Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10478624October 4, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LSERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN INDEPENDENTLY STEERING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 165,000. UPDATED 10/25/12 *CN UPDATED 11/08/12 ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/15/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478237October 2, 2012
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILED. LOOKS TO BE IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION, BUT HAS BROKEN LINK. CLEARLY EITHER POOR DESIGN OR BUILD QUALITY WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS ISSUE PLAGUED MANY SATURN'S BUT WAS ONLY ADDRESSED IN FEW OF THEM. BUYER BEWARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478260October 2, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475879September 18, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475223September 12, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LEFT MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED DOWN STREET. GOT A BLOCK OR SO AWAY AND CAR JUST STOPPED. WAS ON MAIN HIGHWAY. WAS VERY LUCKY TOOK TO GARAGE IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS I NEVER RECEIVED IT TOOK TO GM DEALER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS *TR *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474134September 6, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS IS THE SECOND SATURN WHERE WE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BOUGHT A NEW SATURN IN 2001, AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WITHIN A WEEK BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK. THE SATURN DEALER REPLACED THE CAR (FREE OF CHARGE), AND AT 61,507 MILES, WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND SENDING UNITS THAT COST MORE THAN $700 TO REPAIR PLUS THE COST OF TOWING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474139September 6, 2012
ENGINE
THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN THREE SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS BY NHTSA CAUSED BY LACK OF OILING TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED DAMAGE TO 4 VALVES AND SEVERAL ROLLERS AND OTHER PARTS IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME THE SMALL OILING ORIFICE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, AND SHOWED ME THE UPGRADE KIT THAT GM ISSUED WITH A MUCH LARGER OPENING FOR OILING THE CHAIN - ALSO, THE CHAIN AND OTHER PART ARE STRONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL PARTS. GM ISSUED A RECALL FOR SOME OF THESE ENGINES, BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FACT THE ENGINE IN MY CAR HAD THE SAME DEFECT. MY BROTHER'S SATURN ALSO HAD THE SAME TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS, BUT SINCE HE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, HIS ENGINE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. GM USES VARIATIONS OF THE SAME ENGINE IN MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES, SO IT IS PROBABLE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE DEFECTS THAT HAVE GONE UNREPORTED IN OTHER GM VEHICLES. THESE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE - MORE THAN $3,000. GM NEEDS TO ANSWER WHY SOME DEFECTIVE ENGINES WERE RECALLED, AND OTHERS WERE NOT, AND GM SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS WHOSE CARS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THIS DEFECT. GM SAID ONLY SOME ENGINES WERE AFFECTED, BUT THE ENGINE IN MY SATURN WAS CLEARLY, AND UNMISTAKABLY DEFECTIVE - I SAW IT, AND THE REPAIR SHOP CLEARLY SAW THE DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473954September 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473795September 4, 2012
ENGINE
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND TURNED A CORNER ONTO A CITY STREET IN MORTON,IL. SHE SAID AS SHE STARTED TO SPEED UP TO THE NORMAL DRIVING SPEED ( 30 MPH.) THAT THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE HAD TURNED OFF THE KEY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE IN MORTON,IL. AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD BROKEN A TIMING CHAIN WITH PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ,MAINLY ON THE INTERNET , I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS ENGINE (2.2 LITER 4 CYLINDER TWIN CAM) IS PRONE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472938August 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472626August 27, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471911August 22, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469369August 6, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN L-SERIES WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND A NEW ENGINE, AS THERE WAS A LOT OF INTERNAL DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 11/07/12*LJ THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, IN ONE WEEK, BY THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND. UPDATED 11/07/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469080August 3, 2012
ENGINE
HEARD THIS STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE...NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. DROVE A LITTLE ORE ABOUT A MILE AD THE NOISE GOT LOUDER DECIDED TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF MY CAR. TRIED TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO SEE IF THE NOISE CONTINUED AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN (BELT). $1000.00 BILL. I FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN VIN'S AND HUNDREDS MORE AFTER THAT COMPLAINED AND NOTHING IS DONE. THAT'S CRAP! I AM THE SECOND OWNER...THE CAR HAS ONLY 100,000 ON A CAR THAT IS 11 YEARS OLD. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES AND SERVICED ALL THE TIME. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN IT IS CLEARLY THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO HAVE A FIRE OR DIE TO BE COVERED...IT SEEMS THAT IS WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR! COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469151August 3, 2012
ENGINE
OUR 2002 SATURN L200 SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS TOWED TO SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND WHEN A WET COMPRESSION TEST WAS DONE ON THE ENGINE, WE WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS TOO MUCH COMPARED TO THE VALUE OF CAR. THE COST TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE WAS $4500. ONLY OWNED CAR FOR 5 MONTHS. CAR ONLY HAD 70000 MILES. GM INDICATED THIS MODEL YEAR WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE HAD A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN DESIGN. GM'S SAFETY RECALL 07V-519 ONLY INCLUDED THE CARS MANUFACTURED 11/2000 - 2/2001, NEGLECTING THE REMAINING OF THE 2002 SATURN L SERIES CARS WITH THE 2.2 L ENGINE THAT HAD THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN BUT WERE NOT MANUFACTURED DURING THESE SELECTED 4 MONTHS. GM DID NOT INTRODUCE A NEW TIMING CHAIN DESIGN UNTIL MAY 2002, SO OWNERS WITH THIS MY CAR MANUFACTURED FROM 3/2001 UNTIL THE REDESIGN IN 5/2002 WERE LEFT TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN REPAIRS IF THEIR TIMING CHAINS BROKE. THE 2002 SATURN L200 WE PURCHASED WAS MANUFACTURED IN 9/2001 SO DOES NOT FALL INTO THE CARS COVERED BY THE RECALL SO AT THIS POINT, MY REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED BY GM. I HAVE CALLED SATURN TWICE ONLY TO TALK WITH UNPLEASANT CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS WHO WERE NO HELP. ALL THEY TOLD ME IS THAT THE VIN OF MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 4 MONTH RECALL AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME THE SAME ANSWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469048August 2, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
BATTERY DIED IN 2008. IT WAS REPLACED AND THE ODOMETER RESET BACK TO ZERO. THE SECURITY ALARM/ POWER DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ( UNABLE TO LOCK WITH REMOTE CONTROL). SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AND FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW THE ACCURATE AMOUNT OF GAS. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON. NOW IN JULY 2012, THE AC WAS FIXED DUE TO A HOLE IN THE LINE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE AC NO LONGER WORKS AND IS GIVING A CODE P0102 (MAF- MASS AIR FLOW -REFERRING TO LOW VOLTAGE). THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG, GAS GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLES NOT MOVING AT ALL. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468247July 30, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT VEHICLE STALLED WHENEVER BRAKING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE EXACT FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR THREE WEEKS BUT LATER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT SECURED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,362. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,762.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467923July 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT SECURED TIGHTLY. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467795July 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY ALL NIGHT LONG RUNNING DOWN MY BATTERY IN TURN THE CAR WONT START , I HAVE HAD THE BCM REPLACED WHICH THE DEALER SAID WAS BAD , HAVE HAD BATTERY REPLACED AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONE TECH. SAYS THE LIGHT IS SUPPOSE TO BLINK ALL NIGHT ANOTHER ELECTRICAL TECH SAYS IT NOT THE MANUAL SAY IT WILL BLINK TWICE TO LET YOU KNOW IT IS ARMED. IT HAS COST ME A THOUSAND DOLLARS ALREADY AND THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464498July 6, 2012
ENGINE
I WAS GOING TO MY PART TIME JOB ON SUNDAY AND MY CAR "SHUT OFF" ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A SEMI AND SIDSWIPED BY ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER MY HAZARDS WHERE ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE UPPER END OF THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND THOSE YEAR SATURNS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAINS. I HAVE SINCE LOST MY JOB AND QUICKLY APROACHING EVICTION THE ONLY REASON IAM NOT HOMELESS IS BECAUSE MY PRIMARY JOB IS 6.8 MILES AWAY BIKING DISTANCE .I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE CAR SO IAM NOW PAYING $5,000 FOR A CAR THAT NEEDS $2,000 REPAIR I CANNOT AFFORD. I HAVE OWNED 2 SATURNS IN THE PAST AND THEY WHERE AWESOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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