Faults:

The transmission filter just developed a hole in it, and the transmission fluid ran out while my wife was driving it.

The tranny could have died, but the $108.00 replacement of the filter and fluid seems to have got it running again.

The alternator has gone a couple of times, and is awkward to replace.

The rear window has a metal brace in the middle that has rusted pretty badly.

The air conditioning has not worked since we got it.

General Comments:

We got it for our daughter who has now moved away. It has been a lot of fun to drive, the seats are comfortable, it is fairly fast and maneuverable, cheap on gas and reasonably free of problems. If you own one, replace the tranny filter NOW, before it goes. My wife never noticed it leaking, which happened very quickly, it started in our driveway and I followed her to where she had gone, and had it towed to a garage.

The plastic body doesn't rust, which is really nice. It has been a good little spare car.

My ratings are based on its price range; my Jag is a lot nicer, but a lot more to fix as well.

Faults:

5 alternators - but Saturn allowed warranty on many.

Upper engine mount needed replacement at 80,000 miles.

Failed HC emissions - mostly due to ring blowby.

General Comments:

This car is very comfortable to drive, and handles exceptionally well in hard cornering.

Engine and transmission work well together, and don't hunt on hills or medium load when accelerating.

I still own the car, because I wouldn't give it up to a dealer for only $1000 credit.

It is not perfect, but is perhaps one of the best American econo-boxes.

Overall reliability was good, but not excellent.

Faults:

Fixed speedometer at 96000 miles.

Car started eating at least a quart every 1000 miles at 115000 miles.

Engine has been running cold and idling high since 127000 miles.

Engine developed a valve tap at 139000 miles.

Mass air flow sensor fixed at 147000 miles.

Clutch fixed at 155000 miles.

Radiator fixed at 178000 miles.

Alternator at 182000 miles.

Check engine light on all the time since 202000 miles.

CV joints fixed at 223000 miles.

General Comments:

I am pretty impressed that this car has lasted, especially how bad I am with maintaining it and driving it right. I change the oil every 6000 miles pretty much and I drive it pretty hard too; I usually shift at 3000 to 4500 RPMs, depending on my mood. The car also gets about 40 mpg.

Faults:

When I got the car, I was told that the fuel filter needed to be cleaned or replaced.. I didn't do it, all that was done was my dad cleaned the spark plugs because no one had ever changed them in 16 years.. and it was running fine for about two months.. then the car started to stall.

I changed the plugs and wires, and changed the oil and it still stalled.. within two weeks I could not drive the car more than a mile without it stalling, and sometimes it would just not start.

When it did start the rpm would idle at 4 and slowly drop down to 1.5, and then would want to accelerate a lot on its own.

When I would brake, it would drop gears way harder than it should have.

The fan for the engine sometimes decides to not work, and the car will over heat, and I can never tell when this will happen cause it has a mind of its own, on when it works and when it doesn't.

General Comments:

I got my car for free from a close friend.. it ran fine for a while and then went to hell.. a 17/18 year old girl should not have to deal with this stuff.

I would actually be able to afford a decent car right now if I didn't have to deal with all of the repairs on all of my three cars. I owe my dad 600 dollars because there was a lot of times that I couldn't afford the things I needed, and he needed to spot me or I wouldn't be making it to school or work.

I love Saturns, I really do, but just not this one. It has made my life hell. I just want to cry all the time cause of it.