Two problems related to radiator have been reported for the 1997 Saturn SL1. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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 about this flaw in 1997 Saturn sl-1 when they sold the car to us, but never disclosed it and never offered to fix it. . Read more...
Engine cylinder head had a crack, and this was causing oil to leak into radiator fluid. Consumer felt engine could burn up.