Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10136800September 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING TO WORK WHEN POWER SEAT BEGAN MOVING FORWARD ON IT'S OWN. THEN SEAT SWITCH STARTED SMOKING A LOT. I THEN PULLED OVER EXITED VEHICLE AND HAD SOMEONE NOTIFY FIRE DEPT IN WEST BROOKFIELD MA. I THEN DISCONNECTED BATTERY FIRE DEPT REMOVED SWITCH AND INSPECTED SEAT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT ON FIRE. THE SWITCH ITSELF WAS TOASTED THE WIRING TO THE SWITCH WAS FINE, ALSO THE FUSE TO THE SEAT DID BLOW OUT. I WILL CONTACT DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT SWITCH. I ALSO DO HAVE THE BURNT OUT SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133450September 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2000 SATURN LW-1 TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE VEHICLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, THE VALVES AND GASKETS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136379September 13, 2005
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
DEFECT IN STEERING/ BROUGHT TO DEALER/ REPLACED GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND FRONT TORSION BAR LINKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136377September 13, 2005
STEERING
NOISE FROM STEERING/ BROUGHT TO SATURN/ REPLACED STEERING GEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135851September 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
DT: WHILE DRIVING HOME AND GIVING LEFT TURN SIGNAL THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE INSIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ,BUT THEY CHARGE D THE CONSUMER FOR THE WORK. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135861September 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
FYI - COMMENT NOT A COMPLAINT THE ISSUE OF THE TAIL LIGHT GOING DIM OR JUST OUT. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE STARTING A CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE 00-02 L SERIES STARTING IN OCTOBER. IF THE TAILLIGHT PROBLEM IS CAUSING TO MANY PROBLEM - YOU LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT NO COST REPLACE WITH THE SAME TAIL LIGHT, BUT YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO HAVE YOUR TAIL LIGHT REPLACED ONCE THE NEW DESIGN ONES COME IN. WANT MORE INFO - CALL SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-553-6000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135873September 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DO NOT WORK. THE WINDOWS, THE HORN, AND BRAKES LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS, BUT THE WINDOW, HORN, SPEAKER, DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL, AND THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AT ONE TIME. THE CONSUMER INDICATES WHEN SHE ROLLED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP THAT WAS WHEN EVERY THING QUIT WORKING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT EACH COMPONENT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135733September 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
INCREASING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AREA. UPON REMOVAL OF WHEEL/TIRE THE HUB BEARING UNIT WAS NOT ROTATING FREELY. BEARING FAILURE OF SEALED HUB ASSEMBLY. HUB REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135734September 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION. CAR REAR ENDED DURING EARLY MORNING PILE UP ON I-85 DUE TO TIRE FAILURE ON CAR TWO POSITIONS IN ADVANCE. INVESTIGATE CAUSE OF LIGHT FAILURE AND FOUND MELTED/BURNED LIGHT SOCKET AREA. TRIED TO REPAIR THEN CALLED SATURN FOR PARTS AVAILABILITY. INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL IN OCT 05 BUT THAT I COULD PURCHASE THE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLIES MYSELF AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET REIMBURSEMENT LATER. COST OVER $350.00 PER ASSEMBLY! UNABLE TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY SO I PARKED THE CAR UNTIL THE RECALL LETTER COMES!*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10135157September 2, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WERE PINS MISSING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER SAID SATURN WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TAILLIGHTS THAT MAKE THEM GO OUT WHEN THE CONSUMER HITS A SLIGHT BUMP OR POTHOLE. THE CONSUMER CAN TIGHTEN THE TAILLIGHT AND IT WILL WORK PROPERLY FOR A WHILE THEN STOP. CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134530August 19, 2005
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 SATURN L200 WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS FLICKER AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON EXPRESSWAY AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERATIVE. *MR SATURN SUGGESTED THAT THE FLICKERING WAS NORMAL. IN VERY HOT/HUMID WEATHER, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN HOT AD THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD STOP RUNNING. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE STALLING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ALIGNMENT, TOE AND CAMBER PROBLEM. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127208August 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE TURNED A CORNER AND HE HEARD A POP. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AAA TO WESTRIDGE SATURN 4692 RIDGE ROAD WEST, SPENCERPORT, NEW YORK. 585-352-5995. THE CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WOULD BE NEXT WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO IT TO FIX IT. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 54000 MILES. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133383August 18, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: 2001 SATURN L300 SERIES. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 25-28 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE HAS CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY WERE SENDING A BOOKLET ON THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FRONT END WAS BENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE SUSTAINED CHEST, ABDOMEN, AND KNEE INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10132839August 15, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
WE PURCHASED A 2002 L-300 SATURN NEW IN FEBRUARY 2002. THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING RECENTLY, AND THE DEALERSHIP IN FORT COLLINS, CO REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY, AND INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS AN UPCOMING RECALL ON THIS ASSEMBLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132544August 11, 2005
TIRES, SUSPENSION
EIGHT MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT A 2001 SATURN L300 I STARTED HAVING TIRE PROBLEMS. IT STARTED OUT WITH THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE RUBBING WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL WHILE BACKING UP. I ONLY HAD 6400 MILES ON THE TIRES. LOUD NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE TIRES AT 12964 MILEAGE. MY SATURN SERVICE DEPT. RESET THE FEA TO NEW SPECS AND INSTALLED A CAMBER CASTER KIT AND 4 NEW TIRES. THIS WAS THE 2ND SET OF TIRES FOR MY 2001 SATURN L300. AT 17224 MILEAGE THE RUBBING ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BACK. THIS TIME THE SERVICE DEPT. RE-SECURED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HOUSE. THEN ON NOV 24, 2003 (25277 MILEAGE) THE LOUD NOISE WAS BACK. AT THIS TIME THE TECH FOUND THE TIRES STARTING TO SLIGHTLY CUP. HE RE-INSPECTED AND FOUND ALL 4 TIRES OUT OF SPECS AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO REALIGN ALL. I TOOK THE CAR (27115 MILEAGE) BACK IN ON JAN 16, 2004 AND THE TIRES WERE MAKING LOUD NOISES. THIS TIME THE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING AND OUT OF ROUND. THEY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND RESET TO NEW FACTORY SPECS. ALSO, DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THIS WAS THE 3ND SET OF TIRES. ON DEC 20, 2004 I HAD A RATTLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT. AT THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT LINK BAR(38871 MILEAGE). MARCH 29, 2005 THE CAR WAS BACK IN THE SERVICE DEPT. WITH LOUD TIRE NOISE(42667 MILEAGE). THE TIRES HAD HIGH AND LOW SPOTS. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR NEW TIRES ON JUNE 22, 2005. AT THIS TIME AFTER CALLING SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALER MANAGER, I AGREED TO BUY 2 TIRES AND SATURN BUY 2 TIRES. SATURN PAID TO REALIGN THE TIRES. AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD BY A TECH THAT SATURN HAD A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 L300 SERIES. IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TIRES CUPPING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES. HE SAID THAT AS LONG AS THE CAR DROVE AND TURNED WITH NO PROBLEMS THAT SATURN DID NOT CONSIDER THE CUPPING, LOUD NOISES AND REPLACING TIRES EARLY A PROBLEM. HE SAID IF I COULD TAKE THE CAR TO A NASCAR GARAGE, IT COULD BE FIXED AND SATURN COULD FIND OUT HOW TO FIX THE L300 SERIES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132014August 9, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2005, WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L300, I NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE FUMES ENTERING THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND ALSO ON THE EXTERIOR. THE MILEAGE HAD DROPPED DRASTICALLY AND I WAS USING HALF TANK OF FUEL TO DRIVE 120 MILES. THINKING IT COULD BE A TORN OR LOOSE FUEL LINE, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC OF TRUST FOR AN INSPECTION. HE FOUND THE FUEL TANK LEAKING AND ADVISED ME TO REPLACE IT. I CONSENTED BECAUSE I NEEDED THE CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK IN TAMPA ON A DAILY BASIS. HE REMOVED THE TANK AND FOUND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AGAIN I CONSENTED TO REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF HERNANDO, WHERE I HAD PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTACT SATURN OF PORT RICHEY DEALER. I CALLED THAT DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS REFERRED TO GM SATURN (1-800-553-6000) AND SPOKE TO MARY FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE. I TOLD HER THAT I HAD INFORMATION ON A RECALL FOR THE SATURN FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I EVEN READ HER THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER AND THE DATE (00V309000 - 2000 OCT 12). SHE PUT ME ON HOLD AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALL FOR THAT MODEL BUT SHE WOULD CHECK AND CALL ME BACK WHEN SHE DID FIND IT. SHE HAS NOT DONE SO TO THIS DATE. THE REPAIRS (REPLACEMENTS, PARTS, AND LABOR TOTALED $1,010.71. I AM SENDING THE NHTSA COPIES OF THE RECALLS AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATES. I WOULD LIKE FOR GM SATURN TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE UNNECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131768August 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
I PURCHASED MY '02 SATURN L300 FROM A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LOCAL USED CAR DEALERSHIP HERE IN FLORIDA MID MAY '05. IT WAS CLOSE TO CLOSING TIME WHEN THE FINAL PAPERS WERE DRAWN SO THE SALESMAN AND I WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND I NOTICED THEN THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. HE TOLD ME THAT THE PARTS DEPT WAS CLOSED SO TO COME BACK THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. I CAME BACK THAT MONDAY AND THEY FIXED IT NO PROBLEM. WELL A MONTH OR SO LATER, ON MY WAY TO WORK, I WAS PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER AND WAS TOLD MY LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I INFORMED HER THAT I HAD JUST FIXED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP SO SHE GAVE ME A WARNING AND TOLD ME TO FIX IT AGAIN. I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY. WHILE LEAVING WORK, I GLANCED INTO THE WINDOWS REFLECTION AS I WAS BACKING UP AND SAW THAT THE LIGHT WAS WORKING. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER THREE TIMES AND ALL TIMES WAS GIVING WARNINGS. IS THE NEXT COP GOING TO BE SO NICE? IT WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. I AM ALWAYS QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT ITS WORKING. THIS IS A $38 PART. HOW MANY MUST I PURCHASE? I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF ANY AT TIME OF SALE. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO NOW? ALSO, A FRIEND WHO OWNED A SMALLER VERSION OF THE L-SERIES SAID HE HAD TO REPLACE HIS TIRES CONSTANTLY. ALSO SAYING HE DEALT WITH CONTINUOUS OBNOXIOUS ROAD NOISE. IS THAT A DISCREPANCY? I HAVE HAD MY CURRENT TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED TWICE SINCE MAY. IS THIS A PROBLEM? THE FRONT TWO DO NOT MATCH THE REAR TWO. THEY WERE THAT WAY AT TIME OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS 36,000 MILES. I TRIED TO MATCH THEM BUT IT'S JUST TO EXPENSIVE. THE CHEAPEST TIRE I COULD FIND IN SIZE P215-55-R16 IS $98...????? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130462July 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY WIFE'S 2001 SATURN L-200 UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE, CAUSING PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE, REQUIRING (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEP'T) A REBUILT ENGINE. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL (FLAT SURFACE, IN-TOWN DRIVING, BROKE ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME), AND NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGNS WERE AVAILABLE (SPUTTERING, LOSS OF POWER, ETC.). THIS PART IS LABELED AS NOT NEEDING SERVICING/REPLACING UNTIL 100,000 MILES. MY WIFE'S CHAIN BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS. $3000 FOR A REBUILT ENGINE TO REPAIR DAMAGED CAUSED BY AN ADVERTISED "MAINTENANCE-FREE" PART IS RIDICULOUS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130272July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT: CONTACT STATED THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL SEPARATED FROM THE BATTERY. HE DID NOT THINK A LOT ABOUT IT; BUT A FRIEND OF HIS HAD A GM TRUCK THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY POST SEPARATING FROM THE BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED ON 7-26-05. HE REPLACED THE BATTERY. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WHEN HE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129780July 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT
I WAS DRIVING ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH WHEN ON AN INCLINE, MY MOTOR ON MY SATURN 2000 L SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAD IT HAULED TO MY SATURN DEALER, AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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