Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10235464July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE COMPUTER RELATED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH DAMAGED THE VALVES. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2,700. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE RECALL AND, THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235543July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON 2000 SATURN LS1 MODEL. FAILURE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY. LOOKING INTO IT, I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SIMPLE FAILURE HAS DAMAGED MY ENGINE. I AM FACING A MINIMUM OF $2600 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. MECHANICS I HAVE CONSULTED STATE THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN MANY TIMES BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235559July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AT 65 MPH AT NIGHT. WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTING SLOWING DOWN. I NEARLY WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WITH TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS TRYING TO MAKE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD A TIMING BELT BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SATURN, THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ASM,CORE-HEAD, GASKET AS, CHAIN PGK, SEAL ASM, BOLT ASM, GASKET-EN, BOLT-6, AND BOLT HV. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $2,780.34. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235255July 22, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 SATURN L 200 HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE ON ROUTE 197 AND CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WOULDN'T RESTART. CAR HAS ABOUT 60K MILES ON IT. FORTUNATELY MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. SATURN REVIEWED OUR MAINTENANCE RECORD, DEEMED IT "EXCELLENT" AND SAID IT WOULD COST ME ONLY $3500 TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE PUT IN. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN. I AM RELUCTANTLY GOING FORWARD WITH REPAIR BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR NOW, BUT I THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM IN ALL L200 SHOULD PROMPT RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234562July 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 SATURN L200, PURCHASED FROM SATURN OF SCHAUMBURG IN DECEMBER OF 2005, NO LONGER RUNS BECAUSE OF A 'SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM'. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BEND. I WAS TOLD BY SATURN OF SCHAUMBURG THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EFFECT MY MAKE OR YEAR, ONLY 2001 VEHICLES. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM 'HARDLY EVER HAPPENED WITH THE L-SERIES' HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY USED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES WAS ALSO USED IN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITER ENGINES, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I ALSO FOUND THAT SATURN HAS REPAIRED 2,932 VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES AND THERE ARE ANOTHER 890 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO TOW MY DISABLED VEHICLE TO SATURN FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AT ADDITIONAL COST TO MYSELF BEFORE THEY COULD TELL ME IF ANY OF THE COST OF REPAIR (ESTIMATED AT $2,272.00 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC) WOULD BE COVERED BY SATURN. I ALSO SPOKE TO TIM IN SATURN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, WHO SAID HE WOULD TRY TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS CHARGED WAIVED, BUT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, IF SATURN DID DECIDE TO COVER SOMETHING IT WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD COVER 100%. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234580July 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE, TURNS OUT THAT AT LEAST 1 VALVE IS BENT DUE TO A SLIPPING TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234462July 15, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MAY 27, 2008 -WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR CUT OFF WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL PUMP. FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED(3X'S)THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE PCM( COMPUTER MODULE) AND IT CUT OFF AGAIN, THE CAR IS STILL @ THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION FOR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT, IN MAY IT IS NOW JULY 15,2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234031July 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2000 SATURN LS1 WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE. I CAME BACK TO MY CAR AFTER WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233835July 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2000 LS1 WITH APPROX 75000 MILES STARTED MAKING A PUTTING/FLUTTERING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED TIMING CHAIN COVER HAD A HOLE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING. REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN COVER, AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. WORK DONE ACCORDING TO STATEMENT... CHAIN, CAMSHAFT TIMING - REPLACE... CHAIN PKG, GASKET-EN,SEAL ASM, COVER ASM, OIL CHANGE. LOOKED UP INFO ON INTERNET AFTER FRIEND STATED UNUSUAL THAT TIMING CHAIN WOULD FAIL UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233687July 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 SATURN LS1 TIMING CHAIN FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233552July 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND BENT THE VALVES AND THE HEAD. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V579000 (POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT) WAS REFERENCED FOR THE 2001 SATURN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233384July 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE SEVERELY INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN RANGE WAS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND IY559453. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE PARTS; HOWEVER, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MORE THAN $800 IN LABOR COSTS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,788.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233911July 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 SATURN WITH BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. SHE STATES THAT UPON HER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN VEHICLES. *KB CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER FATHER-IN-LAW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233059July 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY RELIABLE, CARING MECHANIC THAT MY TIMING CHAIN IS ABOUT TO GO OUT AND NOT TO DRIVE ANY DISTANCES OR IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN PROPER CARE OF MY CAR WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THIS PART SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF MY CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND FEAR THE DANGER OF DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232523June 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2001 L300 SATURN 2.2 L V6 TIMING BELT TENSIONER SEIZED WHILE DRIVING IN LATE APRIL 2008. TIMING BELT BROKE AND ENGINE JUMPED TIME AND BENT ALL VALVES ACCORDING TO SATURN OF RT. 33, PENNSYLVANIA. VEHICLE DOES NOT START, NOR WILL RUN. SATURN DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO CHANGE ENGINE FOR $4500 AND SATURN HOTLINE OFFERRED DISCOUNT ON NEW OR USED VEHICLE. NO RECALLS WERE MENTIONED. ENGINE HAS 57-58,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232079June 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 SATURN L SERIES CAR HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO IT AS YOUR #07V519000. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ENGINE STALLED AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231594June 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 37157 - THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I CALLED SATURN WHO SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED IN ANY WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231610June 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL SERVICE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VALVE IN THE ENGINE TO FAIL ALSO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231084June 16, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN SATURNS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN OF JOLIET WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2005. IT IS A 2002 L200 SERIES. THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK AND SAID THERE WAS A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $500 AND OVER $900 TO REPAIR DEPENDING ON WHERE THE LEAK IS AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ON DISABILITY SOCIAL SECURITY AND CAN NOT AFFORD SUCH A HIGH REPAIR BILL. WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK IT IS A PROBLEM THAT CALLS FOR A RECALL. THIS MUST BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231115June 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STOPPED BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT MY HOME - WOULD NOT RESTART - BATTERY OK. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN OAK LAWN IL -- ADVISED $2,500.00 REPAIR TO SNAPPED TIMING CHAIN AND RELATED ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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