MPH VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 10MPH. DEALER SAYS IT'S A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

ENGINE MALFUNCTION NOT CORRECTED DESPITE BEING SERVICED 7 TIMES AND REPLACING: SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, FUEL INJECTORS, AND VALVES. FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW EXPLODED BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC SWITCH--CAUSED INJURY TO DRIVER. OWNERS WISH TO HAVE MONEY BACK OR REPLACEMENT.

NO SUMMARY

ENGINE HAS A DESIGN FLAW. ANITI-FREEZE GETS INTO THE OIL. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

/22/99 - AFTER NO RESPONSE FROM DON HUDLER, POSTED THIS EMAIL TO THE SATURN WEBSITE

I REALLY FEEL THAT A CAR THAT IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAVE ONLY 47000 MILES SHOULDN'T HAVE NEED A NEW ENGINE IN IT.

ENGINE RPM WILL INCREASE TO 3500 WHETHER AT IDLE OR DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. IF THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF , THE CAR WILLN'T START UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED TO THE FLOUR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE CAR UPON BRAKING UNLESS THEY WERE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NUETRAL. IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT SOME SATURN OWNERS AREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IF THEY OWN AN AUTOMATIC. IN THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (COMPLAINTS DATABASE) THERE WERE 8 OR 9 CASES OF BRAKE FAILURE . WERE THESE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF UNCONTROLLED RPM MOTOR SPEED? ODI ID 816070 INDICATED A PROBLEM WHICH MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THIS CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CARS WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE BRAKE ROTOR AND PAD WEAR NOT TO MENTION THE FAILURE OF THE CAR TO STOP...

ENGINE SMELLS WHEN PUT IN GARAGE.

ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING SHORTLY AFTER MAINTENANCE.

WHILE DRIVING ON REGULAR ROAD, LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD, ENGINE CUT OFF, VEHICLE SWERVED TO RIGHT, CRASHED INTO CEMENT SEWAGE DRAIN, TIRE RIMS POPPED, VEHICLE CAME TO STOP. WITH DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ALONG SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, PUT FOOT ON GAS AND VEHICLE STALLS AND STARTS VIBRATING. HAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED JIIST ABOUT EVERY PART AND STILL THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK