Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10212035December 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 SATURN L-200. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. 64,000 MILES. DEALER WAS TRYING TO BLAME LACK OF MAINTENANCE UNTIL I PROVED REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN TWIN CAM ENGINE. WHY DO THE DEALERS TRY TO BLAME THE OWNERS? MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, BUT I FEEL THEY TRIED TO AVOID THE COVERAGE ON THE EXTENDED PLAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211922December 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ACCORDING TO THE SATURN SERVICE ADVISOR, SATURN RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN AT 100,000 MILES. AFTER PERFORMING $1500 WORTH OF REPAIRS (A/C, AXLE, OIL PAN DENT, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK, AND AIR FILTERS), THE MECHANIC STARTED TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE - AT JUST UNDER 89,000 MILES. SINCE THEY DIDN'T THINK THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED, I AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN FOR $800. A FEW DAYS LATER, I LEARNED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED - $1500. I CHOSE NOT TO DO THIS AND DONATED THE CAR TO THE SALVATION ARMY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211021December 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ANY WARNING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210213November 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WITH THE CRUISE ON. I THOUGHT THE CAR DID SOMETHING FUNNY, MAYBE IT SLOWED DOWN SO I LOOKED DOWN AT MY SPEEDOMETER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING, I TAPPED MY BRAKES. THEN MORE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR WAS JUST SLOWING DOWN. I THOUGHT I SHOULD START PULLING OVER TO STOP SO I TAPPED MY BRAKES AND IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FLEW OFF MY CAR. I SLOWLY COASTED TO A STOP. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND IT WASN'T RUNNING. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LIGHTS AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO HAVE THE CAR JUST STOP ON YOU WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOOD IF PEOPLE WERE AROUND. MY HUSBAND CAME TO SEE IF HE COULD GET THE CAR RUNNING AND WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY IT JUST SOUNDED LIKE METAL SCRAPING ON METAL. IT WAS A HORRIBLE NOISE I HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. WE TOWED THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO THE CLOSEST TOWN AND IN THE MORNING FOUND OUT THEY DID NOT FIX SATURNS. ANOTHER PLACE IN TOWN, WHEN OUR CAR BROKE DOWN 2 MONTHS AGO, COULD NOT EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND RECOMMENDED WE BRING IT TO A SATURN DEALER (NO ONE CLOSER THAN 250 MILES). WE HAULED OUR CAR TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO HAD WORKED ON IT IN 2005 WHEN THE WATER PUMP BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT. HE HAS STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE. IT WILL BE AT LEAST $1500 AND THAT'S IF IT DIDN'T WRECK THE ENGINE. WE AREN'T SURE IF WE ARE GOING TO FIX IT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL PAYING ON THE CAR ITSELF. AND WE JUST PUT ABOUT $1200 INTO IT IN SEPTEMBER. WE GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH BECAUSE OF THE MILES WE DRIVE AND WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE OWNING A 2000 SATURN L SERIES CAR. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND FIX IT! IF IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THEN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209975November 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BOTH THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS LOSING POWER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND THEN THEY WOULD TRY TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,642. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS NOT WHAT SHE SAID. WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY WHICH RESULTED IN THE BCM MODULE BEING REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY DIED 2 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 12/12/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209272November 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIME CHAIN ON AN L200 SATURN (MY 2002) AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF USAGE. I HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE CHAIN BROKE. PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS HEARING VALVE NOISE, BUT FORTUNATELY I PULLED THE AUTOMOBILE INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTED IN A COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE VALVES, CHAIN, ETC. AND REQUIRED FULL REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR. THIS INCLUDED THE HEAD, VALVES, CHAIN, TENSIONER, SPROCKETS, ETC. SATURN INDICATED THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED CHAIN TENSIONER WOULD BE REPLACED DURING THIS REPAIR AND SHOULD PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. THIS REDESIGNED PART WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT A DEFICIENCY IN OIL DELIVERY TO THE CHAIN. IMPORTANTLY, I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SATURN DEALER WITH ALL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209225November 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2002 SATURN L200 52,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON THE LOOP HERE IN LUBBOCK GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. MY CAR STARTED GOING VERY SLOW AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER STEERING SO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO BE WORKED ON AND HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP. WELL HE CALLED LATER AND SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND IT HAD BROKE. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE OUTLASTED THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. NOT ONLY DID THIS BREAK, BUT WHEN IT BROKE, IT TORE UP MY ENGINE AS WELL. I THEN DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR "L200 TIMEING CHAIN" AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT SATURN WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND POSTED A BULLETIN TO THEIR SERVICE CENTERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208582November 10, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN ZKINSIE AVE IN RACINE WI. I WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED. I LOST PWR STEERING AND PWR BRAKING AND HAD TO WRESTLE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND COAST TO THE CURB. I'M JUST GLAD THERE WAS NO SEMI-TRUCK FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208148November 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR WAS PAID OFF IN MAY 2007 AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN NOVEMBER 2007. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH POOR FUEL ECONOMY, ROUGH IDLE IN THE MORNING, OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE AND RANDOM CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. THEY PRESSURIZED THE FUEL SYSTEM TO CHECK FOR LEAKS. CLEANED THE INJECTORS AND CHARGED ME 150$... DID NOT HELP. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD INJECTOR... HAD THE INJECTORS CHECKED AND THEY WERE FINE. HAD THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. NOTHING HELPED. TURNS OUT THE TENSIONER ON THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FAILING. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MOTOR. WELL THE PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL THE CHAIN JUMPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. 1250$ IS THE ESTIMATE TO INSTALL THE UPDATED TIMING CHAIN KIT NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR, THE TIME AND AGGRAVATION CAUSED BY A SATURN DESIGN FLAW. PS. MY CAR HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207766November 2, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASH AND FLICKER RANDOMLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER IN THE DAYTIME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT NIGHT. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A HANDOUT STATING THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER HEARS A WHISTLING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION, WINDOWS MAKE CHIRPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING THEM UP, AND HEATER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 11/27/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207650November 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A PERSISTENT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,535.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206801October 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THEN DECELERATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 108,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206254October 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 SATURN L200 WITH 2.2 4 CY. ENGINE. TIMING BELT BROKE , ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES. $3000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. SATURN HAD KNOW THIS WAS PROBLEM AND HID FACTS TO OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206149October 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 SATURN L SERIES TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS NOT INJURED BUT HAVE CONCERN THAT SOMEONE COULD BE. THIS IS A COSTLY CATASTROPHIC AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAILURE THAT GM HAS SEEMED TO KNOW ABOUT FOR SOME TIME AS EVIDENCE SHOWS THEY RELEASED AN UPGRADE TIMING CHAIN KIT. THE COST FROM $2700 TO OVER $4000 TO REPAIR. THE REPAIR COST COULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205815October 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING ME TO COAST THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION NARROWLY MISSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205766October 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 104,000 MILES, OUR SATURN LW2 WAGON'S TIMING CHAIN SUFFERED COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE AND INFANT SON. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, IT DESTROYED THE VALVES ON ITS ENGINE, REQUIRING THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THE REPLACEMENT COST HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $6,000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205108October 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I DRIVE A 2001 SATURN L200. IT HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO A TIRE SHOP TO GET NEW TIRES. THE MAINTENANCE MAN WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WE ENDED UP CALLING SATURN AND, AT FIRST, THEY SAID IT WAS A WORN KEY AND THAT WE COULD COME IN AND THEY WOULD MAKE US A NEW ONE. SO WE DID THAT, AND THE KEY STILL WOULDN'T TURN. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING. WE WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THE MAINTENANCE GUY TURNED THE CAR ON AND IT STARTED UP FINE. HE TURNED IT OFF TO DO SOME PAPERWORK. HE GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, TURNED IT ON, AND ALL IT DID WAS "SPIN." THEY CAME OUT TO TELL US THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE US PAY FOR IT, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T IN OUR POSSESSION AT THE TIME. I JUST GOT THROUGH READING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CARS OF THE SAME TYPE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, ONLY I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR WASN'T MOVING. MORE PARTS DIDN'T GET DAMAGE. ALSO, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY TO COME HOME. I'M PRETTY SURE MY CAR STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DUE TO SOMETHING THAT IS BREAKING IN MANY OF THE SAME CARS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN PLACED SO FAR, THOUGH I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD NEED REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204368September 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE RECURRENCE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,435 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204236September 27, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THERE WERE NO SPECIAL EVENTS (ACCIDENTS, UNUSUAL ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC) PRECIPITATING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 75.5K MI.S ON IT. WE HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THIS CAR AFTER PARKING IT. I GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND FOUND THAT LIQUID GASOLINE IS COMING FROM ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND SOAKING THE SIDES OF THE TANK. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPT SEEMED FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT IS LIKELY A LEAKING FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP; REQUIRING A NEW FUEL PUMP $400+. WE OWN AN 2002 FORD F-150 THAT HAD A RECENT RECALL ON A CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE THAT THEY SAID COULD CAUSE A FIRE AFTER ENGINE SHUTDOWN-WE HAD THAT RECALL DONE ALTHOUGH WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE GAS LEAK WE ARE HAVING ON OUR SATURN SEEMS MUCH MORE VOLATILE THAN THE FORD'S PROBLEM. THE ODOR HAS BAD ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO PARK THE CAR INSIDE OUR GARAGE (NEAR OUR WATER HEATER), BUT NO RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF (I FOUND MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL WITH THE 2.2L 4-CYL ENG ON THE INTERNET). I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR AGENCY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERED COMPELLING SATURN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT REPAIRING THIS LEAKING FITTING. CAN YOU RECOMMEND WHAT MY IMMEDIATE ACTION OR RECOURSE ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE AT THIS POINT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203284September 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 BROKE WITH NO WARNING AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR ON A CITY STREET. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AFTER LOSING ALL POWER. AFTER READING MANY, MANY POSTS ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH SATURNS OF THE SAME YEAR/MODEL WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE, I FELT I NEEDED TO REPORT THAT I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CHAIN BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CHAIN "BUNCHED UP" BENDING SEVERAL VALVES AND BREAKING A PISTON RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS DUE TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NOR HAD AN AFFECT ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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