Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10202894September 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-100. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $5,400. THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,940 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,900. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202767September 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON AUGUST 8, 2007 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE POWER TO MY CAR CUT OFF AND MY WHEELLOCKED IN POSITION. LUCKY FOR MY I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE LANE CLOSET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO SAFETLY EXIT THE ROAD. I THEN BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND I DID EXTENSTIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT I ONLY BOUGHT 1YEAR PRIOR IN JUNE OF 2006 FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PAY $2400 TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED AND HAD NO VEHICLE TO USE FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO THOUGHT SHE BOUGHT A RELIABLE CAR. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND HAD TO BORROW MONEY. MY NEXY STEP IS TO CONTACT SATURN TO COMPLAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202019September 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE AT 70MPH WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE (WHILE PRESSING THE GAS DOWN) AND LOST POWER. WHEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED OUT I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKE AND PROBABLY CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE WAS QUOTED AT $3,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202038September 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200, 2.2L, 4 CYL, DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM SEDAN, VIN [XXX]. 106K MILES. I MAINTAIN IT REGULARLY. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK YESTERDAY 9/5/07 AND THE ENGINE STALLED ABRUPTLY MAKING A NOTICABLE "CLUNK" NOISE. I WAS ALMOST UP TO 55MPH WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I COASTED TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULDNT FIRE, IT WOULD TURN OVER HOWEVER. THAT GAVE ME THE AWFUL FEELING THAT THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN PROBABLY BROKE. I TOWED THE CAR HOME AND TORE IT DOWN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. ALSO THE LEFT ADJUSTABLE CHAIN GUIDE WAS ALSO BROKEN. NOW I AM WORRIED THAT THE VALVES OR PISTONS MAY BE DAMAGED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS I AM DEFINITELY NOT ALONE. GM MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRAP DESIGNS. I'M SICK OF THIER QUALITY ISSUES. AFTER I FIX THIS THING I WILL BUY A HONDA! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201761September 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201147August 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SUDDEN FAILURE OF TIMING BELT IN OUR 2001 SATURN L300 (56,000 MILES, REGULAR DEALER SERVICE), CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. ENGINE COMPLETELY RUINED. DEALER WANTS $4,000 TO REPAIR. SATURN SAYS REPLACE BELT AT 100,000 MILES. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE COMPLAINTS. DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201172August 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR CUT OFF. I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD SON WITH ME. IT LEFT US STRANDED 5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. WE WERE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND A GAS STATION FOR A TOTAL OF 7 HOURS WHILE I WAITED FOR MY DAD TO COME GET US. MY SON HAS SEVERE ASTHMA AND THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY WAS NEAR 100 DEGREES. AFTER BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR AN HOUR HIS WHOLE BODY TURNED RED. I HAD TO WALK 2 MILES ON THE SIDE OF THIS MAJOR INTERSTATE TO GET US TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION WHERE WE SAT AND WAITED FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND TORE UP THE HEADS ON THE MOTOR. I HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE TOP END OVERHAUL ON THE MOTOR. THIS COST ME 1500 WHICH WAS AT A DISCOUNTED RATE BECAUSE MY DAD KNEW THE MECHANIC. SEVERAL OF THE PAST WERE ON BACK ORDER SO IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE IT HAS BEEN AT THE MECHANIC AND WE ARE STILL WAITING ON BOLTS SO HE CAN PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. *JB MY TWO YEAR OLD SON AND I FINALLY ARRIVED BACK HOME AT 6:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING, MY CAR BROKE DOWN AT 1. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200990August 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
1)REAR BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. 2)NO CONSEQUENCES 3)SATURN REPLACED LIGHTS SOCKETS FOR REAR TAIL LIGHTS ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECALL #05V245000 BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS WHICH WERE SHORTED OUT BY THE DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200558August 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN UPSTATE NY, MY 2002 SATURN L200 SUDDENLY BEGAN DECELERATING AND AS MUCH AS I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO STOP. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WHICH WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND MOST CARS WERE SPEEDING AROUND ME. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO, WITHOUT EVEN EXAMINING THE CAR SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THIS DIAGNOSIS PROVED TO BE TRUE AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF THE L200 SERIES. I ALSO BECAME ANGERED BECAUSE I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR TO SATURN AT LEAST THREE TIMES COMPLAINING OF THE WARNING SIGNS--THE CAR HAD DONE THIS SAME THING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT ALWAYS RESTARTED AFTER A WAIT OF ANY WHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO THREE HOURS. EACH TIME I BROUGHT IT TO SATURN THEY ACTED LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE, AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED ABOUT IT AND ALL SATURN MECHANICS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I PAID $21,000 FOR THIS CAR, WITH THE INTENTION THAT IT WOULD LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS. I JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR IT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I BELIEVE SATURN SHOULD PAY TO FIX THIS. THE TIMING CHAINS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201409August 23, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
2002 SATURN L-200 WITH HEAD LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SWITCH SHORTS OUT WHICH CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO COME ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT SHORTS AND CAUSES THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. AT TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200480August 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING, ONCE CAR WAS WARM, I STARTED HEARING A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MECHANIC RAN AN EMISSIONS TEST AND DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER, ALTHOUGH I HAD NO MORE WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT ONCE THEY INSTALLED THE GASKET, THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE AND THE CAR WAS NOW UNDRIVEABLE AS THE MANIFOLD ITSELF WAS WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (INCLUDING ANOTHER GASKET AS THE 1ST WAS DAMAGED BY TRYING TO INSTALL IT ON A WARPED MANIFOLD). THE CAR HAS APX 58,000 MILES. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS BEFORE AND ONLY EXPLANATION FOR IT HAPPENING WAS EXTREME HEAT, YET THIS ENGINE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED; OIL IS CHANGED AS SOON AS LIGHT COMES ON. LUCKY I DID NOT INCUR MAJOR DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OR THE ENGINE (AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE I AM WAITING FOR THE TIMING BELT TO GO. WHY NO RECALL ON THIS??) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199715August 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 23,600 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199471August 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2000 SATURN LS (80,000 MILES) HAS SLIPPED, AND IT'S BEING RECOMMENDED BY MY SATURN DEALER THAT I REPLACE NOT ONLY THE TIMING CHAIN, BUT ALSO THE HEAD ASSEMBLY, AS WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN GOES, IT USUALLY ENDS UP IMPACTING THE VALVES, AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199554August 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES LATER THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199064August 10, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED A CRACKED FITTING ON THE TANK. THE COMPONENT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $576.22. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP NIPPLE WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING. UPDATED 09/27/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198918August 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2000 SATURN LS1 WAS WORKING JUST FINE UNTIL ALL OF THE SUDDEN I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. THE CAR DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. I HAD BOTH OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, ONE OF WHO IS 10 MONTHS OLD, AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND IT CAUSED TWO VALVES TO BECOME BENT AND THE MOTOR HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198721August 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TIMING CHAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198717August 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NOT SURE IF I REPORTED HERE ALREADY, BUT DOING SO AGAIN JUST IN CASE. I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 ("PREMIUM CERTIFIED" PRE-OWNED). IT FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURER OF THE TIMING CHAIN DEFECT (MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED 2/01). I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, TO THE TUNE OF $2900 WORTH OF REPAIR COST. AS WRITTEN ON THE REPAIR ORDER, THIS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TENSIONER (SP?) PROBLEM WITH THE CHAIN DESIGN. MY FAILURE HAPPENED UPON STARTING MY VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY; HOWEVER, IN MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING AND IT IS ONLY A MIRACLE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT (AT LEAST, NOT THAT WE KNOW OF). MY VEHICLE HAD 80K MILES AT THE TIME...HOWEVER, MOST OF THOSE MILES WERE HIGHWAY (LONG TRIPS DOWN SOUTH). I WONDER WHETHER IT TOOK SO LONG FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE I STARTED MY CAR LESS OFTEN THAT OTHER PEOPLE. IN ANY CASE, I WANTED TO ENCOURAGE A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND A DANGEROUS CONDITION NOT ONLY TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES, BUT TO OTHER DRIVERS, AS WELL. SEARCH THE WEB AND SEE HOW MANY SITES THERE ARE WITH STORIES OF CHAIN FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE--I GUARANTEE YOU WILL FIND HUNDREDS--QUITE A LARGE PERCENTAGE FOR THE SHORT MANUFACTURING PERIOD OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, NOT TO MENTION MANY OTHER SATURN MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN. MY DATE OF FAILURE IS WITHIN A DAY OR TWO--I DON'T HAVE THE PAPERWORK WITH ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197108July 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 SATURN L200 TIMING BELT FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197115July 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON MONDAY, JULY 9, 2007 MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS CRANKING, AND THEN HAD PROBLEMS TAKING OFF. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAVE NOW HAD A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR REPAIR BILL TO HAVE TO FOOT. AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OF THE UNRELIABLY AND SAFETY ISSUES, I HAVE NOW PURCHASED A NEW HONDA THAT I CAN DEPEND ON. FROM THE HUNDREDS OF LISTINGS I HAVE FOUND ONLINE I DO SEE THAT THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND BELIEVE THIS TO BE RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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