Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10194908June 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE 2002 SATURN L200 JUST QUIT RUNNING YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE, AND THAT IT WAS LIKELY THAT OTHER SEVERED, AND COSTLY ENGINE DAMGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURNS WITH THE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. AS I WAS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE TURNPIKE, A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194823June 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ODOMETER READS 694978 AND THAT IS NOT CORRECT. ACTUAL MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER SHOULD BE 47,000. THE TRIP-METER DOESN'T NOT MOVE FROM ZERO AND THE 694978 DOESN'T CHANGE. I AM DRIVING IT BUT THE MILEAGE ISN'T ADDING UP. HOW DO I DETERMINE WHEN II REQUIRE SERVICE??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193746June 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193404June 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 SATURN L200, 4 DOOR SEDAN. ON MONDAY JUNE 4, 2007, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN A RAINSTORM WHEN MY VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH LOST POWER LOCKED. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY. STUCK IN THE RAIN FOR A FEW HOURS UNTIL THE TOWING COMPANY I CALLED PICKED ME UP AND TOWED ME TO A LOCAL GARAGE. AT THE GARAGE THEY CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN WHICH WAS SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS, NY. THEY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED DEALER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPRESSION. IT HAD FUEL, SPARK.IT DID NOT HAVE COMPRESSION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN AT WHITE PLAINS AGAIN IN CARRYING ANOTHER TOWING EXPENSE. THE CAR SAT AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY WERE BUSY WITH OTHER VEHICLES. ON WEDNESDAY,THE SERVICE LADY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RUN SOME DIAGNOSTICS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT MY "TIMING CHAIN BROKE" WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3600.00 TO FIX THE VEHICLE. I TOLD SERVICE THAT I NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND DURING THE CONVERSATION ASKED TO GET TRANSFERRED TO SALES TO WEIGH OUT MY OPTIONS SINCE I STILL HAD A LOAN ON MY VEHICLE ESTIMATED REMAINDER $ 4000.00. THE SALESMAN SAID I WOULD GET $ 500 FOR MY CAR, WHICH WAS A HUGE LOSS. I CALLED HIM BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER AND TOLD HIM I WOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE ON MY OWN, WHICH THAN LED TO ANOTHER $ 200.00 TOW. ON JUNE 8TH, I RENTED A CAR - $ 250/WK. JUNE 10, 2007 - VEHICLE GETTING SERVICED WITH A NEW/USED ENGINE. IT WAS A HORRIBLE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH MY CAR. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY SATURN AN THIS IS ONE IN A STRING OF FRUSTRATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED, OIL CHANGED AND PREVENTIVELY CARE. HE VEHICLE HAD 126,000 MILES AND IT WAS DRIVEN PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193012June 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF AND DAMGED THE HEAD, RODS AND VALVES. CAR HAS ONLY 7)K MILES. I HAVE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM SATURN TO REPAIR FOR 3K
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192850June 10, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON U.S. 301 AT 9:00 A.M. ON OUR WAY HOME IN OUR 2001 SATURN (L100) COUPE. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAD STARTED WHILE DRIVING HOME. WHILE GOING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER AND FORCED US TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE THOUGHT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN IF WE WERE IN AN AREA WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO FLAG DOWN A PASSING TOW TRUCK TO HELP US OUT. THE ROAD SERVICE UNIT DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FAMILY AT HOME. THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN APART AND EXAMINED. THE FIRST EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPLAIN THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I SAID YES, ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I THOUGHT WITH THE LOW MILES (58,767) ON THE CAR, THE WORK WOULD BE WORTH WHILE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A DAMAGED HEAD AND BENT VALVES. WHAT LOOKED LIKE A $1000.00 TIMING CHANGE REPLACEMENT QUICKLY WENT TO SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE! I CALLED THE SATURN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT WARRANTIES THAT WENT WITH THE CAR AND WHAT HELP THEY COULD PROVIDE. THEY EXPLAIN THAT THEY COULDN'T CONSIDER A WARRANTY WITHOUT FIRST EXAMING THE CAR IN THEIR OWN SHOP AND HAVING ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS PROVIDED TO THEM. WITH THE ADDITIONAL TOWING FEES, EXAMINATION FEES FROM THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND NO GURANTEES FROM THE SATURN DEALER; I DECIDE TO ALLOW THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO THE WORK. THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO THE 'PREMATURE" FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN: HEAD, HEAD GASKET, VALVE GASKET, FRONT COVER GASKET, TIMING CHAIN KIT, VALVES, BELT, SPARK PLUGS, WIRE SET, FILTER, OIL, AND ANTIFREEZE. THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $ 2,480.80. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192833June 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 2.2 4 CYLINDER ON SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2007 THROUGH AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE ROUTE 93 AND MONTVALE AVENUE IN STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT DOWN, LEAVING HER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FORTUNATELY FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE ABEL TO SWERVE AROUND HER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF MEDFORD ,AND I AM AWAITING FINAL DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM ,BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH SATURNS AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THIS LIST. IF SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBELM, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE THAT WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF SUCH A PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER IS VERY LUCKY! I HAD CALLED THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK TO HAVE A TAPPING NOISE CHECKED OUT AND THEY SCHEDULED ME FOR NEXT TUESDAY AND MADE NO MENTION ON THE PHONE THAT THIS COULD BE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192774June 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2000 SATURN LS2. I BOUGHT IT IN 2005 AT 26,00 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO RATTLE OR WARNING, BUT MY TIMING BELT BROKE 6/7/07 AND NOW MY CAR ENGINE IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193180June 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, AIR BAGS
2001 SATURN L 200 SERIES CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN AFTER GETTING A BOOSTER THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKS CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION AREA**CC THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED OUT DUE TO THE STARTER BEING STUCK. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE BURNED OUT STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION HOUSING AND IGNITION CYLINDER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER FOUND A CODE AND THE BCM HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERABLE, THE DEALER STATED THE AC CONTROL HAD SHORTED OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192517June 6, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, A STREAM OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRST TIME WAS TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE MOST RECENT WAS ON JUNE 5, 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED AND THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERCHANGEABLY. THE PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,979. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192361June 4, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 271 IN OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 FAILED CAUSING ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK THE CAR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THEN MOVED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, THE TIMING CHAIN WITH THE NEW OILING MECHANISM WAS INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE HEAD NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO BENT VALVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192001May 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 L200 SATURN IN MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN I HEARD A SOUND AND THE ENGINE QUIT. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERS MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT LATER INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $2,900 AND $3,300 TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192030May 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE KNOCKING BADLY. DEALER LISTED CAUSE AS "WEAK TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER"TOLD IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THE MILEAGE (77468). CHAIN PKG COST $733.86 (PARTS/LABOR) I'VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE MANY SATURNS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192060May 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191924May 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRAVELING ON RTE 27 SOUTH IN AVON PARK FLORIDA ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET VEHICLE TOWED TO ALAN JAY SATURN IN SEBRING. AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND WOULD COST $1000 TO FIX. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE. I FIND THIS NOT TO BE THE CASE. THEY REPLACED THE CHAIN THEN TOLD ME SOME VALVES WERE BENT AND WOULD COST $1600.00 MORE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. IT WAS FORTUNATE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO ROADSIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191849May 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY 2002 SATURN L200. I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 54000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT THIS MORNING WITH NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING ON THE EXPRESS WAY WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STALLED. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY THE SEMI BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND AVOID ME AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR OUT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER READING A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? SATURN SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191547May 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2001 SATURN L200. 59,000 MILES. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND SHE LOST POWER. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR HELP. NO ONE WAS HURT. I READ THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. I COLLECT CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD A TIMING CHAIN GO OUT ON WITHOUT SERIOUS REVVING, AND RELEASE OF THE ENGINE RPMS!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192151May 22, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER HAS SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS SATURN INCLUDING IGNITION AND TIRE REPLACEMENT**CC THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE SHIFT LIGHT INDICATOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WENT OUT WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. THE AC WAS NOT COOLING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. THE TIRES HAD SEVER CUPPING FOLLOWING FOUR CROSS ROTATIONS DUE TO A BAD REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191312May 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191327May 21, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
RECENTLY MY INFANT DAUGHTER JUST BARELY AVOIDED BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT ON THE 2000 LS1 SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED AND FELL WHILE DRIVING. WE HAD CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD FIND NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD HAVE FALLEN. HIS SOLUTION WAS TO HAVE US ORDER A NEW PART AND PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE PART AND LABOR TO INSTALL IT. A CHECK WITH THE NHTSA INFORMED US THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2000 L-SERIES SEDANS. THE NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US THAT THIS WAS DUE TO ELECTRONICS WHICH MAY SHIFT OVER TIME. FURTHERMORE, IT APPEARED THAT THIS I WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN ,AND REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY .WOULD DO NOTHING TO PREVENT FURTHER DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. SATURN OFFERED TO PAY $55 TOWARD THE COST OF REPLACING THE PART. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE ANY RECALLS OR TAKE ANY ACTIONS UNTIL FORCED TO DO SO BY NHTSA. THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY NUMBERS REGARDING THE SIZE OF THE CLASS, SUCH AS NUMBER OF REGISTERED OWNERS OF 2000 L-SERIES SEDANS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn LS