Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10250537December 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY MECHANIC GAVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL THAT IS BEING DONE ON 2000 AND UP SATURNS ON THE TIMING CHAIN, HOWEVER SATURN HAS YET TO ACCEPT THAT AS A RECALL. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE FROM NHTSA AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO SATURN WHO AGAIN DIRECTED ME BACK HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250394December 1, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 02 SATURN L100 BROKE CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. AFTER READING SOME OF THE BLOGS, I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS PARKED WHEN ITS FAILURE REVEALED ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250413December 1, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250046November 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY WIFE'S CAR QUIT RUNNING SUDDENLY. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND REPAIRS WOULD COST $3200, INDICATING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE BESIDES THE BROKEN CHAIN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NOR WERE THERE ANY INJURIES. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ~97000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249914November 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR (ENGINE) STALLED, LOCKED UP AND IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED AT TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH THE FIRST INSTANCE (3/14/06) AND THE MOST OF IT THE SECOND TIME (2/4/08). I WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT OUR VIN # DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS A FLUKE WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND ME TWICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249977November 26, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I WAS ABLE TO SMELL GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO AAA AUTO CARE TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. AS IT WAS BEING REPLACED, THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. ACCORDING TO THE TECH, THE PUMP BROKE IN PIECES. IT TOO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249652November 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT +/- 18:50, ON NOVEMBER 18TH 2008 WITH MY 2002 SATURN L200 WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED OR CUT OUT. I HAD TO QUICKLY TRY AND SWITCH LANES TO GET TO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS LOSING SPEED. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALERSHIP I.E. SATURN OF PLANO. THE NEXT MORNING I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THAT MY CAR WAS THERE AND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IS WRONG. THEY PHONED BACK EXPLAINING THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT IT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT MY VALVES WHERE DAMAGED AND A 50/50 CHANCE THAT MY PISTONS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. THEY CAN'T TELL EXACTLY WHAT MIGHT BE DAMAGED UNTIL THEY OPEN THE ENGINE WHICH IS GOING TO COST ME $800 (ON TOP OF THE INVESTIGATION CHARGES ETC). THEY SAID I HAVE 2 OPTIONS: 1) LET THEM OPEN THE ENGINE AND DETERMINE TO SEE WHAT IS DAMAGED OF WHICH THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE: A. VALVES ARE DAMAGED - REPLACE ENGINE HEAD FOR AT LEAST $2491 B. PISTONS ARE DAMAGED - REPLACE ENGINE WITH SECOND HAND FOR AT LEAST $3800 OR 2) REPLACE THE ENGINE FROM THE BEGINNING THEN I WON'T HAVE TO FORK OUT THE INITIAL $800 AND IT WOULD ONLY COST ME AT LEAST $3800 WHEN I ASKED WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENTED THIS THE ANSWER WAS: "NOTHING" AND THAT THE CHAINS NORMALLY LAST LONGER THAN 100,000 (I THINK MY MILEAGE ON THE CAR NOW STANDS AT ABOUT 104,000). I SERVICED MY CAR AT LEAST 3 TIMES AT THAT DEALERSHIP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND HAVE FORKED OUT ABOUT +/- $3000 ALREADY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS - SO SPENDING ANOTHER $3000 OR MORE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A WORTHY INVESTMENT. THE THING THAT UPSETS ME IS THE FACT THEY DON'T MENTION THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES AND OFFER TO FIX IT. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT I SHOULD FIRST PAY THE $800 FOR INVESTIGATION BEFORE THEY COULD COMMENT ON POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE ETC. YET IT IS THEIR FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249148November 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND SOME OF ITS COMPONENTS FELL INTO THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248666November 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN 2001 L200 SERIES ENGINE; WHERE IT WILL STALL THE FIRST TIME STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BECAUSE MY VIN# WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE RANGE"? I WAS TOLD THE EXCLUDED RANGE IS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND 1Y559453. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN"? I WAS TOLD THE CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE; AS LONG AS I CHANGE THE OIL ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE A FOUND THAT VEHICLES IN THE EXCLUDED RANGE HAVE HAD TIMING CHAIN FAILURES AS WELL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE SINCE THE STALLING PROBLEM; FOR FEAR THAT I MAY CAUSE DAMAGE, IF NOT ALREADY, TO THE VEHICLE. I BEEN TOLD, BY SEVERAL MECHANICS, THAT THE REPAIR COULD COST ANY WHERE FOR $2500 TO $4000; DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. HOW CAN THE MANUFACTURER GET AWAY WITH PICKING AND CHOOSING WHOSE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SUPPOSE MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON A CROWDED HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY; IN FRONT OF A CAR OR A BUS OR A TRACTOR TRAILER? WOULD THE MANUFACTURER RESPOND TO MY REQUEST, AFTER MY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S DEMISE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO LIVE UP TO THEIR ETHICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES, WHEN IT COMES TO A RELIABLE AND SAFE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE 2001 AND 2002 MODEL YEARS AND CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THAT IS A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248381November 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248391November 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH AND ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248210November 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN LS2 AT 30 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED AND WOULD NOT START. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE WAS NO COMPRESSION WHEN TURNING OVER THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT THE TENSIONER ARM HOLDING THE TIMING BELT SHATTERED. THE TIMING BELT ON THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP 18 MONTHS PRIOR. LUCKILY, MY SON WAS ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED RESIDENTIAL STREET AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION AND WAS NOT INJURED NOR WERE HIS PASSENGERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248035November 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER CAUSING ME TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING. THE RESULT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE O2 SENSOR WHICH I REPLACED ONCE WITH SATURN THAT FAILED 2 YEARS LATER AND 2 OTHERS REFURBISHED THAT WERE PURCHASED FROM NAPA WHICH THE FIRST FAILED 3 MONTHS AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE OTHER A MONTH AFTER THAT ONE WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248036November 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN HAS STOPPED TO SOUND, THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE HORN WAS PRESSED AND THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THERE IS NO HORN ON THE VEHICLE NOW CAUSING IT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS DEER HAVE RUN OUR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY A CAR THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS WHICH COULD BE PREVENTED OR NOTICED WITH A HORN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247899November 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE WERE DRIVING ON RT. #98 RUNNING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING SO COASTED TO EDGE OF HIGHWAY. GOT OUT AND RAISED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND IT JUST CRANKED OVER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND THEY TOWED CAR BACK TO MY HOME SINCE IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED IT ALL OVER AND DECIDED THAT I COULD NOT DISCERN WHAT WAS WRONG. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MSC REPAIR HERE IN MARYSVILLE AND THEIR MECHANIC FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN SO I HAD HIM GO AHEAD AND REPAIR THIS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1500.00. AFTER HE HAD IT BACK TOGETHER AND BEFORE HE TRIED TO START IT HE RAN A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VALVES WERE BENT SO THE HEAD HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND DEPENDING ON HOW BAD IT IS IT COULD RUN ANOTHER $2000.00 TO FIX IT IF IT CAN BE FIXED. SO FAR ALL GEARS AND TIMING CHAIN,BALANCE KIT AND GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WILL NOT KNOW FOR SURE ABOUT OTHER PARTS UNTIL THE HEAD HAS BEEN EVALUATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247747November 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 SATURN SL2 BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. LOCAL SATURN DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAD A RECALL ONLY ON 2001 MODELS. LOOKING AT THE NHTSA THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE REFERENCE PEP08-061. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247618November 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. NO RESTART OF VEHICLE, TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, ( NOT SATURN) WAS TOLD BY SATURN NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, THEREFORE I HAD NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO ME. ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRED. OPTIONS ARE REPLACE ENGINE OR PURCHASE NEW VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247352October 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN L-SERIES WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED ON THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL FOR THE 2001 SATURN L-SERIES DESCRIBED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE SHE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $900; HOWEVER, SATURN OFFERED TO TAKE $100 OFF THE COST BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE RECOGNIZED IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR OF THE SATURN L-SERIES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 90,000. UPDATED 11/26/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/01/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247206October 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. RECALL 07V519000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247257October 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE TIMING BELT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn LS