1998 Saturn SL engine and engine cooling problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN S-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, CONSTANTLY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE, AND THE FAN DID NOT WORK. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE IGNITION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SATURN SL2. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 181,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COOLANT LEVEL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE COOLANT WAS CHECKED, THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND THICKENED. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, COOLANT HAD BEEN FOUND MIXED INTO THE OIL DUE TO THE GASKET BREAKING DOWN FROM CONTACT WITH THE COOLANT. THE OIL MIXED WITH THE COOLANT CAUSED SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED FLUSHING THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.”

“CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD ON 1998 SL1 SATURN WITH 70,000 MILES. CAR WAS LOOSING COOLANT. COST $2,000 IN LABOR TO REPAIR, PROBLEM SEEMS TO APPEAR WITH OTHER CONSUMERS COMPLAINING AS WELL. MANUFACTURER SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT AND REIMBURSE FOR COST OF REAPIR.*AK”

“THE CAR WAS PARKED AT HOME SATURDAY NIGHT, WENT TO DRIVE IT SUNDAY AND IT MADE A STRANGE NOISE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE MECHANIC WHO SENT IT TO SATURN WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A BLOWN MOTOR (THE CAR ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT,AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY). *LA”

“DEAR SIR, OR MADAM, I PURCHASED MY SATURN IN JULY 2002, MY CAR NEVER OVER HEATED UNTIL RECENTLY, MY HUSBAND CHECKED MY OIL AND ANTIFREEZE AND NOTICED SOMETHING ON THE DIP STICK AND COOLANT CONTAINER THAT LOOKED LIKE A CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR A OIL CHANGE AND RADIATOR FLUSH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY HEAD WERE DAMAGED, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS PARTICULAR YEAR SATURN HAS HAD MANY REPORTED COMPLAINTS, OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO I SEEN WHERE 1991-1997 HAD PROBLEMS AND HAD THE HEAD REPLACED OF OVER 1800 SATURNS IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE PLEASE LET ME KNOW I STILL OWE ALOT ON THIS CAR AND AT THIS POINT I VERY MUCH REGRET EVER BUYING THIS CAR. THANK YOU”