2000 Saturn LS complaints

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

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN LS1 AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC IN MOTION WHEN I LOST ALL POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND I STILL OWE $1500.00 ON THE LOAN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT BOTH TIMING CHAINS WERE FRACTURED. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED; PART NO. RC1031. ALSO, THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED IT RUINED ALL THE OIL VALVES AND SEALS. AS A RESULT, A NEW OIL VALVE AND SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

CAR WAS RUNNING NORMALLY CAR STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *NM

SATURN 2000 LW200. WIFE RETURNED HOME FROM AN ERRAND AND PARKED THE CAR. NEXT DAY SHE TRIED TO GO TO WORK, CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THEY THINK THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED (MAYBE). MECHANIC IS NOT 100%. IT BROKE SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE, PISTON, CAM SHAFT NOT SURE. ENGINE HAS ABOUT 77K. UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR AT THIS TIME AS I DO NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED 3300.00 TO REPAIR USING A USED ENGINE. *JB

I PURCHASED A PRE-CERTIFIED VEHICLE FOR CARMAX 12/13/03. ON 12/16/03 I HAD TO RETURN THE CARE BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AS IF SOME WAS VERY LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR A GAVE ME A LOAN CAR. I DID NOT GET MY CAR BACK UNTIL 01/05/04 . CARMAX DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOUND THE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WAS SUBLET TO AIRPORT SATURN FOR REPAIRS. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE RETURN OF MY CAR BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER ALWAYS LOANED ME CAR TO KEEP ME QUITE, BECAUSE I TOLD THEM I WANTED ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE CONTRACT STATES IF YOU ARE IN ANY WAY DISSATISFIED WITH A CAR YOU CAN RETURN IT WITHIN 5 DAYS. I TRIED TO RETURN MY CAR THE NEXT DAY BUT THEY TOLD ME SINCE THE PURCHASE WAS ALREADY MADE I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD HONOR ANY REPAIRS NEEDED. NOW AUGUST 31,2006 I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, THE STEERING SHAFT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE ALL OVER AGAIN MY CAR IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY,BUT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THE SERVICE I NEED FROM CARMAX. *JB

ON THE 27TH OF MAY I HAD MY SATURN LS SERVICED DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. AFTER SPENDING 3K IN REPAIRS I NOTICE A OIL LEAK APPROX. 3 MONTHS LATER. 3 MONTHS TO THE DAY OF HAVING THE REPAIR WORK DONE MY ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE SERVICE TECH QUOTED ANOTHER 2K REPAIR COST TO GET THE CAR BACK UP AND RUNNING. THE FAULT WAS DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS WHEN I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AND SERVICED I SHOULD HAVE LEFT WITH AN ENGINE IN GOOD REPAIR AND A CAR FULL OF OIL. I HAVE PURCHASED 3 SATURNS AND AFTER THIS INCIDENT I CAN GUARANTEE I WON'T EVEN CONSIDER ANOTHER SATURN OR GM CAR. *NM

1) MY CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY UNTIL 8/26/06, WHEN I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. I DISCOVERED A 3" FISSURE IN THE VALVE COVER, OVER THE TIMING CHAIN. 2) I REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD GROUND AWAY THE UPPER GUIDE AND WAS WORKING ON "CHEWING THROUGH" THE VALVE COVER. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD NOT YET BROKEN, BUT HAD IT DONE SO, I WOULD BE LOOKING AT OVER $2000 OF ENGINE DAMAGE. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I REPAIRED THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. 3) ACCORDING TO A SATURN TSB 03-06-01-017, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE OILIER FOR THE TIMING CHAIN WAS INEFFECTIVE. I HAVE BOUGHT A "NEW DESIGN" TIMING CHAIN KIT FROM THE DEALER AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I WILL KEEP ALL THE OLD PARTS (GUIDES, VALVE COVER, CHAIN, TENSIONER, ETC. FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF THE NHTSA WANTS THEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN WAS WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/21/2006- WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHILE DRIVING HTH NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED EH MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FAULTY TIMING CHAIN BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2000 SATURN LS1 (WITH 80,000 MILES) FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT FULL SPEED (55 MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION POINTED TO A NEED FOR MAINTENANCE. THE TIME CHAIN FAILURE CAN CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE AND REQUIRE COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT TO DETERMINE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. AT A MINIMUM, THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT WILL BE $600. COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT COULD BE IN THE RANGE OF $3-4,000. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL SATURN MODELS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE AND MAY BE DUE TO POOR DESIGN ON THE CHAIN LUBRICATION SYSTEM. *NM

THE TIMING BELT ON MY 2000 SATURN LS1 BROKE ON JULY 20, 2006 WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 65000 MILES ON IT, SO I BELIEVE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK EXCEPT THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CAR. THE SATURN DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6000-$7000. I UNDERSTAND THAT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE CARS AND THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING - THANK YOU.

MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 NEAR RICHMOND, VA 120 MILES FROM HOME WHEN SHE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN THE SATURN, THE TIMING BELT SLIPPED AND RESULTED IN DAMAGE AND HER SITTING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *NM

TIMING CHAIN ON 2000LS SATURN "BROKE" AT 94,000 MILES; REGULAR MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED - SYNTHETIC OIL USED, ORIGINAL OWNER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2005, REGARDING THE TAIL LIGHT. LETTER WAS MISPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO HAVE COPIES OF THAT LETTER AS WELL AS ANY RELATED RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO SEND COPIES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND WHILE RUNNING AND HESITATED TO START ON TWO OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED FROM THE GARAGE AT 3MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED, BUT RESTARTED AFTER A SHORT PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN INVESTIGATION #EA06009, CONCERNING THE ENGINE WHICH INDICATES THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

I HAVE A 2000 SATURN L SERIES STATION WAGON, VIN [XXX]. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS (I ESTIMATE 6 TIMES) THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IT WOULD SLIDE IN AND OUT OK, BUT WOULD NOT TURN. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS THE WRONG KEY FOR THIS CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK. NO AMOUNT OF KEY JIGGLING FREED THE LOCK. I FOUND THE PROBLEM LISTED IN A GOOGLE SEARCH. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS A TAP WITH A HAMMER ON THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT TURNED OUT TO NEED A SIGNIFICANT SMACK. I WAS AFRAID THE KEY WOULD BE DAMAGED, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO LOSE AT THAT POINT. THAT WORKED THE FIRST FEW TIMES THE LOCKUP OCCURRED. SATURN SERVICE ADVISED ME NOT TO DO THAT, INSTEAD HAVE A NEW KEY CUT FROM THE KEY NUMBER. THEY THOUGHT MY KEY MAY BE WORN AND NO LONGER ACTIVATE THE TUMBLERS CORRECTLY. WE DID THAT AND THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS FOR THREE MONTHS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN NOTHING WORKED TO FREE IT UNTIL I DID THE HAMMER TRICK. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, AND RECOMMENDS I BRING IT IN FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. AS THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE IS, I EXPECT THEM TO DO WHAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED; WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM FOR ABOUT $350. WITHOUT KNOWING THE ROOT CAUSE AND HAVING A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE NEW PART DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ROOT PROBLEM, I AM RELUCTANT TO DO THAT. I HAVE THE DASH COVERS REMOVED SO WHEN THE PRO

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED MY ENGINE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. THEY ARE NOT DUE FOR A CHANGE BEFORE 100,000 MILES. FROM DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SATURN LS SERIES 4 CYLINDER ENGINES DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE DESIGN AND AN OILIER PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD AND A DANGEROUS ONE. *JB

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM ON A BUSY HIGHWAY (RTE 695 - THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY) AND APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 70 WHEN MY CAR ENGINE CUT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A SEMI AND FORTUNATE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY A MARYLAND STATE POLICE VEHICLE CAME BY TO PROVIDE FLARES FOR MORE VISIBILITY WHILE I AWAITED A TOW TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. MY COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO PENDING CASES (PE06-006 AND DP05-008) IN THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE IS ATTRIBUTED TO A TIMING CHAIN THAT SKIPPED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AS DOES SATURN HEADQUARTERS IN TENN. THEY OFFER NO MITIGATION TO THE $3,200 ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR. IF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, I.E., RAIN OR SNOW, I AM MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY AN AUTOMOBILE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT THAT DIED ON THE ROAD WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS KNOWN DEFECT IS CORRECTED?? *JB

I OWN A 2000 SATURN LS1 WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. IT WOULD NOT START AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY IN THE MORNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES AND HAS HAD THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $3,000. *NM

FOR THE 2ND TIME IN TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY 2002 L SERIES SATURN DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WILL NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE THEN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS A MAJOR EXPENSE.($3000 TO $5000) I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON CARSURVEY.COM AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THANK YOU. *JB

2000 SATURN LS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *TS *JB

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.

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

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

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

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

VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO DEALER 3 TIMES CONCERNING OVER A YEAR WITH A "NO START" AFTER DRIVING SUCH AS TO A STORE & VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. THE SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING WHEN TRYING TO START. AFTER APPROX. 15 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR WAIT THE CAR WILL START. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE AND STATES PASS SYSTEM IS NOT AT FAULT. WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ONE EVENING LAST WEEK SHE STOPPED TO GET GAS AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE BECAME FEARFUL OF HER SAFETY AT NIGHT AFTER A FEW SHADY PERSONS KEPT APPROACHING HER TO ASSIST. OVER THE PAST 3 DAYS, THE CAR FAILED TO START 4 TIMES BUT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL START. THIS SITUATION IS GETTING SERIOUS BUT DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO RESOLVE. NOT BEING ABLE TO START A CAR IS STARTING TO BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH MY WIFE AND GRANDCHILDREN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH SOMETHING WAS NOTICED THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON INSPECTION THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATED. THE SPARE TIRE WAS PUT ON THE VEHICLE THEN IT WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS ALSO SEPARATING AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 05/04/06

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DASH BOARD CAME FORWARD ONTO THE OCCUPANT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED HEAD, BACK, NECK AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHICH REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BODY DAMAGES. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, NO OTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.

I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2003. I PURCHASE THIS CAR IN AUGUST 2003. IN OCTOBER 2003, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WRONG TYPE BOLT WAS IN THE BATTERY CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. I PURCHASED THE BOLT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT INSTALLED. IN OCTOBER 2004, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED SOME TYPE OF VALVE AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THIS VALVE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOVEMBER 2005, THE BLOWER FOR THE HEATING AND DEFOGGER ONLY WORKS WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OUT IN THE SUN FOR A WHILE. IT DOES NOT WORK IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS INITIALLY STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2005, WITH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, THE TIMING BELT BROKE. IT DID NOT DAMAGE THE MOTOR AND I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF AROUND $900.00. THIS TIME I DID NOT HAVE THE DEALERSHIP DO THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY INCONVENIENT AND EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE IT BROKE DOWN. WHILE LOOKING THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL, I NOTICED THAT IT STATED THAT MY TIMING BELT SHOULD LAST AT LEAST TO 100,000 MILES (MY THIRTEEN YEAR OLD NISSAN'S TIMING BELT LASTED UNTIL 120,000 MILES). WHEN I ADDRESSED THIS WITH YOUR CUSTOMER CARE LINE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE 100,000 MILES WAS JUST A SUGGESTION AND THAT THE BELT COULD ACTUALLY GO AT ANY TIME. I GUESS MAYBE THE WORD SUGGESTION/SUGGESTED SHOULD H

2000 SATURN LS200 V6 ENGINE, 28,500 APPROX. MILEAGE. I WAS COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR DIED. NO WARNING, NO IDIOT LIGHTS, IT JUST COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER. IT WOULD NOT START. MY HUSBAND CAME AFTER ABOUT 20 MIN. IT STARTED. I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS, BUT IT DIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES, NO WARNING, JUST COMPLETELY DIED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. $260 TO FIX. I WENT BACK AND ASKED THEM WHY SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD GO OUT WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE, THEY SAID BECAUSE THE CAR HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN VERY MUCH. I CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATE. NO ANSWERS THERE EITHER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER THINKS IF ANYTHING ELSE GOES OUT, THERE WILL BE SOME WARNING. *JB

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 33,000 MILES. *NM

2000 SATURN LS, 6 CYLINDER, HAD SLIPPAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION FOLLOWED BY THE SERVICE LIGHT. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE DEALER THE CAR WAS BUCKING AND FELT LIKE I WAS REPEATEDLY BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS THE SENSOR MODULE AND WHEN IT BROKE THE PRESSURE WAS FULL OPEN AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THAT PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AGAIN. IT THEN HAPPENED A 3RD TIME AND THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IT HOME AFTER REPAIR, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANS WAS SLIPPING A LITTLE. TOOK IT BACK INTO THE SHOP, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T RIP DOWN THE TRANS UNLESS THE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT GIVES CODES AGAIN. I ONLY HAVE 11,000 MILES ON THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *NM

BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY FAIL. ONLY ONE LIGHT WILL COME ON & THE ONE THAT IS ON IS BRIGHTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. MULTIPLE LIGHT REPLACEMENTS DO NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP HAS NOTED THAT THE POWER CIRCUIT IS RUN THROUGH THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ITSELF & THAT IT ISN'T ALWAYS SEATED RESULTING IN FAILED CIRCUIT. IN DRIVING I SEE MULTIPLE SATURNS WITH THIS ISSUE. SECONDARILY THE HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT IF 1 BULB BLOWS IT SHORTS OUT THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS. *NM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER REGARDING SATURN TAIL LIGHT BRACKET HOUSING- BULB REPAIR. WHEN CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONSUMER WAS TOLD REPAIR WORK WAS ALREADY DONE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. *NM (12/01/05) *SC

DT: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUMES INSIDE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. SHE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN AUGUST 2005. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUMES CAUSED LETHARGIC BEHAVIOR AND FAST HEART BEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. WHEN THE CONTACT HAD BEEN RIDING IN A FRIEND'S VEHICLE SHE DID NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN SHE RODE IN HER OWN VEHICLE THEY OCCURRED. *AK

EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL. BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY FAIL TO WORK. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. WE WERE ABLE TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS SLIGHTY TO GET THEM TO WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THEY WOULD GO OFF AND ON. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL DRIVING AT 10:30 P.M. AND BEING TOLD WE HAVE NO REAR LIGHTS. HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS A FEW TIMES AND ALSO HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 + TIMES ON THIS ISSUE. THE LAST TIME THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE LIGHT SOCKETS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. *NM

EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE STEERING RACK, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

THE POWER STEERING FAILS AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS OF OPERATION. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS AN "UNSPECIFIED FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK", AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1500 TO REPLACE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE SPRING OF 05. I CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATE DIRECTLY, BUT THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. *NM

MY PROBLEM IS WITH SATURN NOT HONORING RECALL NUMBER 05V245000. GM RECALL NO. 05052 MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY ON MY 2000 SATURN LW STATION WAGON. ALL THE LIGHTS WORK UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEN ONE SIDE GOES OUT, (BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHT). THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, A. I ATTEMPTED THE REPAIR MYSELF BY REPLACING BULBS AND SWITCHING THE BULB SOCKETS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING IN 2001 THEY REPLACED SEVERAL BULBS AND A SOCKET. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE BRAKE LIGHT AGAIN WENT OUT THIS TIME WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD DIM. I AGAIN ATTEMPTED THE REPAIR BY SWITCHING THE BULB SOCKETS. ON OR ABOUT 03/2005 WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND THE PLASTIC BULB SOCKET ON ONE SIDE WAS MELTED. I PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND NEW BULB SOCKETS AND MADE THE REPAIR ONLY TO HEAR ABOUT THE RECALL A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED A FEW WEEKS LATER SO I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL THAT WAS TO START IN SEPTEMBER. I CALLED MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER, SATURN OF PEMBROKE PINES, ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

DT: 2000 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS.*AK

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

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

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

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

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

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.

DT: THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAPPENED ON JUNE 12,2005. *AK THE MASTER SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON BOTH FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. *SC *JB

DT: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER DONE A SAFETY CHECK ON VEHICLE AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE 30 PERCENT LEFT, AND FRONT ROTORS BELOW SPECS. CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE FRONT BRAKE JOB DONE BECAUSE DEALER WANTED ABOUT $300 TO DO WORK. HE COULD DO IT FOR MUCH LESS. CONSUMER'S CONCERN WAS THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 30 PERCENT PADS LEFT AND ONLY 46412 MILES ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALWAYS TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND THIS IS WAS DONE REGULARLY. BRAKES WERE NOTICED BY DEALER ON JULY 14, 2005. DEALER WAS SATURN OF HOUSTON NORTH WEST 290, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. *AK