Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10256385January 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND IN IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP WITH A BETTER QUOTE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256134January 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LED TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $2,300. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256012January 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SATURN WAGON LW200 HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, I.E., ITS TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON 9/20/08 WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND PUT MY SPOUSE AT RISK OF HARM AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FULLY INSPECTED AND SERVICED ON 9/13/08 AT A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVICED SINCE ITS PURCHASE. THE TIMING CHAINS ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE WERE RECALLED FOR MODEL YEARS 2000 AND 2001 AND THE MECHANIC AT HASLETT MARATHON WHERE IT WAS TOWED FOR INSPECTION REPORTED THIS WAS THE SAME PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SALVAGEABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255839January 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IT WOULD NEVER COMPLETELY START. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIRED FOR FREE SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255718January 20, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED IN THE GAS TANK AND CAUSED FUEL TO POUR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HE SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED IT "DUMPING" OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALERTED HIM TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FUEL PUMP AS THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER COVERED $300 OF THE $650 REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,394 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255749January 20, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY SATURN L200 STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND SATURN HAD ADDED A PART TO THE ENGINE TO GET MORE OIL OR LUBRICANT TO THIS CHAIN SO IT WOULDN'T BRAKE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT SATURN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE NEVER MENTIONED THIS PART THAT SHOULD BE ADDED. I CALLED THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE IN L100 MODELS WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, BUT NOT THE L200'S. THE L100 AND L200 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255077January 14, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY DAYTIME LIGHTS BEGAN FLICKERING. THIS EVENTUALLY LED TO FLICKERING OF MY NIGHT LIGHTS, THEN MY BRIGHT LIGHTS. IT TOOK MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP 6 HOURS TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. THEY CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART, WHICH THE REPAIR SHOP DID NOT EXPECT THEM TO HAVE. SURPRISINGLY THEY DID. THE COMMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS THEY FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE RELAY; THE REPLACEMENT FIXED THE FLICKERING OF THE NIGHT LIGHTS. IN ORDER TO FIX THE DAYTIME & BRIGHT LIGHTS, MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND A RE-SETTING OF THE COMPUTER, COSTING OVER $700. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE SPECIALIZED COMPUTER THEY HAVE FOR THE SATURNS. MY LIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO FLICKER AS I REFUSE TO PAY $700 FOR A "COMMON PROBLEM" THAT SATURN HAS NOT RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254791January 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN JUNE OF 2007, MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER WERE TRAVELING TO LOS ANGELES, WHEN OUR 2001 SATURN L200 (WITH ONLY 65,714 MILES) STOPPED RUNNING ON THE FREEWAY OUTSIDE OF SANTA BARBARA, CA. THAT MORNING THE CAR STARTED, DROVE OFF FINE AND GAVE NO WARNING OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG, UNTIL THE CAR'S ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND FORTUNATELY THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED NOR THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SATURN WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. UPON CALLING SATURN WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. WE DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SATURN CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. WE INCURRED A $3,000+ REPAIR BILL BEFORE HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WE HAD LEARNED THAT THE '00-'03 L SERIES WERE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS , BUT NOT WITH NHTSA AS OUR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WAS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. YESTERDAY, WE LOOKED AT THE NHTSA SITE TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF THE SATURN L200. AGAIN AFTER CONTACTING SATURN THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT OUR VIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254324January 8, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS PICKING MY KIDS UP FROM THE BABYSITTERS WHEN I HEARD A TICKING NOISE. LET ME REMIND YOU THAT I HADN'T ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS DAY. ANYWAY, I HEARD THE TICKING NOISE AS I WAS PULLING UP TO THE SITTERS HOUSE AND CUT MY CAR OFF. RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE NOISE WAS LOUDER. TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND THAT MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER SATURN BECAUSE MY CAR ONLY HAS 70K MILES. IT'S A 2000 SATURN LS2 AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THIS DATE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT HAPPENED AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $3600 OUT MY POCKET BUT SATURN WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP ME OUT? WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS AND AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254003January 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND DROVE INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, BUT THEY WERE UNSURE IF IT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATES, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION MODULE) ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2003. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253231December 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW300. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. TYPICALLY, FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 3/3/09 *CN THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253237December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE CAR WAS STILL UNDER GM WARRANTY, VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD GET STUCK SUCH THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY BUT EACH TIME WOULD EVENTUALLY FREE UP. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED AT THAT TIME. I BELIEVE I ALSO TOOK TO SATURN DEALER BUT THEY ALSO COULD NOT REPLICATE. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPENED PERIODICALLY AND CAR EVENTUALLY PASSED OUT OF WARRANTY. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. HAD TO TOW IT TO THE CLOSEST SHOP AND REPAIR THE CYLINDER. CALLED SATURN AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY ASSISTANCE UNLESS I TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER (AROUND $100) AND PAY THERE DIAGNOSTIC FEES BUT, AGAIN, OFFER NO PROMISE THAT THEY WILL HELP IN ANY WAY EVEN IF THEY CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253249December 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253142December 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 2001 SATURN L200 SERIES 2.2L "F" ENGINE RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS ENGINE DAMAGE VIRTUALLY LEAVES THIS CAR WITH A NEGATIVE NET WORTH VALUE. I BELIEVE SATURN KNOWS WELL OF A POOR TIMING CHAIN COMPONENT IN THESE ENGINES AND SHOULD BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. MY VEHICLE APPARENTLY FALLS 1 MONTH SHORT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL PARAMETERS. I HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH ENGINES AND HAVE A VERY HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF TIMING CHAINS BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL TIME LINE SEEING THAT THESE CHAINS FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. TIMING CHAINS DO NOT JUST BREAK OR SEPARATE AT 100,000 MILES, WEAR IS A COMPONENT I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THE END RESULT IS MOST LIKELY ENGINE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS DUE TO VALVE INTERFERENCE IN AN OUT OF TIMED ENGINE. MY FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I COMMENDED MY DAUGHTER ON SOME FINE DRIVING, DARTING THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND AVOIDING A COLLISION WHILE FINDING HER WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I MIGHT ADD THAT THIS VEHICLE IS IN FINE SHAPE AND HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICE WORK COMPLETED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252870December 26, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RE. 2002 SATURN L200 MODEL W/2.2 4CYL. ENGINE...VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART....I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN.....I HAVE 69,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CORRECT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.....SATURN HAS BEEN ISSUED A TSB IN 2003 REGARDING A REPLACEMENT OIL NOZZLE TO FACILITATE THE OILING OF THE TIMING CHAIN....I PLAN ON CONTACTING MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER REGARDING THIS MANNER AND PLAN ON GOING HIGHER UP WITH THE COMPLAINT IF NECESSARY....I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER OVER THIS AND HOLD SATURN ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY, BONNIE L. KRUEGER *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252741December 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE NOTICED A SUDDEN JOLT. HE ALSO EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WHERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, INSPECTED AND ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,500.00. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251733December 14, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE 2000 SATURN L-SERIES HAS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SATURN REFERS TO IT AS #00-C-03, JAN. 4, 2005); HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE VIN SERIES FOR THAT RECALL. NEVERTHELESS, MY VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THAT RECALL (TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE; HAZARD WARNING SWITCH SOMETIMES MADE A LOUD "BUZZING" SOUND, ESPECIALLY IN VERY COLD WEATHER); I CONTACTED SATURN; HOWEVER, SINCE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE RECALL VIN RANGE, THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL ISSUE (I WOULD HAVE HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND PAY FOR THE SERVICE MYSELF). INSTEAD, I ACQUIRED AND INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT HAZARD WARNING SWITCH FROM A SATURN DEALER AND INSTALLED IT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE INSTRUCTIONS. SINCE THAT TIME, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250948December 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $85 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFECTED TIMING CHAIN THAT DESTROYED MY ENGINE. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE OVER $3,000. MY CAR IS A 2002 SERIES AND DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MAIN SATURN HEADQUARTERS IN DETROIT TO VOICE OUR COMPLAINT AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS CAR DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250799December 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
11-2006 FAILURE #1 NORMAL DRIVING. CAR SLOWED AND BECAME UNDRIVABLE AS IF OUT-OF-GAS. WOULD NOT RE-START. TOWED BACK TO DEALER. REMEDY REPLACE TIMING CHAIN. NO OLD PART. 11-29-2008 FAILURE #2 ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ON TEMPORARILY (MEANING NO SERIOUS EVENT, ACCORDING TO SATURN VEHICLE MANUAL) AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF OPERATION BEFORE PARKING CAR. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES OVER TWO DAYS. ON FINAL THIRD DAY AFTER 15 MINUTES OF OPERATION GRINDING RUMBLE BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUDER. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ENGINE STALL. CAR RESTARTED. KEPT RPMS ABOVE STALL THRESHOLD. FOR FIVE MORE MINUTES BEFORE PARKING. ENGINE CRANKCASE VOID OF OIL. ADDED TWO QUARTS. UPON STARTING ENGINE. FRESH OIL WAS SEEN EXITING UPPER REAR OF ENGINE. DROVE TO DEALER. TEAR DOWN HALTED WHEN METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN OIL PAN. CAR CURRENTLY PARKED AT DEALER. RECOMMENDATION FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250523December 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE QUIT (STOPPED RUNNING AND DECELERATED). I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE PRESSURES INSIDE THE ENGINE ARE BAD. SPOKE WITH SATURN AND WAS TOLD IF I REPAIRED IT AND THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT RECALL LIKE THE OCT. 2008 COMPLAINT, I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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