2001 Saturn LS complaints

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR (ENGINE) STALLED, LOCKED UP AND IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED AT TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH THE FIRST INSTANCE (3/14/06) AND THE MOST OF IT THE SECOND TIME (2/4/08). I WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT OUR VIN # DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS A FLUKE WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND ME TWICE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN 2001 L200 SERIES ENGINE; WHERE IT WILL STALL THE FIRST TIME STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BECAUSE MY VIN# WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE RANGE"? I WAS TOLD THE EXCLUDED RANGE IS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND 1Y559453. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN"? I WAS TOLD THE CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE; AS LONG AS I CHANGE THE OIL ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE A FOUND THAT VEHICLES IN THE EXCLUDED RANGE HAVE HAD TIMING CHAIN FAILURES AS WELL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE SINCE THE STALLING PROBLEM; FOR FEAR THAT I MAY CAUSE DAMAGE, IF NOT ALREADY, TO THE VEHICLE. I BEEN TOLD, BY SEVERAL MECHANICS, THAT THE REPAIR COULD COST ANY WHERE FOR $2500 TO $4000; DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. HOW CAN THE MANUFACTURER GET AWAY WITH PICKING AND CHOOSING WHOSE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SUPPOSE MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED ON A CROWDED HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY; IN FRON

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER CAUSING ME TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING. THE RESULT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE O2 SENSOR WHICH I REPLACED ONCE WITH SATURN THAT FAILED 2 YEARS LATER AND 2 OTHERS REFURBISHED THAT WERE PURCHASED FROM NAPA WHICH THE FIRST FAILED 3 MONTHS AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE OTHER A MONTH AFTER THAT ONE WAS REPLACED. *TR

THE HORN HAS STOPPED TO SOUND, THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE HORN WAS PRESSED AND THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THERE IS NO HORN ON THE VEHICLE NOW CAUSING IT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS DEER HAVE RUN OUR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY A CAR THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS WHICH COULD BE PREVENTED OR NOTICED WITH A HORN. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON RT. #98 RUNNING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING SO COASTED TO EDGE OF HIGHWAY. GOT OUT AND RAISED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND IT JUST CRANKED OVER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND THEY TOWED CAR BACK TO MY HOME SINCE IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED IT ALL OVER AND DECIDED THAT I COULD NOT DISCERN WHAT WAS WRONG. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MSC REPAIR HERE IN MARYSVILLE AND THEIR MECHANIC FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN SO I HAD HIM GO AHEAD AND REPAIR THIS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1500.00. AFTER HE HAD IT BACK TOGETHER AND BEFORE HE TRIED TO START IT HE RAN A COMPRESSION TEST AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VALVES WERE BENT SO THE HEAD HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND DEPENDING ON HOW BAD IT IS IT COULD RUN ANOTHER $2000.00 TO FIX IT IF IT CAN BE FIXED. SO FAR ALL GEARS AND TIMING CHAIN,BALANCE KIT AND GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WILL NOT KNOW FOR SURE ABOUT OTHER PARTS UNTIL THE HEAD HAS BEEN EVALUATED. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. NO RESTART OF VEHICLE, TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, ( NOT SATURN) WAS TOLD BY SATURN NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, THEREFORE I HAD NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO ME. ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRED. OPTIONS ARE REPLACE ENGINE OR PURCHASE NEW VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. RECALL 07V519000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE TIMING BELT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.

ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 "L" SERIES SATURN STALLED, CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT THE MAIN OFFICE. 2 PEOPLE FROM THE MAIN OFFICE STATED I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY WORK OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND 2 PEOPLE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED I WAS NOT INCLUDED. I HAVE TRANSCRIPTS OF EVERY CONVERSATION, A COPY OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, MY RECEIPTS AND PHOTOS. *TR

OUR 2001 SATURN HAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN AND WITH LITTLE HELP FROM GM OR THE SATURN CORP. OUR LOCAL DEALER IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN, BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED TO AN EXTENT. OUR CAR HAS JUST UNDER 70,000 MILES AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE @ A SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR AN OFF RAMP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THAT IT HAD BENT ALL OF THE PISTONS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER $1600.00. I LATER FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. SATURN SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN A COINCIDENCE THAT MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME THING THAT THE RECALLED VINS WERE AFFECTED BY. SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL ALL CARS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WERE USED IN. THIS WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE LEFT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. UPDATED 10/07/08. *JB

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A SAFETY RECALL 07V519000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED HE SAID THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. KG *UPDATED 10/20/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2001 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLE CONCERNING THE TIMING CHAIN IN JAN. 2008, WHEN I CALLED TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL POPULATION. I QUESTIONED WHY I HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN ASSURED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IN MY CAR WAS GOOD AND WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EIGHT MONTHS LATER - THE TIMING CHAIN IS OUT IN CAR. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MARCH 2001 AND THE RECALL POPULATION ENDED WITH CARS BUILT IN FEB. 2001. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL. MY CAR IS BEING FIXED AT MY COST. THE CAR JUST REFUSED TO START ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING BAD. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT SATURN WAS AWARE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN PARTS WERE FAULTY, BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

2001 SATURN L200. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CUT OFF. THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. SHE LUCKILY WAS ON A STRAIGHT A WAY AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND TOOK THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE WITH IT. NOT THE BELT THE CHAIN BROKE. IT CAME TO A TOTAL OF $2500.00 TO REPAIR. I WENT ONLINE AND TYPED IN 2001 SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN AND CAME UP WITH A LIST OF OVER 9 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON THE CARS RANGED FROM 20,000 (NEW) TO 100,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. NOT TO MENTION MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM VERY DISGUSTED IN HOW WE WERE TREATED AS WELL BY SATURN. *TR

I HAD JUST EXITED FROM INTERSTATES 440 WHEN MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY ENGINE POWER OR POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT QUIT. UPON INVESTIGATION I DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE PARTS AND MADE THE REPAIR. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THIS MODEL OF CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY EXPENSE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINES BUT THEY TELL ME MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VIN NUMBER IS IN THE RANGE INDICATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

LOUD TAPPING @ HIGHWAY SPEED, TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED RECALL OF 2001 L2 SERIES SATURN FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS DAMAGE, WHICH MECHANIC SAYS WILL BE APROX $2000.00. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A RECENTLY PURCHASED 2001 SATURN L-SERIES HOME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, RUINING MY ENGINE AND LEAVING ME STRANDED. MY DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS 10-2000, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILING PER MY MECHANIC CAR OCCASIONALLY CHUGS & SPUTTERS AT STOP LIGHT, TYPICALLY WHEN AIR COND IN USE NOTHING REPLACED OR DONE YET DUE TO COST & POTENTIAL RECALL.*TR

MY CAR ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS TIMING CHAIN BROKE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME OF A RECALL FOR THIS PART FOR MY CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I CALLED SATURN DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEY TOLD ME IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY PARTICULAR CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS 2001 SATURN L-SERIES MODEL DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE RECALL NUMBER 06074. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH SATURNS RESPONSE TO ME . I TOLD THEM THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE & THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $900.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I TOLD SATURN I WOULD BE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO YOU. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2 LITER 4 CYLINDER WITH 73,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WOULD NOT START,I HAD IT TOWED TO A SATURN SHOP WHERE THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAD IT WAS A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN AND THE DAMAGES ARE ANYWHERE FROM 2400 TO 3000 DOLLARS.*TR

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 29, 2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE IN EACH DIRECTION HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY 2001 SATURN (WITH 41,000 MILES)SUDDENLY STALLED, LOSING ALL POWER FUNCTIONS (STEERING, BRAKES AND SPEED CONTROL). I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS 3 LANES OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND ONE LANE OF PARKING LANE WHERE I BEACHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT TURN OVER. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANIC'S NYS LICENSED GARAGE IN THE NEXT TOWN. MY MECHANIC NOTED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS ITEMS DAMAGED BY THE FAILURE LIKE INLET AND EXHAUST VALVES AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE REQUIRED ACCESS TO THE PARTS AND OTHER PARTS INVOLVED. USING A SEARCH I FOUND THAT OVER 20,000 SATURNS WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE (LIKE MINE) HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V519000). I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SUPPORT, I WAS ISSUED SERVICE REQUEST # . I PROVIDED HER THE DETAILS INCLUDING MY VIN NUMBER. I MENTIONED I THE OTHER SATURNS OF MY YEAR AND MODEL THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE DRIVE CHAIN AND REQUESTED MY NEED FOR SUPPORT. SATURN SAID LOOKING UP MY VIN THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH OVER 20,000 SIMILAR UNITS WERE QUALIFIED, BUT IF I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN, THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT FOR ME. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND TO TOW IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER WAS NOT

MY 2001 SATURN, L200 SERIES, STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY SATURN DEALER AFTER I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND IN THE PROCESS, SOME VALVES WERE BENT. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A LOW QUANTITY OF OIL. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER MOTOR AND THE COST WOULD ABOUT $2,900.00. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE CAR AND THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR'S TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, WITH ONLY 88,000 MILES. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAD SUFFICIENT OIL (MY LAST OIL CHANGE IN APRIL, 2008) AND THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. AT THIS TIME, HE BELIEVES THAT TO FIX THE CAR, HE WILL NEED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE HEAD, AS WELL AS THE TIMING CHAIN AND SEVERAL VALVES AND REPLACE OIL AND OIL FILTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE COMPUTER RELATED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH DAMAGED THE VALVES. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2,700. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE RECALL AND, THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

ENGINE FAILURE, TURNS OUT THAT AT LEAST 1 VALVE IS BENT DUE TO A SLIPPING TIMING CHAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE SEVERELY INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN RANGE WAS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND IY559453. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE PARTS; HOWEVER, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MORE THAN $800 IN LABOR COSTS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,788.

2001 L300 SATURN 2.2 L V6 TIMING BELT TENSIONER SEIZED WHILE DRIVING IN LATE APRIL 2008. TIMING BELT BROKE AND ENGINE JUMPED TIME AND BENT ALL VALVES ACCORDING TO SATURN OF RT. 33, PENNSYLVANIA. VEHICLE DOES NOT START, NOR WILL RUN. SATURN DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO CHANGE ENGINE FOR $4500 AND SATURN HOTLINE OFFERRED DISCOUNT ON NEW OR USED VEHICLE. NO RECALLS WERE MENTIONED. ENGINE HAS 57-58,000 MILES.

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN L61 (ECOTEC) ENGINE. SERVICE "TECH FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS STARTING TO SEPARATE" DURING VISIT FOR BRAKE MAINTENANCE, AT 69,000 MILES. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED 2 MONTHS BEFORE WINDOW FOR RECALL 07V-519 (NOVEMBER 2000 - FEBRUARY 2001). PARTS REPLACED AS PER RECALL PROCEDURE. *TR

1. THE BATTERY DIED EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. 2. TIRES DON'T LAST. THEY WEAR OUT VERY FAST. I READ THAT IT'S DUE TO A FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEM, AND CAN BE FIXED WITH A KIT THAT COSTS OVER $500.00, WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD AT ALL. 3. HEATER CORE WENT BAD AND LEAKED ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. 4 AFTER MY CAR DIED IN TWO SEPARATE INTERSECTIONS, AND A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, I FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND CRANK SENSOR WAS BAD. THOSE PARTS WERE AROUND $400.00 TO REPLACE. 5. WHILE DRIVING A REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. 6. ANOTHER SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. THE COMPUTER READER SAYS IT IS A LEAN FUEL DISTRIBUTION. THE MECHANIC IS CHECKING ANY POSSIBILITIES FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS LOOKING LIKE THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 7. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE WRENCH IS ON. THE CAR JOLTS PRETTY HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THIS USED TO HAPPEN ON A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE. NOW IT HAS BEEN ON THE PAST FEW DAYS, SO THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC. 8. ONCE HITTING 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE CAUSE TO THIS IS STILL UNDETERMINED. 9. THE OIL FILTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE THIS MONTH AND IS STILL LEAKING OIL. SO THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS WELL. 10. THE REAR BRAKES AND LIGHTING SYSTEM HAS BEEN RECALLED. THE SOCKETS LOOK AS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN BURNED AND MELTED. SATURN HAS PRODUCED A VER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TIMING CHAIN IN MY 2001 SATURN L200 WENT. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2001 TIMING CHAIN BUT NOT FOR MY VIN #. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. *TR

REAR BRAKE LIGHT (LEFT) GOING OUT YEARLY. HOUSING WARPED/MELTED--EXTREME DIFFICULTY REMOVING BULBS. SERVICE DEALER R. CONFIRMED CHANGING BULBS AND HARNESS BUT NOT THE PLASTIC HOUSING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY (03-11-2006: PAPERWORK AVAIL.) {GOOGLED PROBLEM:FOUND A SITE THAT STATES NHTSA COMPLAINT (#05V245000) ALREADY FILED (BUT NOT FOUND AT NHTSA) WITH MFG CAMPAIGN #05052 FOR 2001 L200 SEDANS, BUT NO VIN #'S RANGES AVAIL.} *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. IN 2007, SHE HAD HER AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SERVICED, BUT IT CONTINUED TO FAIL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE FAILURE WAS FINALLY CORRECTED. MOST RECENTLY, AS THE TEMPERATURE BECAME HOTTER IN HER STATE, THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING A TIMING BELT RECALL. AFTER DISCUSSING THE FAILURES WITH THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE AIR BAG FAILURE IF SHE REPAIRED THE ISSUE WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,857 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,757.

I ALSO HAVE A 2001 L200. MY PROBLEMS STARTED JUNE 5, 2006. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 70 MPH, AND AFTER JUST CRESTING A HILL IN NORTHWESTERN IOWA, MY ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BUT FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT 64,800 MILES. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO TOW THE CAR 230 MILES ONLY TO HAVE SATURN OF LINCOLN TELL ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE CHAIN BROKE. (EITHER FROM HAVING INCOMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OR SOME OTHER REASON.) I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED WITH A USED ONE. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR HAD 39,000 MILES. I HAD TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. (MIGHT HAVE HAD 60,000 HARD MILES) IT WORKED FINE, I KEPT GOOD TRACK OF THE OIL CHANGES WITH THIS MOTOR. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS EFFECTS HAD THE ENGINE SEIZED OR TRAFFIC NOT ALLOWED ME TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED (CRUISE CONTROL) OF 72 MPH, HAVING JUST RAISED THE SPEED SETTING FROM 70 MPH. ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO 4200 RPM WHILE INCREASING VEHICLE SPEED. 1 TO 2 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER AND I QUICKLY LOST SPEED. I PULLED OVER THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THIS COULD HAVE PROVEN TO BE DISASTROUS HAD I BEEN IN A LEFT LANE WITH NO SHOULDER OR HAD THE ENGINE SEIZED AND LOCK THE WHEELS. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH IN ALL SATURN CARS IF FAULTY AND HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOCKING UP WHETHER DRIVING, STARTING OR TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. WHERE AS MANY CONSUMERS HAVE PARADED THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. INSTEAD IT IS A $150-$300 REPLACEMENT CHARGE DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND VEHICLE. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER. SHE NEARLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE ENGINE AT THE SITE, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS NO ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT WE DID NOT QUALIFY. EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS FOR OUR EXACT MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE THE VIN DID NOT MATCH. SATURN DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3500-$4000. I SPOKE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE IS REPAIRING FOR $1355. I CALLED SATURN CORPORATE AND FILED A REPORT AND HAVE THAT ID#. I WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS NOT COVERED BUT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE AND REPORT IT TO THE AREA MANAGER. THE AREA MANAGER CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME OUT. HOWEVER, I WOULD HAVE TO STOP ALL WORK, TOW IT TO SATURN, PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY COULD HELP OR NOT EVEN IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE. IF THE COULDN'T HELP I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $3500-$4000 AT THE DEALER. I INFORMED HIM THAT I CAN'T TAKE ALL THAT TIME AND SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY. I HAVE NEED FOR USE OF THE CAR. I TOLD HIM I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK OTHER ASSISTANCE WITH SATURN BEING HELD LIABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART AND HE AGREED. HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE PART BREAKING SO EAR

WAS DRIVING WHEN TIMING CHAIN SUDDENLY SNAPPED. PUSHED VEHICLE TO ROADSIDE AND PROCEEDED TO GET TOWED. REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $2,400.00. CONTACTED BEAVERTON SATURN RETAILER AND WAS TOLD I'D BE CONTACTED LATER WITH NO RESPONSE. UPON CALLING SATURN CORP. AND USING INFORMATION ACQUIRED FROM NSHTA.COM ABOUT A SPECIFIC RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WAS TOLD ONLY THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN # IS WITH IN THE RECALL BREAKPOINT BUT IS NOT COVERED AND THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN . ONLY THAT IT WASN'T AND THEY HAVE NO REASON OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. *TR

THE BLINKER / LIGHT HANDLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. WHEN I TURN THE BLINKER ON EITHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS COME ON, AND CAUSES THE BLINKER ELECTRICAL WIRING TO ARC AND CAUSE A SMALL FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, WHICH EMITS SMOKE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THAT AREA, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER AND BLOW OUT MANUALLY (DO NOT HAVE A PLACE FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE VEHICLE). EVER SINCE THAT DAY, IT HAS DONE THIS, ARCING AND CAUSING THE SMOKE IN THE CABIN. ONE TIME ONLY HAS IT FLARED UP WITH VISIBLE FLAMES AND IT DID NOT DESTROY THE VEHICLE, NOR CAUSED ANY OTHER DAMAGE OF ANY SORT. HOWEVER IT STILL DOES CAUSE THE ARCING IN THE WIRING AND CAUSE THE SMOKE TO FILL PART OF CABIN. *TR

2001 SATURN L300 WON'T START, AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, IT STILL WON'T START. AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED, CAN'T STILL FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR