Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10463599June 29, 2012
ENGINE
I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RAN INSIDE FOR NO MORE THAN 5 MINS AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO TURN OVER AND MADE HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO COME PICK IT UP TO BRING IT BACK TO THEIR SHOP TO CHECK IT OUT. WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE SHOP TODAY THEY TELL ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKEN AND BENT THE VALVES. THE WHOLE ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY TELL ME IT IS $3600 MINIMUM TO REPLACE AND THIS IS WITH A USED ENGINE FOR $2400+ JUST FOR HIS USED ENGINE. ALL IN ALL, I'M VERY GLAD THE VEHICLE WASN'T MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT STILL VERY FRUSTRATED SINCE THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN UNCOMMON THING WITH THE SATURN L-SERIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462591June 21, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET FUSED AND CEASED TO WORK. (POSSIBLY AN ARC FROM NEARBY LIGHTNING). I HAVE SEARCHED AND HAD REPAIR SHOPS SEARCH - ONLY TO FIND THAT CONTRARY TO THE PROMISE GENERAL MOTORS MADE TO CONGRESS IN THE BAILOUT AND THE AGREEMENT TO CLOSE SATURN -- THEY HAVE CEASED PROVIDING A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE CAR -- MUCH LESS A VITAL PART AT EXORBITANT RATES. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462276June 19, 2012
ENGINE
I WAS AT THE STOP SIGN PULLED OUT STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR JUST DIED COULD NOT RESTART IT.HAD IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461830June 15, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BREAK LIGHTS FAILED TO ALERT THE OTHER DRIVER THAT SHE WAS BRAKING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP OR DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460565June 4, 2012
ENGINE
WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT CUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO WARNING, WHILE WE WERE GOING 70 IN A PACK OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, WE MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT A WRECK. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH IN TURN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS A RESULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460365June 2, 2012
SUSPENSION
LOW BANG NOISE IN PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END. WORSE TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. SOUNDED LIKE MAJOR BREAK, BUT NOTHING COULD BE SEEN VISUALLY. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. HAD TO REPLACE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS ON BOTH FRONT AND RIGHT STRUTS. PASSENGER SIDE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY, AND DRIVER SIDE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS CRACKED. UPPER STRUT MOUNTS BOTH MADE OF A PLASTIC BASED MATERIAL. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE SHOCK COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH, AND HIT HOOD OF CAR IF WE HAD NOT SERVICED IT IMMEDIATELY. REPLACEMENT PART MADE OF SAME MATERIAL. HAD TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND I AM NOW CONCERNED THE CAR COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459846May 29, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR THE 2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE AND THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE 2002 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN DESPITE IF THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459302May 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND LEAVING MY STREET TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. I LIFTED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TO INDICATE MY TURN AND THE BLINKER DID NOT WORK. I TRIED THE OTHER TURN SIGNAL DIRECTION AND THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE HAZARD BUTTON DID WORK. I INSTINCTIVELY USE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAVE HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, NEAR THE HAZARD BUTTON/SWITCH. BLINKERS WORK IF I PRESS THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT, USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND THEN DEPRESS THE HAZARD BUTTON. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH MAY BE THE CULPRIT. I'VE CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE 2000 SATURN LS BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459305May 22, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND A FAULTY THERMOSTAT WAS DIAGNOSED; ENGINE RUNNING TOO COLD. THERMOSTAT IS LOCATED BENEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THEREFORE DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING TO ACCESS. COST TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT WAS APPROXIMATELY $450. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459303May 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING. FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED AT A COST OF $365. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459304May 22, 2012
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TURNED ON THE A/C AND IT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY COOL AIR. FAULTY A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH. DEALER WANTED $1165 TO REPAIR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459308May 22, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A FAULTY CRANK SENSOR. COST TO REPLACE $160.50. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459307May 22, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR RUNNING VERY ROUGH. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. COST TO REPLACE SENSOR $264.14. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459194May 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND LEAVING MY STREET TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. I LIFTED THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TO INDICATE MY TURN AND THE BLINKER DID NOT WORK. I TRIED THE OTHER TURN SIGNAL DIRECTION AND THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE HAZARD BUTTON DID WORK. I INSTINCTIVELY USE THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAVE HEARD A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD, NEAR THE HAZARD BUTTON/SWITCH. BLINKERS WORK IF I PRESS THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT, USE THE TURN SIGNAL AND THEN DEPRESS THE HAZARD BUTTON. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH MAY BE THE CULPRIT. I'VE CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE 2000 SATURN LS BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458581May 15, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND N AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO BOTH ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458132May 11, 2012
ENGINE
DRIVING VEHICLE ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. CAR ENGINE STALLED OUT AND WOULD NO LONGER RUN OR START. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THIS CAR WAS VERY GENTLY DRIVEN AND WELL-MAINTAINED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456643April 27, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT A STOP SIGN MY CAR JUST STOPPED PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT WENT OUT AND IT CAUSED IT TO BREAK THE VALS IN THE CAR AS WELL HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 10 YEARS SO ITS BEEN A GOOD ONE FOR THE MOST PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456552April 26, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SAFELY STEERED CAR TO SHOULDER OF 2 LANE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO RESTART CAR. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD CAR TOWED TO A SATURN CERTIFIED MECHANIC. MECHANIC FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. MECHANIC IS NOT SURE WHAT FAILED FIRST. (THE CHAIN, TENSIONER OR OILER?) MECHANIC DID STATE THE CHAIN GUIDES DID NOT SEEM EXCESSIVELY WORN FOR THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR. MECHANIC TOLD ME GM HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN, GEAR AND OILER SETS IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND DECIDED TO REPORT THIS. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2001. HAD IT SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES AT THE DEALER TILL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SERVICED IT MY SELF FROM THEN ON EVERY 3,000 MILES. FROM 36,000 TO 157,000 MILES WE ALWAYS USED FULL SYNTHETIC 5W30 ENGINE OIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456076April 23, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE BEGAN HAVING A SLOW KNOCKING NOISE, PRIOR TO THAT I WOULD HEAR A NOISE OF THE CHAIN SLAPPING, WHICH I WAS EXPLAINED TO BY SATURN THAT THIS WAS NORMAL IN MY VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THEN WHILE I WAS PARKING, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND WHEN I GOT OUT - THERE WAS OIL GUSHING FROM UNDERNEATH. PARKED THE CAR AND HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT SINCE... WAS JUST DOING RESEARCH NOW TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT FINALLY THERE WAS ANOTHER ROUND OF RECALLS REGARDING THE ENGINE. I HAVE ASKED MY SATURN DEALER BEFORE ABOUT THIS (WHILE THEY WERE STILL IN BUSINESS) AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY SPECIFIC YEARS WERE COVERED... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455725April 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL STREET IN MY HOMETOWN. I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT AND JUST CRUISING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST ALL POWER IN MY CAR. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY NOTICE UNTIL I WENT TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM MY ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND NOT BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE HOPING HE COULD GIVE ME A DIAGNOSIS AFTER TAKING THE ENGINE COVER OFF WE WERE ABLE TO VISIBLY SEE THAT THE CHAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY ENGINE WAS BROKEN. AFTER SEEING THAT HE PRETTY MUCH SAID I'M LOOKING AT A BROKEN TIMING BELT AND POSSIBLY VALVE AND PISTON DAMAGE. IN THE END IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT MY ENGINE WAS NOT FIXABLE. *JS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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