Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10292576November 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH TWO TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATING AT THE WHITE CLIP (WHERE IT PLUGS INTO THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT. IF LEFT UNDETECTED, IT MELTS THE PLASTIC OF THE SWITCH MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SWITCH FROM HI TO LOW. RESEARCH ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL DOES NOT INDICATE A RECALL, HOWEVER, I FOUND AN INDICATION THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MADE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE HAZARD, IF NOT THAT THEN A COSTLY REPAIR. I HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR, BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND HEATER CONTROL UNIT. COULD COST NEARLY $1000.00 BASED ON ESTIMATES THROUGH DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291532November 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START HER VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. A PRIVATE MECHANIC TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS REPAIR FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 07V519000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290581November 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HAVE TICKING COMING FROM TIMING CHAIN AREA ON ENGINE. LUCKILY I HAVE CAUGHT IT BEFORE THE CHAIN BREAKS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND NEED REPLACING. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL LIST. MY TIMING CHAIN DESIGN IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. A PETITION WAS OPENED FROM NORTH CAROLINA BUT CLOSED DUE TO "FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES." HERE'S THE LINK TO THE RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/DEFECT/RESULTS.CFM?ACTION_NUMBER=DP08002&SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&SUMMARY=TRUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *TR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JEFF HARRIS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289944October 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH AND THAT WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE WILL BEGAN SHAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148876.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288970October 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPON DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY SATURN 2001 L200 SUDDENLY STALLED - BRAKING, ACCELERATOR, AND STEERING BECAME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. WITH DIFFICULTY, I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY GET TOWED 40MILES TO MY LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND MAY HAVE ALSO DAMAGED THE ENGINE VALVES.I WAS ADVISED BY SATURN, THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THIS MODEL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND ALL REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF HOW THIS ISSUE CAN MANIFEST ITSELF AND ALSO THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER EARLIER AS PART OF THE ONGOING RECALL NOTICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288607October 15, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 STRETCHED AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR. THE CAR HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WOULD SIMPLY NOT START IN MY DRIVEWAY, HAD IT TOWED, TO A MECHANIC IN MY TOWN, IOWA CITY, IA. I CONTACTED SATURN-- THEY DIDN'T OFFER TO REPAIR-- BUT SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE THE CAR TOWED THE 40 MILES TO A FORMER DEALER TO HAVE IT 'DIAGNOSED' I DECIDED THIS WAS NOT MUCH OF AN OFFER! THE MECHANIC HERE IN MY TOWN HAS LOCATED A USER MOTOR WITH 47,000 MILES AND HAS QUOTED $2,500 TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE MOTOR HE HAS ORDERED WILL ALSO HAVE THIS TIMING CHAIN DEFECT. TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE NEW MOTOR WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $500. TOTAL> $3,000. GIVEN THAT THE CAR HAS TO BE SAFE FOR ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY CHILDREN, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PROACTIVELY FIX THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR. WHAT A MESS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287351October 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287177October 13, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200 SEDAN . WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY SERVICE SHOP. A TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A FRACTURED TIMING CHAIN IN THE VEHICLE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THERE COULD BE MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE PISTONS AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), THEREFORE HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286379October 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY - NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284866September 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I USED THE VEHICLE TO PICK MY SON UP FROM COLLEGE FOR THE WEEKEND, WHEN WE RETURNED HOME HE WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE LATER THAT NIGHT IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. ALL ELECTRICAL AND POWER TO THE CAR WORKED, LIKE THE RADIO, LIGHTS, WINDOWS, ETC., BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE REPAIR COMPANY CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD WENT ON THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 TO $3,000 TO BE REAPIRED. AS I DID MORE RESEARCH ABOUT THE VEHICLE I CAME ACROSS A FEW WEBSITES THAT HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEMS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A REPAIR SHOP THAT WILL DO THE WORK FOR LESS THAN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT QUOTED BY THE REPAIR SHOP, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASE ON FEBURARY 13, 2009. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 I CONTACTED SATURN ABOUT MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RECALL OF VEHICLES FROM 1999 TO 2003 L-SERIES SATURNS, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THEIR LIST FOR ANY RECALLS, SO I QUESTIONED IF THEY HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BUT HAVE ME TOW MY CAR TO A SATURN DEALER ABOUT 25 MILES FROM MY HOME AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR AND THEY MIGHT, "MIGHT" NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284797September 21, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CRACKED FUEL PUMP AND LEAKING EVAC CANNISTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284552September 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT EXHIBITS A NO START CONDITION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 07V519000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,012.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284403September 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE AND 64,100 MILE ON IT. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JULY 9 2009, MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I HAD JUST CLEARED AN INTERSECTION AND THE CAR FORTUNATELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM FOR ME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE THE CHAIN BROKE. THE ENGINE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. THE VALVES WERE BENT AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS WRECKED. ALL TOLD WITH PARTS AND LABOR, THE BILL CAME TO $2,142.33. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284101September 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO TO A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3800.00. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282854September 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW300 SERIES. THE TRANS AXLE SHIFT CABLE CABLE SLIPPED OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND THE TRANS AXLE LEVER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE TRANS AXLE CAUSED IT TO REMAIN IN NEUTRAL MODE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE HER FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF; HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO INDICATE THAT IT WAS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL #00V344000, POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) AND THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS $560. A COMPLAINT WAS ALSO FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,101.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282751September 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 SATURN LS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. ENGINE NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT, DEALER REMOVED VALVE COVER FOUND PIECE OF TOP CHAIN GUIDE MISSING. DEALER REMOVED FRONT COVER AND FOUND CHAIN TO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, GUIDES AND TENSIONER ASSEMBLY COST OF $846.68 AND LATER DISCOVERED NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE OTHER THEN WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF SATURN LS AND L-SERIES SEDANS AND WAGONS WITH BAD TIMING CHAINS AND NOISE THE ONLY WAY TO NOTICE IT FAILING IS IF YOU REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAR AND THE NOISE AND CAN REMAIN UNNOTICED TO AVERAGE OWNER AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE TO RESULT. TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT 72550 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282387August 31, 2009
SEATS
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MOTOR OVERHEATED AND BEGAN TO MELT UPHOLSTERY. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE FUSE PANEL TO CUTOFF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND AVOID LIKELY FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282021August 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN. I NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - AT A COST CLOSE TO WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. I SEE THAT THE 2001 CARS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL. WHY NOT THE 2000? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281842August 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 25 MPH AND MY CAR JUST DIED STEERING AND ALL WOULD NOT WORK TOOK IT TO GARAGE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH IN TURN BENT ALL OF THE VALVES IN THIS MOTOR NOW CAR IS SHOT IT IS A 2006 SATURN L200 143000 MILES ON IT I NOTICED THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THE 2001 BUT NOT THE 2002 SO I WENT ONLINE AND SEARCHED THE FORUMS A FOUND OUT THAT ALOT OF 2002 SATURNS WERE PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280502August 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 SERIES TIMING CHAIN BROKE FOR NO REASON OR WARNING GOING 50 MPH ALMOST HIT SATURN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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