Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10225678April 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE, TIMING CHAIN COVER AND VALVE COVER GASKET ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225249April 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE BLINKER / LIGHT HANDLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. WHEN I TURN THE BLINKER ON EITHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COME ON, AND CAUSES THE BLINKER ELECTRICAL WIRING TO ARC AND CAUSE A SMALL FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, WHICH EMITS SMOKE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THAT AREA, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND BLOW OUT MANUALLY (DO NOT HAVE A PLACE FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE VEHICLE). EVER SINCE THAT DAY, IT HAS DONE THIS, ARCING AND CAUSING THE SMOKE IN THE CABIN. ONE TIME ONLY HAS IT FLARED UP WITH VISIBLE FLAMES AND IT DID NOT DESTROY THE VEHICLE, NOR CAUSED ANY OTHER DAMAGE OF ANY SORT. HOWEVER IT STILL DOES CAUSE THE ARCING IN THE WIRING AND CAUSE THE SMOKE TO FILL PART OF CABIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225305April 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2001 SATURN L300 WON'T START, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, IT STILL WON'T START. AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED, CAN'T STILL FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224682April 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN THIS CAR WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT AT 64MPH. THE RESULT INCLUDED 8 DAMAGED VALVES AND IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. I AM TRYING TO DO THE WORK MYSELF BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT. EVEN WITH ME DOING THE WORK IT IS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224732April 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2001 SATURN L200. I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE. WHEN THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES AND THE CHAIN LOOKED IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CHAIN BREAKING ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE TOTAL WAS NEARLY $2,800.00 OF DAMAGE. IN JANUARY OF 2008, SATURN LAUNCHED A RECALL OF 21,000 OF THERE 2001 L200'S. THE REASON FOR THE RECALL WAS "LINKS IN THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE". I NOTIFIED THEM OF MY OCCURRENCE 6 MONTHS PRIOR AND SUBMITTED MY INFORMATION. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT MATCH THE VIN RANGE OF THERE RECALL. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224566April 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224603April 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2000 SATURN LW1 HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A NEW TIMING CHAIN. SATURN SERVICE HAS INDICATED THAT THE 2001 VERSION OF MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224428April 14, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SWITCHES FOR ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE ENGINE MODULE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER SENSORS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FAILED. WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL HOUSING SCREW WAS LOOSE AND THE FILTER COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,564 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224252April 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 2001 SATURN L SERIES WITH 53,450 MILES SPRING HAD BROKEN AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223826April 9, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 L100 SATURN AT 11:00PM COMING HOME AND IT JUST QUIT. IT HAS BEEN A VERY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. IT IS A TIMING CHAIN THAT WENT OUT. SATURN DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT HAS ABOUT 97,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223488April 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NHTSA COMPLAINT APRIL 6, 2008 REF: 2001 SATURN L200 4-DOOR SEDAN WITH 2.2L DOHC ENGINE PURCHASE DATE: JULY 15, 2004 WITH 27,309 MILES DATE OF INCIDENT: FEB. 27, 2008 WHAT HAPPENED? MY WIFE DROVE APPROX 13 MILES, JUST PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HER WORKPLACE, AND THE VEHICLE DIED. SHE CALLED AND I DROVE TO THE LOCATION TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH I COULD NOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NATION-WIDE AUTO REPAIR CENTER WHERE I WORK AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO OF THE MASTER TECHNICIANS AS WELL AS THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SEPARATED AND THE 4 CYLINDERS HAD NO COMPRESSION DUE TO BENT VALVES. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE FROM $1,150.00 TO $3,800.00. RESULTS: I DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM FROM SATURN AFFECTING APPROX 20,000 VEHICLES. I CONTACTED A SATURN DEALER IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE CHECKED AND SAID OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD CONTACT THE ?REGIONAL MANAGER? AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. TWO DAYS LATER, HE INFORMED ME THAT SATURN WOULD INSTALL A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF OF THE TOTAL EXPENSE WHICH IS $7,200. SATURN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND OILER NOZZLE IN THESE ENGINES. AT ENG IDLE, THERE IS LACK OF LUBRICATION TO THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTING IN FAILURE. SATURN NOW HAS AN IMPROVED TIMING CHAIN AND OILIER DESIGN WHICH "INCREASES OIL FLOW TO THE TIMING CHAIN AT IDLE". SEE SATURN TECHNICAL BULLETIN "TIMING CHAIN DESIGN CHANGE AND REVISED SERVICE PROCEDURES #03-06-01-017 - (JUN 9, 2003). I'VE CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER EVERY 3-4K MILES, USING ONLY SPECIFIED OIL. THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS NOR ANY NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HOPE YOU FOLKS CAN HELP! BEST REGARDS, WILLIAM MAJOR *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222462March 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LW1. THE TIMING CHAIN COMPLETELY SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, THE PISTONS JAMMED THE VALVES AND CAUSED THEM TO FAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN PULLED THE SPROCKETS APART, WHICH CAUSED THE HEADS AND VALVES TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER RECALL AND WOULD CHARGE $2,200 FOR A NEW HEAD AND TIMING CHAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222308March 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BROKEN TIMING CHAIN ON 2000 SATURN LS. RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE BUT COVERS THE SAME EXACT 2001 MODEL WITH THE SAME EXACT ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221847March 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO BROKEN TIMING CHAIN 2001 L2 SATURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221894March 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGWAY AT 65MPH AND THE ENGINE QUIT I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER ANDS HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN DEALER THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE SATURN SAID I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221774March 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE SATURN TECHNICIAN SAID MY CHAIN 'SNAPPED IN TWO' AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD. AFTER BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ECOTEC ENGINE IN THE SATURN L-SERIES FROM 2000-2003. SATURN WAS VERY UNWILLING TO HELP OR ACCEPT ANY SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221306March 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON A 2000 LW1 STATION WAGON. ENGINE MUST NOW BE REPLACED WITH AN ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT COST OF $2500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220431March 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED. THE FIRST ONE WHEN THE CAR WAS MADE, SECOND ONE WAS INSTALLED 09/17/2004, WHICH WAS PUT ON BACKWARDS BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CAUSED MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO CRACK IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS INSTALLED ON 03/03/2005, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND ONE. I HAVE STRONG EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ASKED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHY SO MANY CONVERTERS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AND THEY TELL ME IT'S EITHER CHEAP GAS OR LACK OF TUNE-UPS. THEY WANT $2,000.00 TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD AND ANOTHER CONVERTER. ALSO, MY HEAD LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, SO WHEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, I HAD THE DEALERSHIP DO A HISTORY SUMMARY ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FIRST OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT NEVER HAD BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220189March 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2001 L200 SERIES SATURN. I HAVE HAD FOR 1 YEAR. WHILE DRIVING OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT 75 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, MY CAR WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE AND HAD TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES AND GET THE CAR OFF BUSY I-75. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR HOME AFTER LEARNING THAT THE CAR HAD A BROKE TIMING CHAIN. MY TOW BILL WAS 150.00. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WILL COST TO REPAIR MY CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO HELP WITH FUEL MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220072March 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 LS SATURN - TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY - ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. EVEN THOUGH SATURN HAS RECALLED SOME OF THE L SERIES FOR THIS PROBLEM - THEY SAY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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