Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10191226May 19, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. I HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN LEADING TO ITS LINKAGE. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL LIFE RISKING PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE THE PART IN QUESTION WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO UNDERGO WEAR. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR LIFE! ONE MAY NOT GET A SECOND CHANCE IF THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191174May 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK ON THE 2001 SATURN L200 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN RICHMOND ON APRIL 17, 2007. BREAKING IN THIS FASHION IT FATALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. I LEARNED AFTER THE FACT THAT SATURN HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LUBRICATING NOZZLE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN DURING THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE EXISTING MODELS, INCLUDING OURS, EVEN THOUGH WE PURCHASED IT AFTER THE DESIGN CHANGE HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SATURN THEMSELVES HAS WARRANTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT THE 90,000 MILE SERVICE - OURS BROKE AT 84,700. SATURN HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190713May 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,361. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190615May 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE ENGINE NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $5000. WE'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS, TOTAL OF 60000 MILES ON THE CAR. REGULAR OIL CHANGES FROM THE SAME SERVICE FACILITY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191098May 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2001 SATURN L200 CUSTOMER IS DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT RECALLED IGNITION CONTROL MODULE THAT FAILED 35,000 MILES AFTER BEING REPLACED**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL PART WAS NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART. THE LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND THE REAR GUIDE WAS MIS-ALIGNED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189638May 3, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
5/2007 - AC COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FREON LEAKING; THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED ON THIS SAME VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2006. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189401May 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 70,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189251April 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, HER COUSIN, AND 3 YEAR OLD NIECE WERE DRIVING ON I-70 NEAR CHICAGO WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DIED. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF INTERSTATE TO SIDE OF ROAD BY 2 YOUNG WOMEN WITH 3 YEARS IN CAR. TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WITHOUT WARNING ON A CAR WITH 54,000 MILES ,LEAVING THE CAR NON FUNCTIONAL IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE EXPRESSWAY, 300 MILES FROM HOME, AND LEAVING DAUGHTER, COUSIN AND NIECE STRANDED IN A STRANGE CITY WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, OR THAT A CAR THAT SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189115April 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON 2000 SATURN LS1 @ 80,000 MILES. NOTICED NHTSA INVESTIGATION IS STILL ACTIVE ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO SERVICE STATION WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, BUT AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS CAR SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. SURPRISED TO LEARN NOW THAT GM HAS A TSB OUT FOR THIS ISSUE, KNOWING THE TIMING CHAIN DOES NOT GET ENOUGH OIL. THIS CAR IS IN BEING SERVICED NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188869April 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AFTER ONLY 31,000 MILES ON A 2001 MODEL SATURN L SERIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188895April 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 SEDAN MONDAY APRIL 23, 2007 WHEN I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY(ACCELERATING AND MERGING) WHEN I HAD NO WARNING, MY CAR JUST STALLED ON ME. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO MY RIGHT. MY ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. IT IS AT A NON-DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER BECAUSE 1. WHERE I WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED AND 2. WHO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD AUTHORIZE THE TOW TRUCK TO GO TO. I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF SURVEYS ON THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEIR SATURNS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AND WITH SIMILAR COMPONENTS. THE REPAIR CENTER HAS CONFIRMED THAT MY TIMING BELT HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVE 6 BENT VALVES WHICH THEY HAVE SENT IN TO BE MACHINED AND FIXED. I AM AWARE OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS TIMING BELT FAILURE(DP05-008). IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188609April 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, WHO RECOMMEND THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DETACHED AND DAMAGED THE HEAD. ALSO, THE HEAD, FRONT GASKET, AND ALL RELATED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND COST $1,669.94. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT TO HAVE SUCH A FAILURE. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE HE DISCOVERED A FEW COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,898.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188615April 23, 2007
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS NEEDING A NEW TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188374April 19, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AROUND REAR OF CAR. FUEL PUMP LEAKING FUEL. FUEL PUMP REPLACED, OLD FUEL PUMP PART AVAILABLE. 2001 SATURN L-200, 116,000 MILES. SMELL WAS SO STRONG AT TIMES A SPARK OR LIT CIGARETTE WOULD CAUSE EXPLOSION OR FIRE. DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMOM PROBLEM AT 100,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188201April 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN L200 ABOUT 1 1/2 YEAR AGO WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY IT NOW HAS 80,000K MILES. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 2MPH AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER TAKING INTO THE SHOP THEY SAID MY TIMMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I AM VERY UPSET AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I GET MY OIL CHANGES DONE ON TIME AND I DONT THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. MY CAR BILL WAS $2725.00. I WENT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY PRETTY MUCH DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO ME AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187384April 9, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
TIMING CHAIN ON 2001 SATURN L200 WITH 78,000 MILES BROKE WHILE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, LOST ALL POWER. SATURN REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THISWAS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH MOST VEHICLES WITH A 2.2 L ENGINE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 200-2003. THEY NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE OIL NOZZLE, AND WERE TELLING THE CUSTOMERS IT WASTHEIR FAULT DUE TO NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE OIL CHANGES. HAVING A VEHICLE LOSE POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY CONSTITUTED A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187260April 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE 2002 SATURN L200 WHILE DRIVING , NOT AT START UP WHILE PARKED . WE WERE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED SO WE AVOIDED A COLLISION OR OTHER PHYSICAL MISHAP. AS WE HAVE LEARNED HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH DOZENS OF OTHER SATURN, THE CHAIN BREAKAGE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, E.G., VALVES. THUS, THE REPAIR COST WAS FAR GREATER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, HAD THE ENGINE BEEN DESIGNED WELL. ONE NEED NOT BE AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER TO CONCLUDE THAT SATURN HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL MODELS WITH A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT THIS FLAW WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THOSE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN SUCH A MODEL, AND TO THOSE DRIVING ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187098April 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186793April 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING A 2002 SATURN L-100 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, AND WHEN IT DID, I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MERGE WITH THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE CAR STALLED AND I COASTED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR, AND HAD IT TOWED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC, AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AVOID ANYONE OR ANYTHING HAD CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MASS OF THE ENGINE IS STILL TURNING, THE LIGHTS INFORMING YOU THAT THE CAR HAS STALLED DO NOT COME ON. MY OIL AND IGNITION LIGHTS ONLY CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS TRAVELING SLOWER THAN 10 MPH. DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE THAT THE ENGINE HAS STALLED, THEN YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER REMAINING. ONCE THE VACUUM BOOSTER IS FULL OF AIR, THE BRAKES BECOME HARDER TO ACTUATE, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THAT MY BRAKES WERE ALSO ABOUT TO GO. IT WAS TRULY WEIRD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186650April 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
NORMAL DRIVING 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WHATSOEVER BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURRED. TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 51000 MILES, LOST COMPRESSION IN 3 OF 4 CYLINDERS, LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. SATURN REFUSED TO REPAIR FOR FREE, CHARGED ME 2000 DOLLARS (DEDUCTIBLE ON THEIR WORST WARRANTY THEY SOLD AT THE TIME). OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED BY TWO OTHER MECHANICS BEFORE AS A LAST RESORT TAKEN TO A SATURN DEALER TO BE FIXED. SERVICE MANAGER ALSO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE TSB THAT HAD BEEN RELEASED CONCERNING THE OIL NOZZLE ON MY SATURN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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