Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10181914February 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, MY 2001 SATURN L200 WITH OUT ANY WARNING DIED. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESS WAY. I HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THEY ADVISED ME TO CALL MY SATURN DEALER BECAUSE A WELL MAINTAINED AUTO WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181314February 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY L200 SATURN HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DEFECT BECAUSE SATURN HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING A LARGER OIL NOZZLE IS INCLUDED IN THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT KIT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION AT LOW ENGINE RPM. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BECAUSE WITH THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION FATALITIES COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED. THIS CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL AND FILTER CHANGES EVERY 3-5K MILES. SATURN HAS THE CAR NOW AND HAS REPORTED IN ADDITION TO THE FAILED TIMING CHAIN IT ALSO HAS A BENT VALVE AND POSSIBLE PISTON DAMAGE. THIS EFFECTIVELY MEANS THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE IS NOW NO CONFUSION IN MY MIND WHY THE JAPANESE AUTO INDUSTRY IS EATING DETROIT'S LUNCH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181351February 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2001 SATURN L300. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES I NOTICE THAT THE CAR "JUMPS" WHEN ACCELERATING (LIKE THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A NOISE BUT ONLY WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON OTHER TIMES IT'S OK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181212January 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A POP WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE CAR QUIT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. EVENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON A UNLIT ROADWAY. WHEN THE AR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN SAID IT WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE BUT ALL OIL CHANGES WERE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. SATURN ALSO CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A MAJOR ONE, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN ISSUED A TSB IN JUNE 2003 WHICH STATED THAT THE OILER TO THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PROPERLY OIL THE CHAIN, BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPEATED FAILURES. A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON BEHALF OF ALL OWNERS WITH THIS FAILURE MAY NEED TO BE STARTED IF SATURN CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179145January 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING LITTLE NOISES IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT WAS COLD, AND AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP THE NOISE WOULD STOP. I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED PRETTY REGULARLY, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR. 2 DAYS AGO, I DROVE ONE MILE FROM MY WORK,AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL I HEARD A LOUD POP IN THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING STOPPED. I WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THE REAR CAM WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND THERE IT WILL SIT FOR AWHILE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AS THE ESTIMATED COST TO JUST GET INTO IT IS $400, AND THEN MOST LIKELY WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. I AM ON A MODEST INCOME, AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. THIS IS MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK, SO IT WILL MOST LIKELY AFFECT MY LIVELIHOOD. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NOT SERVICED THE CAR SINCE 2001 AND PRETTY MUCH I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY, BUT NOT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED AT 89000 MILES. I THINK THAT SATURN SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY BY THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS AND I WANT THEM TO REPLACE MY ENGINE, PARTS AND LABOR AND STAND BEHIND THEIR WORK AS WELL. I FEEL LIKE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS WELL AS A CLASS-ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178792January 16, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 10, 2006 WHEN HE WENT TO GET HIS 2000 SATURN LS 122216 INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FAILED THE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE; STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY LEAK. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CAR WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V197. THE CONTACT REQUESTS TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM UPDATED 2/22/2007 - COOLANT WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE LEAKING*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177992January 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 SATURN L200 HAD A CAM CHAIN FAILURE WHICH HAS CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD AND POSSIBLE PISTON DAMAGE THAT WILL COST WELL OVER 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX ON A CAR THAT HAS 75000 MILES ON IT! I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS IN INVESTIGATION BY YOUR AGENCY NOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177678January 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE EVENING OF 12/29/06 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEEK BEFORE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MECHANIC AND HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANICWAS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THEN HE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF ANY VALVES WERE BENT. 8AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177590January 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND FROM CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA WE PULLED OUR 2002 SATURN L200 INTO THE PASSING LANE TO OVERTAKE A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. WHILE WE WERE MAKING THE PASS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST COMPLETE POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS PROBLEM HAD THERE BEEN HEAVY TRAFFIC INVOLVED. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WHICH IMMBOLIZED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF ANY TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. WE HAVE SERVICED OUR VEHICLE AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FOR EVERY SERVICE INTERVAL SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE NEW. WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND IT TO BE QUITE COMMON IN THE VEHICLE WE OWN. OUR VEHICLE IS STILL INOPERABLE AS OF THIS WRITING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177603January 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE; 2002 SATURN AUTOMOBILE, 74,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178527December 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 SATURN L SERIES TIMING CHAIN BROKE**CC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176860December 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS RELATED TO EA06009 ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, WHILE DRIVING ON A 50 MPH HIGHWAY WE LOST POWER TO OUR SATURN LW200 2002 WAGON. WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WE CAME WITHIN SECONDS OF BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. WE HAVE ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3-4000 MILES. SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST (>$2000) TO GET THE ENGINE FIXED. PLEASE NOTE, THE CHAIN BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOT AT START-UP AS GM STATED IN A LETTER TO YOU ON THIS MATTER. MY WIFE AND I CAME CLOSE TO DYING. AN ENGINE THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN THAT BEAKS ON A HIGHWAY WITH JUST 50,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES DUE TO THIS DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176830December 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 SATURN LS1 IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, KY ON 12/19/06. THE CAR DIED AS SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS CARRYING TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. AFTER ANALYSIS BY A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND RUINED THE ENGINE. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $4000. I AM TURNING THE CAR IN FOR SALVAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176748December 21, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WITH MY SATURN L-200 THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTED, WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER IT WOULD NOT MAKE THE NOISE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN RUNNING. I WAS ON MY WAY TO A COMPANY MEETING IN KC, AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, IT JUST STAYED AT A CONSTANT IDLE. I OF COURSE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, AND HAD NO SUCCESS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, AND THAT IT HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 2,000 - 7,000 DOLLAR RANGE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. NOT HAPPY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176478December 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L-100. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE AUTOMATIC POSITION THE HEADLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY BUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. WHEN THEY FLASH THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES GO BACK AND FORTH AS IF THEY LOSE POWER AND RE-GAIN IT. WHEN THE GAUGES LOSE POWER AND CONTINUE TO LAY DOWN, THE SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION UNTIL THEY RECEIVE POWER AGAIN. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS MANUALLY TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS DO NOT FLICKER, HOWEVER THE GAUGE, INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLICKER. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES. NO ONE HAS A CLUE OF WHAT THE CAUSE CAN BE. CAN HEAR CLICKING FROM UNDERHOOD FUSE BOX WHEN IT DOES THAT. CAN ALSO FEEL THE CLICKING IN THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL AS SATURN CLAIMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176487December 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT HER 2000 SATURN L SERIES HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE IGNITION MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL ON THE WEBSITE WAS IN AUGUST 2003. SHE HAS ALREADY HAD THIS REPAIR DONE, AND STILL HAVE THE REPAIR ORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID GET A RECALL ON THE SAME VEHICLE FOR HER BRAKE LIGHT BUT NOT FOR THIS RECALL. THE RECALL STATED THAT PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION MODULE MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CONTACT HAS HAD THIS REPAIR DONE ON VEHICLE ALSO. TELESIS WILL CALL THE CONTACT AND GIVE HER THE INFORMATION IN THE FAQ. UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176420December 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
LTR FM (MA) BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT HE HAD WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF HIS 2002 SATURN L100. *TS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT NON OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN SMOOTHLY SHEARED OFF. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175487December 7, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, AND TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. A FUSE WAS PULLED TO STOP THE ENGINE. IT STARTED ON ITS OWN ONE HALF HOUR AFTER THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175300December 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT OF MY 2000 SATURN SL2 COMES ON AND THEN THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER IS REDUCED AND THE CAR STOPS AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE REDUCED POWER AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR STOPS AND STALLS IN BUSY TRAFFIC, OR ANYWHERE THE WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON , THE CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED BY AAA ON SATURDAY TO MY HOME AND AGAIN ON MONDAY TO DEALERSHIP AFTER STOPPING IN BUSY MORNING TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHARGED ME OVER $925. THEY REPLACED THE ECM, BUT THE CAR IS STILL NOT STOPPING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND REDUCED POWER LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174967December 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAILED TIMING CHAIN IN MY 2002 SATURN L100. I ONLY HAD 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. IT TOOK MY MECHANIC HOURS TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE TIMING CHAIN LOOKED OK. TURNED OUT IT WAS STRETCHED AND WASN'T CATCHING. TO FIND THE PROBLEM THIS HAD TO BE DONE BY TURNING THE MOTOR BY HAND. HE SUGGESTED I HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALER(OF CLARENCE) WHICH I DID. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. ALSO MY MECHANIC SAID SATURN HAS REDESIGNED THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE OF PAST PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT NOW IS A WHOLE KIT. THE HOLE THAT THE OIL GOES THROUGH WAS TOO SMALL AND THEY DESIGNED IT WITH A LARGER HOLE. THIS REPAIR COST ME $913.00!! I AM VERY UPSET AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SATURN. THEY SAID THEY WILL "REVIEW MY COMPLAINT." *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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