Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10196681July 18, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT LEFT SPRING IN MCPHERSON STUT SUSPENSION. SPRING SNAPPED AT BOTTOM. MECHANIC SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS ON ANOTHER SATURN. REPAIR COST IS $972.00. CLEAN BREAK WITH RUST. MECHANIC SUGGESTED MANUFACTURING FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196745July 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE QUIT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE $2156. SATURN TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST UP TO $7500. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196415July 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 SATURN LW300 STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS TRAVELING AT @ 40-50 MPH. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS @ 59K. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196431July 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN ON A COUNTY ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS SHOT DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. I NOW HAVE TO PAY 1500 FOR A NEW MOTOR TO BE INSTALLED. I STILL OWE MORE THAN 4,000 ON THE CAR. IN RESEARCHING THE SATURN, I FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL OF THE SATURN FOR THIS. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST GM REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN IN THE SATURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196434July 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE VALVES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. THE VALVES WERE BENT. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196456July 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT DIED AS SHE WAS MAKING A U-TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ELK GROVE SATURN AND THEY STATED THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 51,283 MILES ON IT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS INVESTIGATION OPEN INTO THIS ISSUE. (DP05-008). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS SHE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN IT BROKE. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196467July 16, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L100. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE TIRES PRESSED AGAINST THE CURB AND CAUSED THE FRONT AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CRASH AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SATURN STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS IN REGARDS TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CARD FROM SATURN PERTAINING TO THIS FAILURE ALONG WITH A CLAIM NUMBER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196497July 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L100. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196967July 16, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
2000 SATURN LS1 WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN**CC THE DEALER STATED THE REASON FOR THE SMOKE WAS BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD SHORTED OUT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE SHORTENING OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196312July 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
ELECTRONIC CONTROLE COMPUTER SHORTED OUT. STOPPED WORKING AT 92000MI. ALARM DID NOT WORK, KEY FOB DID NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION INTER LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK, TEMP GAUGE DID NOT WORK, NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM LAMP ON PASS. SIDE INOP., FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO SATURN OF ABILENE, TX. TOLD IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT SATURN DOESN'T KNOW THE FIX. SATURN OF TEMPLE REPORTED THERE WAS A SHORT UNDER THE FUSE BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH SHORTED OUT THE BCM, HORN, HIGH BEAM AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. COST: $600 FOR ISSUES BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196053July 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE COASTED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER RELATED FAILURES AS WELL. THE CONTACT PAID $3,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,850 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195624July 9, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE, BUT THEN DEACTIVATE. ON OCCASION, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD FAIL TO ACTIVATE COMPLETELY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 99V199000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 67,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195462July 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2001 SATURN WAGON. DRIVING AT 30K MPH WHEN TIMING CHAIN FAILED. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BREAKS. WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO A STOP. CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY LOCAL SERVICE STATION. CAR HAS 88K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195478July 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LW2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURS SPORADICALLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. HE HAS NOTIFIED SATURN AND THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT THAT IS BEING USED FOR THE COMPUTER MODULE IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 177,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195377July 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN AND AT A STOP HEARD A SUBTLE METALLIC CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY A FEW MINUTES LATER I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN DRIVES THE CAMS. HAVING HEARD ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BREAKING TIMING CHAINS AND READING COMPLAINTS ON THE NETS WEB SITE ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM I WAS IMMEDIATELY ALARMED. BEFORE I COULD EVEN STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR TO SHUT IT OFF, I HEART A LOUDER METALLIC CLANK AND THE CARE STOPPED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE LITERALLY UNDER MY NOSE. HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR SUCH THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL ABOUT CHANGING THE OIL IN MY 2001 SATURN L200 AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND SUCH A THING SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AT ONLY 85000 MILES. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW BEING FIXED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT SATURN WOULD NOT ADMIT HAVING EVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THIS HAPPENED. I KNOW OTHERWISE. I BEG OF YOU TO PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS. MYSELF AND OTHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BARE THE COST OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR CAUSED BY BAD ENGINEERING NOT TO MENTION THE TERRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD THIS REPRESENTS. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195212July 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN 8 LANE HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 75 AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS THE 2001 SATURN L200 LOST POWER. IT COASTED ACROSS 2 LANES OF MOVING TRAFFIC AND 2 LANES ACROSS THE FONTAGE ROAD IN ORDER TO PARK THE CAR AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DID NOT HAVE AN EXPECTED LIFE, AND WOULD NOT FAIL IF THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED , IF THE OIL WAS CHANGED PROPERLY, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE) I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE IN SATURN L SERIES CARS FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2003. SATURN HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP ME, AND DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195215July 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED SATURN AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG SATURNS. HE FEELS AS IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195161July 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON - COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWS NO PROBLEM - MOST PUMPS, PLUGS, STARTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED - STILL STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195196July 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 23 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 DOWN A HIGHWAY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007, ABOUT 8PM, DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. BUT, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO IS INDICATING A $ 2800.00 CHARGE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT, TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, WITH AN EVER INCREASING TREND. IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN SATURN AND IT'S COMPANY AFTER FINDING OUT THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO QUICKLY RECOMMEND A RECALL BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST DUE TO SATURN NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195054June 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH APPROXIMATELY 37- OR 29K MILES FROM A SATURN DEALER IN JULY OF 2004. THERE ARE ABOUT 80,500 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. TWO DAYS AGO I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE TIMING CHAIN "FAILED" AND BEAT UP THE ENGINE (PER THE SATURN DEALER, WHERE I HAD THE CAR TOWED THAT MORNING). ALTHOUGH I NEVER USED SATURN FOR OIL CHANGES, I DID CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES. RECENTLY, HOWEVER (SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND HOUSING, SATURN GAVE ME A COMPLETE INSPECTION. THERE WERE SEVERAL MINOR ITEMS LISTED NEEDING ATTENTION, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED, NOR DID I EVER RECEIVE NOTICE OF THIS INHERENT AND DANGEROUS DEFECT (FUNNY HOW THEY CAN FIND ME TO SEND NOTICES OF THEIR UPCOMING SALES "EVENTS", HOWEVER). SINCE IT WAS LATE FRIDAY WHEN I CONTACTED THE ZONE REP, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD RECEIVE A RETURN CALL FROM SATURN BY MONDAY NOON. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO UPDATE THIS IF YOU LIKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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