Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10359155October 4, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE ON MY 2001 SATURN LW 200 (73K MILES) SUDDENLY QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY IN SEATTLE. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO A SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING RAMMED. MY MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN ENGINE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH HE SAID IS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH THAT MILEAGE. I CHECKED ON-LINE AT NHTSA AND SAW THAT ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF 2001 L SERIES SATURNS WERE RECALLED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-ENDANGERING PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, SUCH AS IT IS IN 2010, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (BASED ON VIN) WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I WAS NEARLY KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ON-LINE. SATURN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, WHICH ARE IN EXCESS OF $2,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356811September 21, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OWN A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH ABOUT 74,000 MILES. MY WIFE NOTICED A FAINT GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. A VISUAL INSPECTION BY MY MECHANIC DIDN'T SHOW MUCH. HOWEVER WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE LEAK HAD GOTTEN MUCH WORSE SO THAT GAS COULD BE SEEN LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AND THE GAS LEAKED A FEW MORE INCHES TOWARD THE MUFFLER. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 I HAD THE FUEL PUMP MODULE (PART 22710031) REPLACED AT A COST OF $655.87. I SEE OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BE RECALLED? LAST YEAR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND WRECKED THE ENGINE. ALSO A COMMON, BUT AS OF YET, NOT RECALLED PROBLEM. AT LEAST THAT WOULDN'T HAVE SET THE CAR ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356808September 21, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE LEAK AND STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356006September 16, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING TO SCHOOL. TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 SATURN L100. MECHANIC COST $1,900 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355777September 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200 SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355718September 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN L100 2.2L 4-CYLINDER VEHICLE ON 9/13/2010 THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING , THE ENGINE STALLED , THE VEHICLE LOST ALL MOTIVE POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TWO OF THE ENGINE'S VALVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353671September 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353494September 2, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L2000,WITH 95,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 2007 WITH 86,000 MILE. ON AUGUST 30, I TRIED TO START MY CAR, AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I HAD IT CHECKED AND MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN. MY REPAIRS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE AROUND $1000 OR MORE. I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHETHER IT'S WORTH REPAIRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352900August 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED IN MY 2000 SATURN LS2 SEDAN. AS EXPECTED, I TOOK IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS I RECEIVED WAS QUITE INTERESTING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEFT BANK 02 SENSOR FAILURE (2 BANK SYSTEM) AND THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IF I DON'T REPLACE THE COMPUTER, I CAN CONTINUE TO EXPECT MAJOR COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE TO FAIL ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR BUT WANTS OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER! I REPORTED THE DEFECTS TO THE MANUFACTURER POINTING OUT THAT THIS IS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK FOR ME. I HAVE HAD EVERY SINGLE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM AND ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND REPAIRS DONE AT SATURN DEALERSHIPS SINCE THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, WITH ONE OR TWO EXCEPTIONS. WHENEVER I WOULD CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT PROBLEMS OR COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD IN THE LAST FEW RECENT YEARS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO ONE OF THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY CONCERNS WAS EVER MADE AND THE DRONES OR ROBOTS AT THE CALL CENTER KEPT REPEATING THE SAME MESSAGE ABOUT THE MILEAGE. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONCERNS AND THE MANUFACTURER'S HABIT OF IGNORING THE PROBLEMS DO NOT MAKE THEM GO AWAY. TOYOTA LEARNED THAT LESSON RECENTLY. SATURN OWNERS SHOULD NOT JUST BE THROWN OUT IN THE COLD BECAUSE GM HAS DECIDED THAT THEY ARE THE STEP CHILDREN OF THEIR PRODUCT LINE. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY IN "OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY" REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE THAN EVER SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE QUESTION OF THE DAY WOULD BE IF I GOT ALL RECOMMENDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WHY DOES THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY FALL APART? GM HAS EVIDENCE THAT I WAS A REGULAR AND DILIGENT CUSTOMER WHEN IT CAME TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. THEY NEED TO DO RIGHT BE US! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351325August 23, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL THUMP FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350618August 19, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL RATTLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING CHAIN THAT RESULTED TO INTERNAL DAMAGES WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350357August 18, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE AGAIN GONE OUT AT THE SAME TIME. LAST TIME THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349177August 13, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAILURE SIMIAR TO SAFETY RECALL 06074. THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A POSSIBLE TIMING CHAIN THAT BROKE JUST AFTER 100,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348602August 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2000 SATURN LS1 SNAP ON ME, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT LATE AT NIGHT AND WAITING MORE THAN AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK TO SHOW UP. REPAIR COST OF THIS PART, WHICH IS MEANT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, RAN $800. A RECALL AGAINST SATURN WAS ISSUED BY YOUR AGENCY BY YOUR AGENCY ON THE 20001 MODEL OF THIS CAR BUT NONE OF THE OTHER YEARS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MODEL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2003 ALL HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN AND OILER INSTALLED IN THEM FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347883August 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SATURN 200L SUDDENLY GAVE OUT. THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THEM SEVERAL TIMES, THEY CAME UP A LITTLE. I THOUGHT THE BRAKES NEEDED CHANGING, SO I HAD THAT DONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. I GO TO STOP AND SUDDENLY THERE ARE NO BRAKES. THEY ALWAYS WORK OK AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND I SEE ON MYCARSTATS.COM THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347760August 6, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2002 SATURN FUEL PUMP WENT VERY BAD... CAR OK WHEN PARKED IN GARAGE NEXT MORNING BAD GAS FUMES COULD HAVE CAUSED EXPLOSION..HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND REPLACED THE PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347571August 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS LEAVING WORK AND PULL ONTO A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN GAINING SPEED AND AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH I HEARD A THUMP IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR STALLED AND COASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT HALFWAY OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED HOME FOR REPAIR. UPON INVESTIGATION, CHECKING COMPRESSION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD IN FACT BROKE DURING OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS INTERN HAS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL ENGINE AND NO FAULT OF MY OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346498July 31, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEADING I-64 WESTBOUND IN KY WHEN THERE WAS A VERY LOUD POP/BACKFIRE TYPE NOISE HEARD FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. CAR MADE HUMMING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, THAT WAS IT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOW SERVICE. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD I WAS BASICALLY LOOKING AT A MOTOR. I WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT BECAUSE IT WAS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE THE RODS/PISTONS ETC. BECOME DAMAGED BECAUSE MOTOR FINISHES ITS REVOLUTION. CALLED LOCAL GM DEALER NEXT AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THE BLOCK CRACKS WITH THESE ALSO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NOW A NICE CAR WITH NO MOTOR. ESTIMATES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF. CALLED SATURN,WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING KNOWN AT THIS TIME. THEY GAVE ME THEIR NAME, NUMBER, AND EXTENSION TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN IT WAS GOING TO A DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346229July 29, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SATURN L200 TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR JUST SHUT COMPLETELY OFF SO HE HAD TO COST OVER FOUR LANES TO GET OFF OF THE EXIT RAMP. HE HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PLACE WE USE AND OF COURSE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE ESTIMATE FOR JUST THAT IS $900 NOT EVEN INCLUDING IF THE VALVES OR ANYTHING ELSE IS BROKE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS AND I HAVE READ ABOUT THE RECALL ON THEM BUT OF COURSE MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO EVERYONE ELSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IS THE SAME EXACT THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE HAD NO HELP WITH SATURN ON THIS ISSUE. I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR NOT EVEN A MONTH BEFORE IT BROKE DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345898July 28, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN 9/2007 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 ON A CITY STREET, PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET NEAR A SCHOOL. THE CAR LOST POWER AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE VALVES ETC. AND THE CAR NEEDED THE ENGINE REPLACED. I AGREED TO LET THE MECHANIC REPLACE MY RUINED ENGINE WITH A NEWER, BUT USED, ENGINE, AS IT WAS ALL I COULD AFFORD. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THE RECALL OF FEB '08, AND MY VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF RECALLED VEHICLES. HOWEVER, WHEN I TRIED TO GET REIMBURSED, GM CLAIMED MY CAR DID NOT ACTUALLY FALL UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A SMALL PART THAT APPARENTLY MY CAR DID NOT HAVE. FROM THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS FACED THIS ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL CARS IN THE RANGE. REGARDLESS OF THE SMALL PART ISSUE, MY CAR MET THE SAME REPAIR ISSUES - TIMING CHAIN SEPARATING AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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