Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10239714August 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CREATED AN IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC HAZARD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT MOVE OFF CURBED ROADWAY. TOWED TO REPAIR WHERE DIAGNOSIS IS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOUND RECALL ON 2001 VERSION OF SAME VEHICLE. NOW I READ THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION AND SAME CONCERNS IN 1999-2003 VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO READ THAT SATURN IS CLAIMING THESE WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK DUE TO HEAVY LOAD ON CHAIN AT THAT TIME. MINE FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH! I ALSO READ THAT IN REOPENING THIS CASE THE NHTSA IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES IN YEARS OTHER THAN 2001 IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD. MINE FITS THIS SITUATION. MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED BUT I BELIEVE THAT SATURN SHOULD PAY THE BILL AS MY ENGINE IS THE SAME ONE THAT IS RECALLED JUST A YEAR LATER. SATURN DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 2002 SO WHY WOULD THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE? SATURN OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND IS HOPING TO GET BY WITH A ONE-YEAR RECALL WHEN IT SHOULD BE MORE. I HAVE MAINTAINED TIMELY MAINTENANCE OF MY 2002 SATURN WITH ROUTINE WORK (OIL CHANGES, ETC). THE VEHICLE HAS 99,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239140August 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN LS AT 45 MPH WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF, LOST ALL POWER, AND THANKFULLY HAD A PLACE TO DRIFT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, I WAS WITHOUT A PHONE, AND HAD TO WALK 5 MILES IN THE SUN TO CALL FOR HELP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED ($100) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I CALLED FOR A SECOND OPINION AND COULD NOT INCUR THE COST TO TOW IT AGAIN, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANIC WAS MORE THAN REPUTABLE. AFTER ALMOST 3 WEEKS WITHOUT A VEHICLE, AS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A NEW JOB, THIS WREAKED HAVOC IN OUR LIVES AND A $2500 EXPENSE FOR A NEW ENGINE. I'M NOW DRIVING A SATURN WITH A CHEVY CAVALIER ENGINE THAT IS WARRANTED FOR ONLY 90 DAYS. I KEPT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TOOK PHOTOS OF THE ENGINE. I'M JOINING THE MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT, BECAUSE SATURN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, CONTINUES TO KNOW ABOUT IT, HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL, EVEN HAS ITS SERVICE PEOPLE CLAIM IGNORANCE OR TRY TO BLAME THE CONSUMER. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND IT HAS HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED SERVICING EVERY 3,000 MILES AS DIRECTED BY THE MANUAL, WHICH I ALSO HAVE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL TO SERVICE THE ENGINE/TIMING CHAIN, AND EVERY 3,000 MILE SERVICE I GOT WAS DONE AT A SATURN DEALERSHIP UNTIL THE LAST FOUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10239155August 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOUD TAPPING @ HIGHWAY SPEED, TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED RECALL OF 2001 L2 SERIES SATURN FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS DAMAGE, WHICH MECHANIC SAYS WILL BE APROX $2000.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239113August 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING A RECENTLY PURCHASED 2001 SATURN L-SERIES HOME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, RUINING MY ENGINE AND LEAVING ME STRANDED. MY DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS 10-2000, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238768August 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. EVERY TIME THE SECURITY LIGHTS FLASH, THE VEHICLE WILL TURN OVER, BUT FAIL TO START. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,650.UPDATED 09/17/08.*LJ UPDATED 09/25/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238390August 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SERVICE REPORT FROM SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHEN TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A FEW WEEKS BEFORE, DID NOT LIST ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. SATURN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACTUALLY SAID THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE A TIMING CHAIN. HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED BUT ENGINE HAS NO COMPRESSION, ON TWO CYLINDERS. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR ENGINE DAMAGES, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING, EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF CAR. I HAVE THE OLD CHAIN, ON WHICH, ONE OF THE LINKS FAILED. THE CAR HAS 78K MILES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238126August 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILING PER MY MECHANIC CAR OCCASIONALLY CHUGS & SPUTTERS AT STOP LIGHT, TYPICALLY WHEN AIR COND IN USE NOTHING REPLACED OR DONE YET DUE TO COST & POTENTIAL RECALL.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238134August 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
MY CAR ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS TIMING CHAIN BROKE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME OF A RECALL FOR THIS PART FOR MY CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I CALLED SATURN DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEY TOLD ME IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY PARTICULAR CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS 2001 SATURN L-SERIES MODEL DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE RECALL NUMBER 06074. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH SATURNS RESPONSE TO ME . I TOLD THEM THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE & THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $900.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I TOLD SATURN I WOULD BE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237945August 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR MADE A STUTTERING NOISE. I PULLED OVER - LUCKILY NEAR A SERVICE STATION AND THEY DISCOVERED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237689August 11, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237604August 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2 LITER 4 CYLINDER WITH 73,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WOULD NOT START,I HAD IT TOWED TO A SATURN SHOP WHERE THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAD IT WAS A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN AND THE DAMAGES ARE ANYWHERE FROM 2400 TO 3000 DOLLARS.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237484August 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 29, 2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE IN EACH DIRECTION HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY 2001 SATURN (WITH 41,000 MILES)SUDDENLY STALLED, LOSING ALL POWER FUNCTIONS (STEERING, BRAKES AND SPEED CONTROL). I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS 3 LANES OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND ONE LANE OF PARKING LANE WHERE I BEACHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT TURN OVER. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANIC'S NYS LICENSED GARAGE IN THE NEXT TOWN. MY MECHANIC NOTED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS ITEMS DAMAGED BY THE FAILURE LIKE INLET AND EXHAUST VALVES AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE REQUIRED ACCESS TO THE PARTS AND OTHER PARTS INVOLVED. USING A SEARCH I FOUND THAT OVER 20,000 SATURNS WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE (LIKE MINE) HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V519000). I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SUPPORT, I WAS ISSUED SERVICE REQUEST # . I PROVIDED HER THE DETAILS INCLUDING MY VIN NUMBER. I MENTIONED I THE OTHER SATURNS OF MY YEAR AND MODEL THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE DRIVE CHAIN AND REQUESTED MY NEED FOR SUPPORT. SATURN SAID LOOKING UP MY VIN THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH OVER 20,000 SIMILAR UNITS WERE QUALIFIED, BUT IF I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN, THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT FOR ME. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND TO TOW IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER WAS NOT POSSIBLE AS THE MECHANIC HAD ALREADY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS WORKING ON IT, AND I COULD SUPPLY THE RECEIPT AND BROKEN PARTS AS EVIDENCE. SHE SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER COVERAGE AS THE CAR WAS OVER 5 YEARS OLD. THREE DAYS LATER I RECEIVED THE BILL FOR THE REPAIRS AND TOWING (ALMOST $2,700.00) AND CALLED SATURN AGAIN TO CHECK TO BE SURE THERE WAS NOTHING SATURN WOULD DO. EXCEPT FOR THE OLD HEAD GASKET, I HAVE ALL VALVES, TIMING CHAIN AND BROKEN LINKS INVOLVED IN THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236556July 31, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 2000 SATURN LS1 COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN. IT WILL COST $2500 FOR A USED MOTOR AND INSTALLATION, PLUS $175 FOR THE TOW AND THE DIAGNOSTICS; AND NOW I'M ENDURING SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES WITHOUT A VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236256July 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON 7/26/08 SATURDAY NIGHT, AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD NO WARNING AND ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I PULLED OVER AND HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AT 11:00 PM. I DID HEAR A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE RIGHT BEFORE IT STOPPED, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. I HAD MY MECHANIC TOW IT TO HIS SHOP ONLY TO HAVE HIM CALL ME AND TELL ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. IT IS GOING TO COST 2000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX AND I AM A SINGLE MOTHER, AND DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I GUESS I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY SATURN CAN GET AWAY WITH ONLY RECALLING CERTAIN YEAR CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM!!!! MY CAR IS A SATURN L200 SERIES, AND I GOT IT IN 2002. IT ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS TIMING CHAIN RANDOMLY BROKE!!! THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THE CARS IN QUESTION NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. I ALMOST MADE MY DAUGHTER MOTHERLESS!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236279July 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 SATURN LW2. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEVERELY REDUCING SPEED AND POWER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FAILED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE RECALLS AND DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES NOTED IN RECALL # 03V231000. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT ALL REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235993July 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2001 SATURN, L200 SERIES, STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY SATURN DEALER AFTER I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND IN THE PROCESS, SOME VALVES WERE BENT. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A LOW QUANTITY OF OIL. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER MOTOR AND THE COST WOULD ABOUT $2,900.00. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE CAR AND THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR'S TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, WITH ONLY 88,000 MILES. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAD SUFFICIENT OIL (MY LAST OIL CHANGE IN APRIL, 2008) AND THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. AT THIS TIME, HE BELIEVES THAT TO FIX THE CAR, HE WILL NEED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE HEAD, AS WELL AS THE TIMING CHAIN AND SEVERAL VALVES AND REPLACE OIL AND OIL FILTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236140July 28, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1) EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH 15K AND NOW HAS 56K. REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NOTHING TO SIGNAL A PROBLEM. 2) THE FAILURE: DRIVING 55-60 MPH BREAK PETAL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. WE DROVE TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC WHICH WASN'T OPEN. TURNED THE CAR OFF, STILL NOT BREAKS. DROVE 15 MILES BACK TO TOWN USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. PULLED THE CAR UP TO A MECHANIC. TURNED CAR OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, BRAKES WORKED FINE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PADS, NOTHING THAT WOULD LEAD HIM TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP. 3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: SATURN SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BREAK SYSTEM. THEY SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE WE DID NOT CHANGE THE FLUIDS AT 42K. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE US ANYTHING IN WRITING SAYING THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FAIL AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235750July 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE CRUISED TO A STOP AND TRIPLE A WAS CALLED TO TOW IT TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WOULD COST $2,700 TO REPLACE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235676July 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY BATTERY WENT BAD AFTER I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO GET A RECALL COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT AFTER A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE I AM TOLD IS BAD. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE CAR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. MY CAR HAS ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. SATURN WILL GIVE ME 10% OFF ON A $1,000.00 REPAIR BILL. THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ALL MY SERVICE WORK DONE AT A SATURN DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BETTER. IT IS A SHAME. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235415July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2000 SATURN L200 CAUSING BENT RODS AND ENGINE FAILURE. SATURN ESTIMATES COST OF REPAIRS TO BE $2000-3000. I HAVE BEEN READING OF THE CURRENT NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF 1999-2003 SATURNS AND THE HIGH OCCURRENCE OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES. I DO HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE FOR SATURN TO RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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