Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10574968March 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574395March 24, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FORCEFULLY IN COMBINATION TO SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSES. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE FAULTY PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572617March 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITH THE RECALL OF SATURN ION IN THE NEWS, I'VE BEEN INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT MY 2002 SATURN LW200. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THE MODEL OR YEAR IN THE CURRENT RECALL, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING AROUND FOR YEARS. I DON'T RECALL WHEN I DISCOVERED THE IGNITION PROBLEM, BUT WHAT I RECALL IS THAT IT WAS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE REPAIRED. MY KNEE ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED MY KEYCHAIN WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND IT FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IDLING. THE IGNITION REMAINED IN THE RUN POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER MY KEYS AND RE-INSERT THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF MY KEYS, AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO NOT TOUCH THEM WHILE DRIVING. ALSO SINCE FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT DISPLAYS WHEN I RESTART MY CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, BUT KEEPING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SLOT. THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AS I TURN THE ENGINE OFF FOR FREIGHT TRAIN CROSSINGS AND WHILE WAITING FOR MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL PICK UP. I THOUGHT THE ERROR WAS JUST A QUIRK THAT NEEDED RESETTING BY REMOVING THE KEY. SO, AS A WORKAROUND, WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE OFF, I REMOVE THE KEY COMPLETELY AND REINSERT IT TO AVOID THE AIRBAG ERROR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BUT CONTACT YOU IN THE HOPES THAT OTHER SATURN OWNERS WILL COME FORWARD AS NEWS OF THE RECALL IS RELEASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572538March 15, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, A FIRE IN THE RESONATOR AND 4 OR 5 TIMES WHERE THE CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING AND I'M NOT ABLE TO GET IT TO START AGAIN FOR A WHILE. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATED WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE PEDDLE MAKING ME GO 65 IN 30 WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TIMES WHERE THE GAS PEDDLE WAS STUCK AND I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AT STOP LIGHTS THE WHEELS KEEP SPINNING WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR MOVES INTO THE INTERSECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568885March 12, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WAS REDUCED AND A LACK OF ACCELERATION WAS FELT. THE STEERING FELT SLIGHTLY HEAVY AND POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE HARD SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWN ON THE DISPLAY, AND ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED, A WHIRRING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER THE CYLINDERS WERE NOT FIRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568744March 12, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568609March 11, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOUSE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN, HEAD AND VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,183. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567536March 6, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AFTER STOPPING WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO PASS I TURNED TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE STALLED CAUSING ME TO GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC. CAR GAVE NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL IT JUST STALLED IN THE ROAD. NO NOISES OR ROUGH RUNNING OR ANYTHING! VALVES WERE DESTROYED AND ENGINE IS JUNK. FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR AND SYSTEM AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE INCLUDED MY YEAR CAR I HAVE NOT YET CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP IN ANY WAY! BUT WITH ONLY 80500 MILES ON THIS CAR I AM REALLY UNHAPPY THAT I NOW NEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567105March 5, 2014
SUSPENSION, WHEELS, STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND STEERING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I TRAILERED THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS, VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW SUBFRAME AND I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND TO TRY FINDING ONE IN A SALVAGE YARD. I CONTACTED A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A FEW AND IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO PULL ONE. I GOT THE CALL TODAY SAYING THEY WERE SORRY BUT ALL OF THE FRONT SUBFRAMES ON THE SATURN L SERIES THEY HAVE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE NOT USABLE. I CONTACTED OTHER YARDS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO FIND A SALVAGE YARD DOWN SOUTH THAT HAD A USABLE SUBFRAME. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND NUMEROUS FORUM POSTS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC AND I'M FINDING IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD? FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT HAPPENS ON ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE L SERIES. THE IRONY IS THE REST OF THE CAR IS VERY CLEAN, NO RUST ON THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS NO CLEAR EXPLANATION WHY THE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE CORROSION PERFORATION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WITH NO OTHER RUST/CORROSION ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD HAVE HAD A BAD OUTCOME. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567520March 5, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE STARTED WITH RATTLING SOUND, ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE, WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565955February 26, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST READ THE RECALL ON GM CARS DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION. MY DAUGHTER OWNED A 2000 SATURN LS UNTIL JULY 2012 (WHEN SHE TRADED IT IN) AND ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, IT ALSO STOPPED RUNNING AS SHE WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565011February 19, 2014
SUSPENSION
I GET VERY POOR MILEAGE ON MY TIRES AND I INEVITABLE GET CUPPING IN MY REAR TIRES. THIS CAUSES A SOUND IN MY CAR THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE TIRE IS FLAT WHEN I AM DRIVING WHEN IN FACT IT IS DUE TO CUPPING. I READ ON ALLDATADIY THAT A SPACER NEEDS TO BE PLACED BETWEEN THE REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT AND THE VEHICLE BODY DURING ALIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TIRES ARE EXPENSIVE AND IT CAUSES ME TO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR TOO FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565018February 19, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM MY CAR, BUT I COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE LEAK WAS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE IDENTIFIED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, PRESSURE LINE, RETURN LINE, AND SENDING UNIT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO AND THE ENTIRE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. PARTS ALONE COST $793.53 WHILE THE LABOR WAS $382.00 FOR A TOTAL AFTER TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES OF $1257.28. IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING TO ME HOW THIS CAR NEEDED TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE BUT I DID NOT WANT TO RISK A CAR FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THERE IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE THAT ALSO MENTIONS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565007February 19, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB HAD BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE TAIL-LIGHT ASSEMBLY AROUND THE BULB OPENING TO MELT AND PREVENT THE BULB FROM BEING PULLED OUT. I CHECKED THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT MELTED BUT THERE WAS BLACK BURN MARKS ON THE WIRE HARNESS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB PLUGS INTO. FIVE OF THE SIX CENTER-HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHTS HAD ALSO BURNED OUT BUT NO MELTING OR CHARRED MARKS WERE NOTED. I ALSO HAVE A CRACK IN THE CENTER PART OF THE VANITY TRUNK ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER, HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO LIGHTS IN THE ASSEMBLY SO IT IS NOT A BIG CONCERN FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564422February 14, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN THE NEXT MINUTE THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT OFF AND THEN THE CAR SEIZED RIGHT THERE ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START SO WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ONCE THE SHOP LOOKED AT IT THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TENSIONER HAD BROKE AND THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD MELTED. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563367February 7, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, TAIL LAMPS HAD OVER HEATING ISSUE, NHTSA ISSUED RECALL ON 2 JUNE 2005, SATURN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, SAYING AUTO IS TO OLD. DATE FOR FIXING ISSUE IS 10 YEARS FROM DATE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. WAS TOLD BY A SATURN "CUSTOMER CARE REP." THAT ADAPTERS WERE INSTALLED IN FEB 2009. AUTO WASN'T REGISTERED IN 2009, AND NO ADAPTERS HAVE EVER BEEN INSTALLED. I AM A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN LIVING ON A VERY MEAGER MONTHLY INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THESE LAMPS. I AM DRIVING THIS AUTO WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, ASIDE FROM ANTI-COLLISION LAMP AT TOP OF REAR WINDSHIELD. I HOPE THIS LETTER HAS MORE IMPACT THAN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AS OF TODAY. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561777January 28, 2014
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE ENGINE RUNNING. VALVE DAMAGE IN HEADS. ENGINE NEEDS UPPER OVERHAUL. FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM SINCE SO MANY TIMING CHAIN FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS ENGINE. GM STATED THAT THIS VIN WAS OUTSIDE THE RECALL WINDOW EVEN THOUGH THE REDESIGNED TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY DID NOT TAKE PLACE TIL THE FOLLOWING MODEL YEAR. WOULD NOT HELP IN REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561099January 22, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE: 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 80,800 MILES. DATE: DECEMBER 2013 TO JANUARY 2014 PROBLEM: FOR AT LEAST A MONTH I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR AND SIDE AREAS OF VEHICLE AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT AND STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, NO SIGNS OF LEAKING FUEL APPEARED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE CARS' FUEL SYSTEM, I SUSPECTED THE LEAK WAS OCCURRING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AROUND FUEL PUMP OR FUEL LINES. SOLUTION: TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE FUEL TANK REMOVED TO FIND PROBLEM OF LEAKING FUEL. AFTER IT WAS REMOVED, THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE FUEL PUMP NIPPLE RETURN LINE WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN RESULTING IN LEAKING FUEL DOWN ONTO THE TOP OF THE TANK, CAUSING THE RESULTING FUEL SMELL. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND LABOR WAS $511.64. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY DUE TO A FIRE OR OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OR REIMBURSE AFFECTED OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553183November 21, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFFECTED PARTS DROP BOX NOT FUNCTIONAL. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. NOTICED SMOKE FROM TURN SIGNAL AREA. PULLED TO EMERGENCY LANE, PULLED OFF RUBBER FLAP AND SMOKE WAS POURING INTO CABIN. TURNED CAR OFF. COULD NOT SEE FLAMES, SMOKE STOPPED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. NEEDLESS TO SAY TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHT DIMMER, RADIO, BLOWER MOTOR, DOOR LOCKS ARE NOW ALL MALFUNCTIONING. ALREADY HAD TO PAY FOR BCM REPLACEMENT AS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALLS. THIS MAKE/MODEL IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS ALL COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552543November 16, 2013
ENGINE
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED DUE TO BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH BENT THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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