Saturn SL Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 309 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Saturn SL across 8 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (67). The words owners use most often: “cylinder head” (9% of reports).
- 309engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 29 of 309 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Saturn SL at $3,550, and half of them between $2,200 and $4,350.
Based on 25 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2009), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 106 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 309 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 3 an injury.
Saturn SL engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Saturn SL. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Severe rust out of the suspension sub-frame (engine cradle) along the left side, particularly at the lower control arm mount pocket. This condition was caught before the left front lower control arm broke loose due to the rusted sub-frame. Rust condition was confined to the left side of the…
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?…
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…
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…
Timing chain failure of saturn 2000 today while driving on an interstate highway my saturn stopped working and i had to drift to the side of the road park in a dangerous location get towed only to find out it was the timing chain that broke causing a catastrophic engine failure. I have to junk my…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saturn SLs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 309 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Saturn SL. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Saturn SL engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Saturn SL?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,550 (half paid between $2,200 and $4,350), from 25 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Saturn SL?
The most frequent phrase is “cylinder head”, in 29 of 309 complaints.
Other Saturn SL problems
- Electrical System problems (232)
- Power Train problems (232)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (192)
- Seats problems (135)
- Air Bags problems (121)
See all Saturn SL problems.