Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10265745April 17, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS, A SEMI-TRUCK LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE. THE SEMI-TRUCK WAS HEADED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, SO HE JUMPED OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FELL INTO A DITCH. THE SEMI-TRUCK STRUCK THE FRONT CORNER PANEL OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND PLACED A FEW DENTS IN THE DOOR. WHEN THE CONTACT JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AND PREVENTED HIM FROM RE-ENTERING. HE SUSTAINED HIP AND MINOR SPINE INJURIES, FOR WHICH HE IS CURRENTLY BEING TREATED. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE INCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE NEVER DEPLOYED. HE BELIEVES THAT HAD HE REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG FAILURE, HE COULD HAVE SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10265182April 13, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SIX DAYS AGO I WAS ON MY TO WORK IN MY 2002 L-SERIES200 2.2 LITER THAT ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT JUST DIED ON ME. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR CAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, SO I HAD TO PULL INTO A DITCH. THAT DAY MY UNCLE HELPED ME TOWED IT BACK TO HIS PERSONAL WORK SHOP CAUSE HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK ON VEHICLES. HE TRIED EVERYTHING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH WITHOUT GETTING INSIDE THE ENGINE, WELL IT CAME TO THAT. THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKE AND HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND SAID HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE THIS LINK WAS WEAK.. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WAS STRETCHED, JUST THAT ONE.. AND BECAUSE OF THE CHAIN BREAKING THE CHAIN OILER IS BROKEN ALSO, THE BOLT HOLDING IT UP WAS COMPLETELY BENT, SO WE THINK THE CHAIN HIT IT.. BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY WAS ALREADY OUT WE WERE GOING TO FIX IT OURSELVES. I WENT TO GO GET A TIMING CHAIN AND THE CHAIN OILER, BUT THE CLERK ASK ME IF SATURN HAD REPLACED YOUR CHAIN OILER? I TOLD HIM NO, AND HE ASKED ME IF MY VALVES WERE BENT BECAUSE WHEN THE CHAIN BREAKS THAT USUALLY HAPPENS. SO I ASKED MY UNCLE AND HE WENT AHEAD TO CHECK AND YES THEY WERE. SO I WENT BACK TO THE CAR PARTS STORE AND TOLD THEM YES THAT THE VALVES WERE BENT.. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE OILER BECAUSE OF A BRASS INSERT THAT IN THE OILER. BUT HE SAID IT WAS ONLY FOR THE 2001 NOT 2002. MY UNCLE SEARCH AROUND IN THE OIL PAN AND HE FOUND PIECES OF THE OILER ALONG WITH A BRASS INSERT, SO I THINK MY CAR WAS ALSO INSTALLED WITH PART. SO THAT'S WHEN I WENT HOME TO GET ONLINE TO DO RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND PICTURES OF THAT RECALLED OILER, IT LOOK SIMILAR. AND THEN I FIND OUT THERE ARE SO MANY OWNERS WITH THIS SAME YEAR MODEL THAT ALSO HAD THEIR TIMING CHAIN BROKE.. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO NOTHING AND PLUS I FIND OUT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER. MY CAR IS STILL AT MY UNCLES SHOP AND I KEPT ALL THE BROKEN PIECES IN HOPE SATURN WILL HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264823April 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FAILURE ALSO DESTROYED ENGINE VALVES AND HEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263978April 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2000 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN. THE TIMING CHAIN IS MAKING A HORRIBLE RACKET AND OUR MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $1,200. IF WE DON'T REPLACE IT, THE CHAIN COULD BREAK, CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND COULD LEAVE US STRANDED OR EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I'VE NOTICED THAT THE NHTSA ADMINISTRATION HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER OF 07V519000 (AND ACTION NUMBER - EA06009) UNDER WHICH SATURN WAS REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR 2001 MODEL YEAR L SERIES SEDANS WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. I DON'T SEE WHY MY CAR SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS WELL SINCE IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE THE EXACT SAME DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE APPEARS TO BE THAT THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO MODEL YEAR 2001 AND MY CAR IS A 2000. THE TWO CARS PROBABLY EVEN USE THE SAME TIMING CHAIN. I'M ASKING THAT THE RECALL BE EXTENDED TO COVER MY CAR, WHICH SEEMS ONLY FAIR AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE ON A VERY, VERY SIMILAR CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263241March 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE HAD TO BASICALLY BE REBUILT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262933March 24, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2002 SATURN L-100 SEDAN. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM CONNECTS. FAILURE HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT SO THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR CRASH. FAILURE TOOK OUT RIGHT INNER CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT. WHEEL WELL LINER AND FENDER ALSO DAMAGED. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PART. NEW CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262954March 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PLEASE SEE #DP08002 THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAVE. ESSENTIALLY, THE TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND CREATE THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINEER WHEN THE TIMING BELT COMPONENTS FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262958March 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SATURN 2000 LS TIMING CHAIN I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2000. I GOT STUCK YESTERDAY AND AAA HAD TO TOW IT. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S TIMING CHAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIMING CHAIN SINCE I BOUGHT IT. LAST ONE WAS REPLACED AT 52,000 MILES IN MARCH 2006. NOW I HAVE 66,000 MILES AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD LAST TIME, A TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST A MINIMUM OF 100,000 MILES. IT COST ME ALMOST 3,000. LAST TIME. MY DEALERSHIP, SATURN OF STAMFORD IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO SATURN OF FAIRFIELD. THIS TYPE OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AFTER ONLY 66,000 MILES. I'VE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE AND MY OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED JUST ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. I FEEL SATURN SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR, AND PROVIDE ME WITH A RENTAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262124March 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR HAS SERVICE LIGHT ON. MY LIGHTS FLICKER. SATURN HAS A RECALL ON TIMING BELT AND SATURN COMPANY SAYS MY CAR IS NOT IN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261704March 13, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD NO PRE-INDICATION OF THIS. 2002 SATURN L200. PURCHASED 6-2002. ~78,500 MILES. DATE OF INCIDENT: 3-9-09 @ 10:00AM. MY TIMING CHAIN FELL APART. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKED. (THE ENGINE IS QUIET ENOUGH I COULDN'T HEAR IT SHUT OFF). I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE. SAW THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ON & SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT THEN WOULDN'T START UP & WAS TOWED HOME. MY BOYFRIEND IS A MECHANIC & HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT. IT WAS HARD TO FIND THE PROBLEM, SINCE THE CAR WAS ON AT THE TIME THE VALVES STAYED OPEN, HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE STARTER (-$200). THE CHAIN'S PIN FELL OUT AND HAS LITERALLY FALLEN APART. WE HAVE KEPT THE CHAIN THUS FAR AND WILL INVESTIGATE IF I AM ALLOWED ANY REFUND FOR THE TIME, MONEY AND/OR HASSEL OF THIS. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT PIECES GETTING UP INTO THE ENGINE AND CREATING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, AND LOOKING INTO A NEW VEHICLE POSSIBLY. (HAVING FEEDBACK ON WHAT TO DO NOW WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DO WE STOP WORK AND TAKE IT TO A SHOP OR CONTINUE TO FIX IT? I NEED A CAR SOON. ARE THERE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR? DO YOU KNOW OF HOW I CAN GET REIMBURSED? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CHANCES ARE OF PIECES REACHING THE ENGINE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261729March 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE CAR WAS PROPERLY CARED FOR AND MAINTAINED, RECEIVING OIL CHANGES AND OTHER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261693March 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OKAY. I STOPPED AT MY DAUGHTERS HOUSE TO PICK HER UP FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. I CANNOT GIVE THE EXACT AMOUNT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE CAR IS SITTING AT SATURN OF BOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE I READ ABOUT THE RECALL OF 2001 SATURN'S FOR TIMING CHAIN ISSUES AND THEY SAID THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME. WELL, THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT OF IT, BECAUSE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED OFTEN ENOUGH. THAT IS UNTRUE, BUT MY HUSBAND CHANGES THE OIL EVERY 6000 MILES OR LESS, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANY "RECORDS" SHOWING THIS BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE TO CHANGE THE OIL. THEY SAID THAT IT HAD PROBABLY SLAPPED THE VALVES, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT BROKEN SO I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED AND THEY COULD DO IT FOR ONLY $3100. I AM HAVING THE CAR TOWED HOME AND WILL HAVE A LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGE THE TIMING CHAIN. I AM GLAD THAT I WAS STOPPED WHEN IT QUIT WORKING, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY LOCAL MECHANICS SAID THAT THE CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN OUT SO SOON AS I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR 8 OR SO MILES PER WORKDAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261465March 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I'LL KEEP THIS QUICK. NO CRASH, NO DEATHS, JUST FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I'M GOING TO REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V231000 , SATURN RECALL 03-C-06. I HAVE AN 2002 L300 V6 ENGINE THAT IS NOT THE ENGINE IN THIS RECALL, BUT, I KID YOU NOT, WORD FOR WORD SUMMARY YOU WROTE FOR THE ABOVE FITS MY CAR COMPLETELY. I HAVE REPORTED TO SATURN AND THEY'RE SEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO, BUT SINCE MY ENGINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT, IT'S NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I'M NOW FACING UPWARDS 3K BILL TO FIX ALL THE DAMAGE THAT I BELIEVE TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261366March 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON JANUARY 13, 2009 I TOOK MY CARE TO SATURN TO HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES ASSESSED IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL LIGHTS THAT WERE ON STEADY OR BLINKING ON AND OFF ON THE DASH. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED NY INSPECTION STICKER WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THAT THIS VISIT. I TOLD HIM NO I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE LIGHTS AT THE PRESENT TIME. ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE TECHNICIAN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WHAT THEY FOUND WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE NEEDED: BODY CONTROL MODULE (SHORTED), THERMOSTAT - ENGINE OIL COOLER (LEAKING), OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (LEAKING) AND DRIVER'S FRONT AXLE SEAL (LEAKING). I WAS QUOTED A PRICE IN EXCESS OF $2,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR, PURCHASED BRAND NEW, WELL MAINTAINED AND DON'T SEE HOW MY CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES SHOULD NEED THIS KIND WORK AT ONE TIME. NONE OF THESE ISSUES ARE NORMAL WEAR ON A CAR. SOMETHING MUST BE AWRY SOMEWHERE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261132March 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THERE WAS NO WARNING., NO NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR DID NOT START IN THE MORNING SATURN SAID THE CHAIN BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED ENGINE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE TIMING BELT AND IT'S POOR DESIGN. GM HAS DENIED ANY COMPLAINTS AND STATED THAT ODI PUBLISHES BOGUS REPORTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260905March 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WENT TO START MY 2000 SATURN AND IT DID NOT START. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR WARNING THE DAY BEFORE, SATURN OF RAMSEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS AND QUOTED A PRICE OF ALMOST 3,000. AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET INCLUDING INFORMATION FROM YOU, I CALLED GM. THEY SAID ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WAS "BOGUS" AND NOT TRUE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD OFFER NO HELP. I ALWAYS DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I NEED HELP PLEASE..THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260920March 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 93,000 MILES. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, LUCKILY WE WERE ON A COUNTRY ROAD TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR. WILL COST NEARLY $2000 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260460March 2, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2002 SATURN L200 HIT ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR BY A LARGE 4 DOOR TRUCK AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . DRIVER HIT HEAD ON DRIVER WINDOW , 2 PASSENGERS HURT NECKS . *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10260304February 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
CAR WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2004 USED FROM SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE NC. IN FEBRUARY OF 2006 WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FIND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE PROBLEM. I HAD A USED ENGINE PUT IN MY VEHICLE WHICH ONLY LASTED ME JUST OVER A YEAR AND COST ME OVER 1,800.00. IN OCTOBER OF 2008 I WENT OUTSIDE TO START MY VEHICLE TO FIND IT WOULD NOT START, THINKING THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD I REPLACED IT, IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM THINKING IT MIGHT BE THE SPARK PLUGS THEY WERE REPLACED AS WELL. FRUSTRATED I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PLACE THAT REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE AND AGAIN TO MY SURPRISE GUESS WHAT BAD TIMING CHAIN. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 4 YEARS STILL OWING ON THIS VEHICLE I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. I HAVE CALLED SATURN AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE TO DISCOVER THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS HORRIBLE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259944February 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY UPPER BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I REPLACED 5 OF THESE LIGHTS TO GET MY INSPECTION STICKER. RIGHT NOW ONLY 2 ARE WORKING. YOU CAN ONLY GET THESE BULBS AT A SATURN DEALER AT A COST OF $7.00 EACH. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. THIS IS PART OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING $7.00 EACH TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ON THE SATURNFANS.COM WEB SITE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT SATURN OF NORWOOD,MA. I THINK THAT IT MAYBE A SHORT SOMEWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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