Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10216815February 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THE FAN MOTOR HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE MOTOR OFF AND TESTED IT AND FOUND THAT IT WORKS DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY BUT NOT TO THE SWITCH. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND THE FUSES AND THE FAN STILL IS NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216183January 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 55 M.P.H IN MY 2000 L-SEIZE SATURN WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AFTER NEARLY BEING REARENDED HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE DESTROYING THE ENGINE. WAS ALSO TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS WAS VERY COMMON FOR SATURNS AS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE OILING SYSTEM CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR IN THE TIMING CHAIN. CONTACTED LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND COULD INSTALL A NEW ENGINE FOR AROUND 10,000.00$. CURRENTLY CAR IS STILL BROKE DUE TO SHORTAGE OF THIS ENGINE. NO SURPRISE WITH ALL OF THEM BREAKING. VERY LUCKY WITH NO POWER STEERING,NO BRAKES, AND NO POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216180January 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2001 SATURN LW300 WAGON WITH 96,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO COAST THE LAST ONE-HALF MILE TO OUR SUB-DIVISION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT IT HAD JUMPED THE TIMING, AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO NEW ENGINES AVAILABLE, AND THAT USED A USED ENGINE WOULD COST AROUND $4000.00, WHICH IS THE WHOLESALE VALUE FOR THE CAR. I HAVE DECLINED REPAIRS, AND AM LOOKING TO SELL OR DONATE THE CAR TO CHARITY FOR SALVAGE PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215869January 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SATURN L200 2.2 ECOTEC - TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 2 IN LINCOLN MA. DRIFTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215662January 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED A LINK AND CAUSED THE GUIDES THAT KEPT THE CHAIN IN PLACE TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE CHAIN EXPANDED, DAMAGED THE VALVES, AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND GM RECALL NUMBER 06074, EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT IS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215522January 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY 2000 SATURN LS1'S TIMING CHAIN BROKE WITH NO WARNING AND AS A RESULT, VALVES IN THE ENGINE WERE BENT. MY MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF PLACING A USED MOTOR IN THE CAR. I RECENTLY WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND THAT THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH SATURNS FROM THE 2000-2003 TIME FRAME AND THAT IN FACT, A RECALL WAS INSTITUTED FOR SOME. ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS NOT AMONG THOSE RECALLED, I AM WILLING TO BET THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND BY ENTERING MY COMPLAINT, I'M HOPING TO SAVE OTHER SATURN OWNERS FROM THE HEADACHES THAT I HAVE HAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215484January 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AND CAR STARTING MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND JUST STALLED ON ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY TO A PARKING LOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PUT IT ON A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND HAS SINCE RUINED MY WHOLE ENGINE. NOW MY CAR SITS IN MY YARD WITH NO GOOD MOTOR OR TIMING CHAIN AND I STILL OWE $4000 AND PAYING $300 A MONTH TO PAY FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR EVEN A USED ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215418January 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN SEPARATION AND FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED MUCH ENGINE DAMAGE WITH REPAIR COST AT $1,800. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214864January 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY 2001 SATURN LS 200 AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214670January 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HAD REPAIRED TO THE COST 3K. NOW CAR IS NOT SHIFTING AND IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, WAITING TO BE HAULED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214052January 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE TIMING BELT, WHICH STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE CHAIN COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213599January 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING.THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213288December 31, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EASILY REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO VEHICLES AND CAUSED $2,320 IN DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A SAFETY DEFECT. THE SATURN DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN OLD STEERING COLUMN AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE KEY HAS BEEN USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED HE LEFT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, IN THOUGH HE HAD REMOVED THE KEY. UPDATED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213169December 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD TOLD MY SATURN DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO ABOUT A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY L-200 (2002). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY JUST THE NORMAL NOISE THAT THIS CAR MAKES WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THE NOISE CONTINUED, BUT ONLY AT START-UP. I BROUGHT IT IN RECENTLY FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. THE NEXT DAY THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND IT IS FRUSTRATING AND PUZZLING TO ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INVESTIGATE FURTHER WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213175December 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO THE GYM. AS I WAS ON A HIGHWAY ON RAMP, MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT, AND WHEN IT DID, IT BENT THE VALVES AND DID DAMAGE TO A PISTON, AS EVIDENCED BY COMPRESSION TEST FAILURE AND VISUAL INSPECTION. HE ALSO NOTED THAT EVEN ONCE THE TIMING CHAIN WAS GRABBED, IT COULD NOT BE PULLED FREE OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY. HE STATED THAT THE PARTS COULD BE REPLACED AND ENGINE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $3,400.00 PLUS TAX, OR I COULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,500.00 PLUS TAX, AND HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS AND LABOR. I OPTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. SATURN JUST NOTIFIED ME OF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT WILL ONLY PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING CHAIN, NOT THE DAMAGE CAUSED WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213179December 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS ON THE ON RAMP TO A VERY BUST STATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STALLED, AND SHE COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. TURNS OUT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VALVES TO BEND AND PISTON DAMAGE, WHICH WOUND UP COSTING 3746.29 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE TO REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF PARTS WAS GOING TO COST THE SAME AMOUNT IF NOT MORE.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213100December 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR FAILURE LESS THAN 47,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212922December 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07V519000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212211December 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 L SERIES SATURN TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SHE WAS STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. (WARRANTY ENDED JULY -2007 & ENGINE DAMAGE IS IN EXCESS OF $2500.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212154December 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON INTERSTATE. DUE TO TIMING CHAIN NOW DEALER SAID THAT IT WILL COST ME FOR THERE PROBLEM, BUT NOT MY FAMILY'S LIFE. MY WIFE IS WITH CHILD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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