Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10159232June 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 SATURN L-200 CAR HAS 50K MILES AND THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKEN. HAVE SEEN ON DIFFERENT INTERNET FORUMS AT LEAST 50 OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS. THE SATURN CORP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN BUT IS NOT WILLING TO HELP IN ANY OF THE REPAIRS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158749June 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING MY ENGINE TURNED OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE ME THE 30 MILES TO MY HOME. TURN MY CAR INTO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND IT MIGHT HAVE DAMAGED THE HEADS AS WELL, RESULTING IN A $2668 REPAIR. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY AND HAVE THEM REPAIR IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158576May 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR BROKE, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH -- THE DEALER TELLS ME -- WILL REQUIRE A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. I COULD NOT GET POWER, SO I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND GET THE CAR TOWED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158328May 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED MY ENGINE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. THEY ARE NOT DUE FOR A CHANGE BEFORE 100,000 MILES. FROM DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SATURN LS SERIES 4 CYLINDER ENGINES DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE DESIGN AND AN OILIER PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD AND A DANGEROUS ONE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158091May 23, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I PURCHASED THIS 2001 SATURN LS 4 CYLINDER SEDAN OFF-LEASE CAR FROM MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER IN JULY OF 2004 WITH APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE PURCHASE THAT IT RECEIVED A NEW RACK AND PINION, NEW FRONT BRAKES AND NEW FRONT TIRES AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NOW HAD THREE RACK AND PINIONS FAIL AND THE FOURTH ON HAS JUST BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON AT THIS TIME AND THE 55,000 MILES I HAVE PUT ON IT IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY HIGHWAY MILES. I AM NOW THINKING ABOUT CONTACTING GM CORPORATE DIRECTLY. THIS IS GETTING COSTLY AND RIDICULOUS! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156523May 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO MY 2002 L200 SATURN 4-DOOR SEDAN, VIN NO- [XXX] ENGINE: 2.2 L DOHC 16 VALVE L4 ENGINE LL0 1.9LL4 (THIS IS ON ONE OF THE SATURN SERVICE PAPERS ABOUT THE ENGINE) MY COMPLAINT IS VERY LONG AND EXCEEDS THE 2,000 CHARACTER MARK, I WILL BE MAILING YOU ALL OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION. I WAS TOLD THAT A CLAIM NUMBER WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO DO THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN MY SATURN. *JB THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND BALANCE CHAIN WOULD PROBABLY FIX THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THE CONSUMER AGREED TO THE REPAIR. REPLACING THE CHAINS DIDNT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HADN'T PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157986May 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN MY 2001 SATURN L200. THIS CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED BY A SATURN DEALER, COSTING APPROXIMATELY $2000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157927May 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN PREMATURELY FAILED AND RUINED MY ENGINE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I AM INCENSED AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN INCORRECT OIL CHANGE BY A NON-DEALERSHIP GARAGE. IN CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH L200 SATURNS. WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT TAKEN ACTION TO REQUIRE SATURN TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM? HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO WARRANT A RECALL? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157661May 16, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM ON A BUSY HIGHWAY (RTE 695 - THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY) AND APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 70 WHEN MY CAR ENGINE CUT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A SEMI AND FORTUNATE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY A MARYLAND STATE POLICE VEHICLE CAME BY TO PROVIDE FLARES FOR MORE VISIBILITY WHILE I AWAITED A TOW TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. MY COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO PENDING CASES (PE06-006 AND DP05-008) IN THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE IS ATTRIBUTED TO A TIMING CHAIN THAT SKIPPED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AS DOES SATURN HEADQUARTERS IN TENN. THEY OFFER NO MITIGATION TO THE $3,200 ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR. IF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, I.E., RAIN OR SNOW, I AM MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY AN AUTOMOBILE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT THAT DIED ON THE ROAD WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS KNOWN DEFECT IS CORRECTED?? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157050May 9, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL LETTER #05V245000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHTS WAS RECEIVED IN DECEMBER 2005. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE DEALER INSTALLED TWO TAIL LIGHTS, REINFORCED SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS UNDER THE RECALL. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THIS WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALER, THE CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKED, THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, AND THE PARKING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THESE ITEMS FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156988May 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH I MOVED TO THE FAST LANE TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND RAPID DECELERATION. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS INCIDENT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR DIAGNOSED IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TIMING CHAIN, AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TIMING CHAIN ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FILE NUMBER SEEMS TO BE PE06-006. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156737May 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
BREAK LIGHTS IN THE 2001 SATURN L200 BURN OUT FUSES. THERE IS A SHORT THAT AFTER CORRECTING AND BUYING NEW FUSED AND NEW LAMPS KEEPS GOING OUT AGAIN AND BLOWING FUSES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156399April 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I SEE THAT THE NHTSA ALREADY HAS AN OPEN COMPLAINT REGARDING THE TIMING CHAIN ON VARIOUS SATURNS 2.2. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE TIMING CHAIN OILER. I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200, 42,000 MILES, WHICH THE TIMING CHAIN JUST WENT OUT ON. I WAS TURNING AT A LIGHT AND ALMOST GOT HIT SINCE THE CAR LOST POWER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. SATURN IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156409April 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2000 SATURN LS1 WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. IT WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY IN THE MORNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES AND HAS HAD THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $3,000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156031April 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING SIGNS, MY 2001 SATURN L-200 HAD THE TIMING CHAIN SPONTANTEOUSLY BREAK. ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AT THE REGULAR INTERVALS. BECAUSE SATURN DESIGNED THIS AS AN INTERFERANCE ENGINE, THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR. NO ONE WAS HURT AS A RESULT OF THIS ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE BLOWN ENGINE WITH A LOW MILEAGE SALVAGE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $2606 TO ME. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155963April 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FOR THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY 2002 L SERIES SATURN DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE THEN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS A MAJOR EXPENSE.($3000 TO $5000) I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON CARSURVEY.COM AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156009April 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY SATURN L200 FAILED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 169 IN GOLDEN VALLEY MINNESOTA. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BECAME WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THANKFULLY IT WAS 3 AM IN THE MORNING AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD SO I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN LOGGED IN DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE06006. IN ADDITION I FOUND THAT 29 OTHER PEOPLE POSTED TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_56674.HTML. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156248April 20, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2000 SATURN LS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *TS *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10155395April 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE. 2. THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP, ALL POWER WAS LOST BUT FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. 3. THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED ENGINE VALVES TO BE DAMAGED. THE TIMING CHAIN, HEAD AND VALVES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1969.00. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155313April 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY 2002 SATURN L300 DIED WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY TRAFFIC INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR FLATBED TOWED TO MY SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER, SATURN OF COOL SPRINGS, ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF BAD ENGINE CONTROL MODULES ON THE L SERIES. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. AFTER MY INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER INSTALLED THE NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, THE CAR WAS STILL INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SATURN OF COOL SPRING SO THEY COULD PROGRAM THE NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. I AM CONCERNED THAT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM THE CAR COULD HAVE DIED ON RAILROAD TRACKS OR IN SOME OTHER MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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