1997 SATURN SL Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD. HE THEN PULLED OVER AS THE SMOKE TURNED INTO FLAMES. AFTER HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND OIL SPRAYED OUT FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 131,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

A EXTREME PROBLEM WITH OIL CONSUMPTION SINCE THE TIME OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE WITH EVERY MILE DRIVEN. I AM AT THE POINT NOW OF PUTTING/ADDING 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 300-400 MILES. ENGINE FREEZE IS NOW ON THE HORIZON DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP. AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS IS WHAT SATURNS DO. CAN THIS BE RIGHT TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 68,00 MILES IN MY 1997 SATURN SL1. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK

DEFECTIVE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE RUNS HOT & OIL MIXED WITH COOLANT IN ENGINE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE DEFECTS WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. NO RECALL FOR CONSUMER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *TC

DEFECT DETAILS: DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY CAUSES CRACKS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. ALLOWS MOTOR OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM/RADIATOR MIXING WITH ENGINE COOLANT IN THE ENGINE COOLANT RECOVERY RESERVOIR. MAKES THE CAR RUN HOT, RESULT IN OVERHEATING WITH POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN CRASHES. SOLUTION: TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLY GM/SATURN RESPONSE: COMPLAINT FILED WITH GM ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004 VIA WRITTEN LETTER. GM RESPONSE TO THAT LETTER WAS A COURTESY CALL TO "THANK" US FOR OUR "FEEDBACK" AND HOW IT WILL BE PUT IN A DATABASE FOR THEIR ENGINEERS TO UTILIZE IN FUTURE DESIGN. WHAT A JOKE. NO HELP OR RESOLUTION OFFERED. NO RECALL OR ANY OTHER NOTICE WAS SENT VERBALLY OR IN WRITING TO US. REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF DEFECT AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO US. AMOUNTS TO FRAUDULENT BUSINESS AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. GM/SATURN KNEW...

EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION: VEHICLE COULD STOP WITHOUT WARNING AS A RESULT OF ENGINE BURN-UP. SATURN DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINE.*AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL, NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. DEALER STATED NEVER HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TORQUE AXIS MOTOR MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AT 30,000 MILES AND AT 60,000 MILES. MR SCC

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK, AND THIS WAS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO RADIATOR FLUID. CONSUMER FELT ENGINE COULD BURN UP. *AK *YH

WE GOT CAR FROM SATURN OF WARWICK LEASED THEN BOUGHT OUTRIGHT . THE SERVICE ISSUE WE ARE ABOUT TO TELL WAS DONE AT THE SATURN OF SEEKONK LOC. IT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE. ON JAN, 16, 2002 WE HAD TO BRING THE SATURN IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE WE STARTED THAT DAY LOOSING ANTI FREEZE QUICKLY THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT BUT DID NOT OVER HEAT, MEANWHILE THE REGULAR HEAT CONTROL DIDNT WORK 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND WE HAD IT SHEDULED FOR SERVICE THAT COMING SAT. WE DROP IT OFF, CAR RUNNING HOT BUT NEVER OVERHEATED THE TECH ONLY PUT THAT IN HIS REPORT . KEEP IN MIND WE HAD NO SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY DEALER LETTING US KNOW THAT WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE RUN SLUGGISH, NOT STARTING AT ALL ETC. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN 900 MILES UP AND BACK OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY...

HEAD GASKET LEAKING - REPLACED (COST ABOUT $1200). *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO CHANGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING VEHICLE SHE COMPLAINED OF A CLUNK NOISE WHEN CHANGED GEARS INTO REVERSE, ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE, ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED,BRAKES WERE REPLACED, SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, ENGINE OVERHEATS.*SLC

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WASON HIGH AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A VERY SLOW TAKE OFF. VEHICLE DIED OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED DUE A LARGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE PUT ON AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR PROBLEM HAS OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ENGINE ROD BEARINGS FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. *AK

POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW IS CAUSING THE STEEL TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. NLM