Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10174980December 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE WAY TO MY FAMILIES THANKSGIVING WITH NO WARNING. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER 5 HOURS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. MY OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ON TIME THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE CAR, THIS I HAVE RECORDS OF. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM SATURN CORPORATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER CLAIMS I HAVE SEEN THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE THE BILL TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS WAY TO HIGH FOR ME TO PAY, OVER 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174274November 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STEREO COMES ON AND GOES TO AUX MODE EVERY TIME CAR IS TURNED ON. THE STEREO WAS REPLACED ONCE, NOW THERE IS A BULLETIN THAT STATES ONE MUST REMOVE POWER TO THE UNIT IN ORDER TO RESET IT. THIS ENTAILS PULLING THE FUSE EACH TIME IT STARTS HAPPENING, EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174277November 26, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FINALLY REPLACED VIA A BULLETIN. HOWEVER, THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED UP NEAR THE TOP OF THE WINDOW CONTINUOUSLY HAS ONE OF THE CENTER LAMPS INOPERATIVE, ONE TIME THE LAMP HAD JUST FALLEN OUT. IT HAS BEEN FIXED 5 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174354November 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN LS1 AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC IN MOTION WHEN I LOST ALL POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND I STILL OWE $1500.00 ON THE LOAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173832November 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY TIMING CHAIN IS GOING OUT ON MY 2002 SATURN L100. I DON'T KNOW THE COST TO FIX YET AS I HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT TO A GAS STATION AND NOT A REPAIR FACILITY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173879November 20, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP LEAKED GAS PROFUSELY AND ON A WORSENING BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE, AND NO FURTHER PROBLEMS HAD OCCURRED. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173743November 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, MY HUSBAND'S 2001 L200 SATURN 4-CYL LOST ALL POWER. HE SAFELY COASTED TO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. REPAIR SHOP STATES TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION. THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE/COSTS IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173553November 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE AND THEN JUST DIED. HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. HE HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE L-SERIES. THEN I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WORK DONE; TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, HEAD, VALVES, PISTONS WERE ONLY SCORED -- TOTAL BILL OF $3,700!! CAR IS A 2002 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO SAY IT WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO "POOR MAINTENANCE," BUT IF THEY HAD LOOKED AT THEIR RECORDS, THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN I HAD THE CAR SERVICED ONLY BY THEM ON A REGULAR ON-TIME BASIS! IN FACT IT HAD BEEN IN FOR A SERVICE (OIL CHANGE) ONLY THE WEEK BEFORE. LET'S FACE IT: THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173506November 14, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH, GAS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN, MILEAGE RESET BACK NUMBERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173520November 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ALERTED THE CONTACT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED WHO INDICATED THE BATTERY COULD BE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC BECAUSE THE NEAREST DEALER WAS 100 MILES AWAY. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE AT THE AUTO SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE TIME CHAIN FAILURE. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173302November 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NHTSA #: 10002122 SERVICE BULLETIN #: 030601017 THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT ABOUT 45-55 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL SOMEWHAT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANICS GARAGE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY ENGINE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE (NOT 67000 MILES!), HAD SNAPPED AND THAT IN TURN DESTROYED THE UPPER HALF OF THE ENGINE REQUIRING IT TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE THROUGH SATURN AND NEEDING MY CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK, I ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE ENGINE MYSELF TO THE TOLL OF $2400. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT AWARE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE CURRENT ENGINE IN STILL USING THE OLD TIMING CHAIN/OILIER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173295November 8, 2006
WHEELS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT REGARDING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN HIS VEHICLES WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUDDENLY FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKE AND THEN HE BEGAN RIDING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL. THERE WAS NO STEERING AND THE CONSUMER COULDN'T ACCELERATE AWAY FROM THE GUARDRAIL AND WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *JB THE ENTIRE RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TIRE, RIM, BRAKE ASEMBLY, ROCKER ARMS, AXLE AND STRUT WERE MISSING. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172305October 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 (81,00 MILES) BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALL POWER STOPPED AND HAD TO COAST TO SAFETY, WAIT ALONE ON THE TURNPIKE FOR HELP. RESEARCH SHOWS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS STILL HAPPENING! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172170October 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 2/9/2007 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY THE LABOR TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171680October 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON I-75 IN KENTUCKY DOING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I NOTICED THAT I LOST THE GAS PEDDLE AND BARELY HAD STEERING. NO LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE DASH AND I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A STEEP DOWN GRADE CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC! HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (AFTER SITTING FOR 2 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN). THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS THEN 3 HOURS FROM HOME WITH IT NEEDING A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE!! I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT! MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH A CAR THE DECIDED TO QUIT RUNNING ON A STEEP GRADE AND ALL THE SEMIS AROUND!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171677October 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM A 3TIME SATURN OWNER--BOTH MY SL SERIES WERE EXCELLENT! THIS L300 HAS BEEN A DISAPPONTMENT. THE ODOMETER SUDDENLY WENT FORM 43K TO 694K (STUCK) W/O WARNING OR EVENT. THE DASH TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING. IM TOLD THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) HAS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $600. THIS MAY BE THE SATURN THAT DRIVES ME BACK TO TOYOTA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171325October 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 WHICH I BOUGHT IN 2003 USED. I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY 6 LANE MAJOR ROAD WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DIED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE BEFORE ROLLING TO A STOP, BUT CAUSED A MAJOR HAZARD SITTING IN THE ROAD WITH CARS HAVING TO GO AROUND ME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND FOUND IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT HAD BROKEN, ALSO DAMAGING SEVERAL VALVES IN THE PROCESS. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AFTER 12 DAYS AT A COST TO ME OF $2700. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE TIME MY CAR WAS BEING FIXED AT A COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. I HAD TO TAKE A LOAN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND RENTAL. IN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY, MANY SATURN L200'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT VARIOUS MILEAGE MARKS. I HAVE ONLY 56,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND UP UNTIL NOW, HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, BUT THIS WAS MAJOR. I, LIKE THE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVE KEPT MY OIL CHANGED AND KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED BY THE NHTSA WHICH WAS CLOSED. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 45 PAGES OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET AND WONDER IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DEATH TOLL IS SIGNIFICANT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171352October 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT BOTH TIMING CHAINS WERE FRACTURED. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED; PART NO. RC1031. ALSO, THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED IT RUINED ALL THE OIL VALVES AND SEALS. AS A RESULT, A NEW OIL VALVE AND SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171165October 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, AND MY 2001 SATURN L200, JUST GAVE OUT ON ME. I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. IT WOULDN'T STOP OR ANYTHING. I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO ANYTHING. I CAME ABOUT 2 INCHES AWAY FROM HITTING A LIGHT POLE. MUST OF BEEN GOD THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN. I BEEN READING THAT THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. I COULD OF BEEN REALLY HURT OR GOT INTO A BAD ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING ON THE COST OF HOW MUCH IT WILL BE FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171073October 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER SURGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEN ALL POWER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO A STOP. WHEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED. UPDATED 11/3/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn LS