Saturn LS Complaints

1,458 consumer complaints on file.

#10155031April 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN ON MY SATURN L200 BROKE WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. I WAS VERY LUCKY IT BROKE WHILE STARTING UP THE CAR, INSTEAD OF DRIVING, BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE. MY LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP ONLY CHARGED ME LABOR, THEY COVERED PARTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154987April 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART; IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALTERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154687April 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND OCCASIONAL STALLING OF CAR, PARTICULARLY WHEN STOPPING. CAR FINALLY WOULD NOT START AGAIN. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND FAULT WITH CAR. PERSONAL MECHANIC INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THE CRANK SENSOR HAD GONE BAD, SO THE CAR COULD NOT MONITOR THE MPH AND FIND THE GEARS APPROPRIATELY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154699April 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM AND OTHER MINOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; RE-CHARGING THE AC THE FIRST 3 SUMMERS WE OWNED THE CAR, DETERMINING THE AC DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER GOING TO IT TO RUN PROPERLY, DASH LIGHTS GOING OUT, AUTOMATIC DOORS NOT WORKING, AND THE TAILLIGHTS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AND DIFFICULTIES WITH THE WIPERS WORKING APPROPRIATELY. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CHRONICALLY GO ON, BUT THE DEALER MECHANICS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AFTER READING THE CODES. WE REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP PLEASE TRACE THE ELECTRICAL LINES TO FIND A SHORT, BUT SAID THERE WAS NONE AND THE PROBLEM WAS "FIXED". THEN, AFTER 6 YEARS OF ONGOING PROBLEMS, AND NO AC FOR 2 YEARS, THE HEATER BEGAN TO REMAIN ON FOR APPROX. 30 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS NO LONGER IN THE IGNITION. A WEEK LATER THE CAR FAILED TO START. A PERSONAL MECHANIC FRIEND DISCOVERED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS CROSS WIRED AND THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE RELAY FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM TO THE ENGINE. WE HAVE REPLACE THE RELAY AND THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE AC AND THE HEATER NOW WORK FINE. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT SATURN REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THIS CHRONIC PROBLEM APPROPRIATELY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154620April 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOUSE FOR WORK AND THE CAR JUST DIED - LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. HE SAID I SHOULD CONTACT SATURN BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN. MY CAR HAS ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT EVALUATED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. HE SAID IT WOULD COST $950.00 TO REPAIR AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER DAMAGE. SATURN CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID THEY WOULD ARRANGE TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE COST AND SUPPLY ME WITH A RENTAL CAR. I HAD NOT HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY SATURN SINCE JUNE 2004 AND HAD NOT PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE VALVES WERE BEND ON THE ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. SATURN SAID THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THAT COST ALSO. THE TOTAL REPAIR IS $900. I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154517April 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 4 CYLINDER SEDAN. IT HAS JUST OVER 70K MILES ON IT. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON OR BEFORE SCHEDULE. ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THE LIGHTS STARTED DOING WEIRD THINGS. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THAT ISSUE WAS RESOLVED (A RECALL). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 3 TIMES. ON 3/30/06 I WAS IN RUSH HOUR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY PASSING A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. MY CAR JUST DIED (NO LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING THE ENGINE STOPPED, JUST NO POWER). THANK GOD I GOT TO THE RIGHT LAND. I SAT THERE FOR AN HOUR AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR TOWED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I HAVE SPEND $200 JUST TO FIND THAT OUT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT OTHER DAMAGE HAS RESULTED. SATURN IS ACTING IGNORANT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT TELL ME ANYTHING UNLESS I HAVE IT AT A SATURN DEALERSHIP. (ANOTHER TOW CHARGE AND DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE). I SAW THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND WANTED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AFTER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THAT SATURN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154378April 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS OUT DURING NORMAL OPERATION, CAUSING TURN SIGNALS NOT TO WORK. OTHER SYMPTOM IS THAT RADIO HAS INTERFERENCE WHEN TURN SIGNAL USED. AFTER FIVE DAYS OF NON-USE, CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND TECHNICIAN WHO PROVIDED JUMP START SAID IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SINCE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE BOTH WORKING. THIS CAR HAS ALREADY RECEIVED THE RECALL WORK FROM OCTOBER 2005 BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES SINCE THAT WORK WAS DONE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154419April 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2000 SATURN L100 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. SUDDEN POWER LOSS AT 50 MPH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154332April 1, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE PLASTIC WELDS HOLDING THE REAR HOUSING TO THE TAILLIGHT REFLECTOR MELT AND THE REAR HOUSING SHORTS OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT..*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154273March 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GOOD AFTERNOON! MY 2000 SATURN LS1 STARTED SPUTTERING AND FINALLY BROKE DOWN. ALL OF THE SIGNS LEAD TO THE FUEL FILTER. WE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT RUN. I TOWED THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED THE CAR TO HAVE A BAD TIMING CHAIN. THE MECHANIC WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD HAVE A BAD TIMING CHAIN WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I NOTICED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH A SATURN ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE. TIMING CHAINS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND I THINK THE COST SHOULD BE BILLED TO SATURN. THANK YOU!! SINCERELY, NICOLE ARCHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154296March 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED ON MY 2001 SATURN L-200 AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY DIED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A VALVE BENT AND THE HEAD CRACKED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154167March 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, MY 2002 SATURN LW200 STATION WAGON SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE GARAGE AND BY A SATURN DEALER AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN RESULTING IN LOSS OF COMPRESSION DUE TO BENT OR BROKEN VALVES. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND APPARENTLY REQUIRES AN NEW ENGINE OR OVERHAUL. TO DATE, THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER STATED THAT SATURN IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO CORRECT THE DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE FAILED TIMING CHAIN. SATURN ALSO CLAIMED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL INTO THE VIN RANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ADDRESSED IN THEIR REDESIGN OF THE TIMING CHAIN. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154198March 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY 2001 SATURN L200 WITH 69K MILES ON IT HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK - IT RIPPED THROUGH THE ENGINE, SHEARING OFF THE GEARS AND BUSTING THE VALVES. I NOW HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK, NO MONEY TO FIX THE CAR, AND HAVE DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF SATURN AND SATURN REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153978March 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON MARCH 17, 2006, MY WIFE AND I RETURNED HOME FROM SUPPER AROUND 8:45 PM. AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM, I HEARD A CRASH OUTSIDE. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT OUR SATURN HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORS YARD ACROSS THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION INSIDE THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK, YET THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE. NO CAR SHOULD ALLOW A KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE CAR BEING IN PARK. AS YET, THE FAILURE HASN'T BEEN CORRECTED SINCE THE CAR IS STILL AT THE BODY SHOP.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153765March 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE BROKE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153699March 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 SEDAN. UP UNTIL NOW THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE. THE CAR JUST TURNED OVER 70K MILES AND THE TIMING CHAIN JUST BROKE. THIS LEAVES ME WITH A CAR THAT I AM MAKING A PAYMENT ON, YET UNABLE TO DRIVE. IT IS NOT IN MY FAMILY BUDGET TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED BY A PROFESSIONAL, THAT MEANS I WILL HAVE TO DO THE WORK MYSELF UNLESS SATURN DECIDES TO HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153491March 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON 3/9/06 MY SATURN L200 2002 WOULD NOT START, I SPOKE TO VARIOUS PEOPLE AT SATURN AND RECEIVED 4 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, (TRANSMISSION, TIMING CHAIN BROKE,NEED A NEW ENGINE AND NOW THE TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED) I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SERVICE WHAT SO EVER, THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT IS LACK OF MAINTENANCE, WHEN I ASKED FOR A EXPLANATION THE REGIONAL AREA MANAGER HUNG THE PHONE UP ON ME!!! HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OILER VALVE WHICH NOW I KNOW THERE IS. I HAVE BEEN PROMISE CALL BACKS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE. I ALSO EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAVE PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES AND HAD RECALLS, MAINT., ETC. DONE WHICH HE DID NOT CARE, HIS RESPONSE WAS WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TELL YOU!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153211March 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR 2001 SATURN L200 STOPPED WORKING AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT THE CHAIN STILL FAILED. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE INTERNAL DESIGN OF THE CHAIN LEADING TO A NEED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT (COST OF $2800). THE NEW MOTOR IS ON ORDER AND WILL BE REPLACED THIS WEEK, ALL COSTS ARE ON US. SATURN HAS NO IDEA HOW TO PREVENT PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING, THERE ARE NO WARNINGS TO TELL US THERE ARE ISSUES, AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS OF NO HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153250March 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2001 SATURN LS 4-DOOR - TIMING CHAIN WENT BAD AFTER BARELY 100,000 MILES. REPAIR TO FIX WILL COST ABOUT $2,000. WE RELIED ON SATURN'S CLAIMS THAT TIMING CHAINS ARE BETTER THAN TIMING BELTS BECAUSE CHAINS NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THAT BEING SAID, WE NOW HAVE A BUSTED TIMING CHAIN WITH EXHAUST VALVE PROBLEMS ON A 2001 SATURN LS 4-DOOR SEDAN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152847March 16, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V245000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING THAT WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER; NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVOLVED SINCE THE REPAIR. THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN A BATTERY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE HEADLIGHT HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHICH DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THIS WAS REPLACED. THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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