Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10171095October 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CAR WAS RUNNING NORMALLY CAR STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170841October 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2001 SATURN L-200 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH ONLY 70K MILES SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM THAT SATURN WILL NOT ADMIT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170792October 13, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT AND SPENT $8000. LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $2000 TO FIX A TIMING CHAIN. THEN WHEN IT HAD 61,000 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP FIXED. I HAVE FOUND OUT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM, THERE IS A FIX IT KIT FOR IT. THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST ME IN GETTING IT FIXED BECAUSE I WILL NOT PAY FOR A SECOND TOW TO TAKE IT TO THEIR RETAILER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC LETS ME MAKE PAYMENTS. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171209October 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2001 SATURN 200L KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN ENGINE, STEERING SHOOK VIGOROUSLY WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER ASSUMER THE PROBLEM WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF BUT IT DIDN'T. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEEL BALANCING. THE ADJUSTMENT WERE MADE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TOT HE CONSUMER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. SEVERAL MONTHS WENT BY AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. SOMEONE SUGGESTED TOT HE CONSUMER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER . ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO NOT START. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE TIE ROD EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS THE NOISE THE CONSUMER HEARD WHEN SHE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. NONE OF THESE FAILURES WERE COVERED BY THE VEHICLE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED YHE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170483October 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN LW200 NEW FROM SATURN OF GREENVILLE, SC. MY TIRE DEALER UPON CHECKING ALIGNMENT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR CAMBER (WHICH IS NOT ADJUSTABLE) WAS OUT OF SPEC. I HAD THE SATURN DEALER CHECK THIS & THEY VERIFIED IT. I THINK THIS IS AN ASSEMBLY OR DESIGN DEFECT. HOWEVER, THE SATURN DEALER WANTED APPROXIMATELY $500 TO RETROFIT A KIT THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170403October 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, GAS FUMES WERE NOTICED AND THE GAS GAUGE DROPPED AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. ONCE WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY A LEAK WAS OBSERVED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170284October 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SATURN 2000 LW200. WIFE RETURNED HOME FROM AN ERRAND AND PARKED THE CAR. NEXT DAY SHE TRIED TO GO TO WORK, CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THEY THINK THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED (MAYBE). MECHANIC IS NOT 100%. IT BROKE SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE, PISTON, CAM SHAFT NOT SURE. ENGINE HAS ABOUT 77K. UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR AT THIS TIME AS I DO NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED 3300.00 TO REPAIR USING A USED ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170083October 6, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR TAILGATE BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE HAD CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL REPLACED OVER 4 TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169947October 4, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2006, I TOOK MY 2002 L200 TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2001, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP LINE LEAK THAT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED ON THE PRIOR SATURDAY, 9/23/06, BY THE FIRESTONE FACILITY WHERE I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICING BECAUSE I COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SATURN OF THE VALLEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP LINES WERE LEAKING AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE''S MILEAGE WAS 75,202. SATURN OF THE VALLEY AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART BUT I PAID THE LABOR. PRIOR TO THE ABOVE EVENT, ON JANUARY 30, 2006, MY 2003 L200 WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2002. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE''S MILEAGE WAS 58,270. THE TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT CAME TO $553.79 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR AND APPLICABLE TAX. SATURN OF THE VALLEY DID NOT OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART OR LABOR. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS, I WROTE TO SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED THAT THEY COVER THE COST OF THE PART WITH REGARD TO THE 1/30/06, 2003 L200 FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS THE SAME PART FAILED ON BOTH OF MY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL, ONE PRODUCTION YEAR APART, PURCHASED NEW AT THE SAME FACILITY, AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. SATURN CORP. DENIES THAT THERE'S A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THIS PART. HOWEVER, SATURN HAS DISCONTINUED PRODUCTION OF THE L SERIES MODEL VEHICLES. THIS IS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IS AT FAULT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169769October 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WIFE'S CAR...SHE NOTICED A NOISE,TOOK TO MECHANIC...TIMING CHAIN BROKE. DAMAGE TO PISTONS....REPORTED TO (GEICO MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE) INSPECTOR CAME OUT SAID LACK OF OIL CHANGES. WANTED RECORDS...I DO ALL OIL CHANGES. MANY INCIDENTS REPORTED ON INTERNET. TECH SERVICE BULLETIN 03-06-01-017. SATURN SAYS ONLY FOR DEALERSHIPS TO READ ... SATURN L200 WITH 63000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169462September 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SATURN L200 STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVE. NO WARNING, JUST TOTAL ENGINE STOPPAGE. STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER, AND AFTER BUYING AND REPLACING THE STARTER, I AM NOW BEING TOLD IT WAS/IS THE TIMING CHAIN. APPARENTLY SATURN KNOWS THAT IT HAS WEAK TIMING CHAINS YET DOES NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM OF WEAK TIMING CHAINS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170127September 21, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2002 SATURN L200 LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB THE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OF THE TIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168605September 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 74,000 MILES ON MY 2002 L SERIES SATURN, SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167923September 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT LOW SPEED RESULTING IN STALL. CAR RESTARTED AFTER A FEW TRIES AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ABOUT 2 BLOCKS HOME WITH VERY POOR PERFORMANCE. AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167460September 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ODOMETER SUDDENLY BEGAN DISPLAYING ONLY MILEAGE 694978 WITH NO MILES REGISTERED UNDER THE TRIP ODOMETER. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED. (THIS FOLLOWS HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO THE FAILED TIMING CHAIN WITH ONLY 48000 MILES ON THE ENGINE.) THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 51300 MILES, SINCE I CANNOT READ THE ACTUAL MILEAGE AT THIS POINT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167377September 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SATURN L-100 WEST BOUND ON I-70 TRAVELING AT APPROX 65 MPH. WHEN SHE BEGAN DECELERATING WHILE APPROACHING THE EXIT RAMP FOR US 33 SOUTH THE ENGINE QUIT. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR TO AS SAFE STOP ON THE BERM OF THE EXIT RAMP. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER, WE WERE IN FORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD STRETCHED AND SKIPPED A TOOTH CAUSING THIS ZERO CLEARANCE ENGINE TO REQUIRE A REBUILD COSTING NEARLY $3000. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OIL CHANGES ON MY PART. I CHANGE THE OIL IN THIS CAR EVERY 5000 TO 6000 MILES. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN L-SERIES OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FAILURE, MANY WITH LESS MILES THAN MY CAR. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN DURING A HIGH TRAFFIC TIME OF DAY WHILE DRIVING IN A MIDDLE OR LEFT LANE ORE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167403September 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE TIMING BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167213September 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2001 L-SERIES SATURN DEVELOPED A LOW SPEED MISS, WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STICKING VALVE AT SATURN OF FREDERICK, MD. THREE DAYS LATER ON A NARROW ROAD MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 55 MPH. CAUSING A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE OVER TO A VERY NARROW SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE AS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH ALSO CAUSED BENT VALVES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS INSTALLED AND THE HEAD WAS RE-DONE WITH NEW VALVES AND GASKETS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS AND UPDATED KIT CORRECT EARLY DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH AN OILIER NOZZLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167195August 31, 2006
STEERING
I PURCHASED A PRE-CERTIFIED VEHICLE FOR CARMAX 12/13/03. ON 12/16/03 I HAD TO RETURN THE CARE BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AS IF SOME WAS VERY LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR A GAVE ME A LOAN CAR. I DID NOT GET MY CAR BACK UNTIL 01/05/04 . CARMAX DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOUND THE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WAS SUBLET TO AIRPORT SATURN FOR REPAIRS. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE RETURN OF MY CAR BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER ALWAYS LOANED ME CAR TO KEEP ME QUITE, BECAUSE I TOLD THEM I WANTED ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE CONTRACT STATES IF YOU ARE IN ANY WAY DISSATISFIED WITH A CAR YOU CAN RETURN IT WITHIN 5 DAYS. I TRIED TO RETURN MY CAR THE NEXT DAY BUT THEY TOLD ME SINCE THE PURCHASE WAS ALREADY MADE I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD HONOR ANY REPAIRS NEEDED. NOW AUGUST 31,2006 I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, THE STEERING SHAFT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE ALL OVER AGAIN MY CAR IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY,BUT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THE SERVICE I NEED FROM CARMAX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167117August 30, 2006
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I PURCHASED MY 2002 SATURN L300 BACK ON 9/30/2002. CAR, AT TIME OF PURCHASE, WAS BRAND NEW. SINCE ITS PURCHASE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER. RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START SO SATURN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR COLUMBUS, GA LOCATION TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED BATTERY HAD DIED AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. THE NEW BATTERY REPRESENTS THE 3RD BATTERY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SINCE I PURCHASED IT (VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 55,000 MILES ON IT). I ASKED, WHILE THEY HAD IT IN THE SHOP, TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AS THEY WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. MY WIFE WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP YESTERDAY 8/29/06 AND WAS ADVISED ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE 4TH SET OF TIRES THIS CAR HAS HAD SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BACK IN LATE 2002. AT TIME OF PURCHASE I ADDED A 5 YEAR 60,000 MILE B-T-B WARRANTY WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE. SATURN, FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS BOTH TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CORP HEADQUARTERS HAS DECIDED THAT THE CAR IN FACT DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AND THAT MY PREGNANT WIFE (WITH 1 YEAR OLD IN BACK SEAT) MUST BE DRIVING IT POORLY. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR DOWN SO QUICKLY HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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