2001 Saturn LS complaints

2001 SATURN WAGON. DRIVING AT 30K MPH WHEN TIMING CHAIN FAILED. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BREAKS. WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO A STOP. CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY LOCAL SERVICE STATION. CAR HAS 88K MILES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN AND AT A STOP HEARD A SUBTLE METALLIC CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY A FEW MINUTES LATER I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN DRIVES THE CAMS. HAVING HEARD ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BREAKING TIMING CHAINS AND READING COMPLAINTS ON THE NETS WEB SITE ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM I WAS IMMEDIATELY ALARMED. BEFORE I COULD EVEN STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR TO SHUT IT OFF, I HEART A LOUDER METALLIC CLANK AND THE CARE STOPPED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE LITERALLY UNDER MY NOSE. HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR SUCH THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL ABOUT CHANGING THE OIL IN MY 2001 SATURN L200 AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND SUCH A THING SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AT ONLY 85000 MILES. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW BEING FIXED. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT SATURN WOULD NOT ADMIT HAVING EVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THIS HAPPENED. I KNOW OTHERWISE. I BEG OF YOU TO PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS. MYSELF AND OTHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BARE THE COST OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR CAUSED BY BAD ENGINEERING NOT TO MENTION THE TERRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD THIS REPRESENTS. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN 8 LANE HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 75 AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS THE 2001 SATURN L200 LOST POWER. IT COASTED ACROSS 2 LANES OF MOVING TRAFFIC AND 2 LANES ACROSS THE FONTAGE ROAD IN ORDER TO PARK THE CAR AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DID NOT HAVE AN EXPECTED LIFE, AND WOULD NOT FAIL IF THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED , IF THE OIL WAS CHANGED PROPERLY, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE) I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE IN SATURN L SERIES CARS FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2003. SATURN HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP ME, AND DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED SATURN AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG SATURNS. HE FEELS AS IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON - COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWS NO PROBLEM - MOST PUMPS, PLUGS, STARTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED - STILL STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

MY 23 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 DOWN A HIGHWAY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007, ABOUT 8PM, DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. BUT, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO IS INDICATING A $ 2800.00 CHARGE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT, TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, WITH AN EVER INCREASING TREND. IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN SATURN AND IT'S COMPANY AFTER FINDING OUT THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO QUICKLY RECOMMEND A RECALL BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST DUE TO SATURN NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH APPROXIMATELY 37- OR 29K MILES FROM A SATURN DEALER IN JULY OF 2004. THERE ARE ABOUT 80,500 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. TWO DAYS AGO I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE TIMING CHAIN "FAILED" AND BEAT UP THE ENGINE (PER THE SATURN DEALER, WHERE I HAD THE CAR TOWED THAT MORNING). ALTHOUGH I NEVER USED SATURN FOR OIL CHANGES, I DID CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES. RECENTLY, HOWEVER (SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND HOUSING, SATURN GAVE ME A COMPLETE INSPECTION. THERE WERE SEVERAL MINOR ITEMS LISTED NEEDING ATTENTION, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED, NOR DID I EVER RECEIVE NOTICE OF THIS INHERENT AND DANGEROUS DEFECT (FUNNY HOW THEY CAN FIND ME TO SEND NOTICES OF THEIR UPCOMING SALES "EVENTS", HOWEVER). SINCE IT WAS LATE FRIDAY WHEN I CONTACTED THE ZONE REP, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD RECEIVE A RETURN CALL FROM SATURN BY MONDAY NOON. I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO UPDATE THIS IF YOU LIKE. *TR

HI, I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 SATURN L200, 4 DOOR SEDAN. ON MONDAY JUNE 4, 2007, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN A RAINSTORM WHEN MY VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH LOST POWER LOCKED. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LUCKILY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY. STUCK IN THE RAIN FOR A FEW HOURS UNTIL THE TOWING COMPANY I CALLED PICKED ME UP AND TOWED ME TO A LOCAL GARAGE. AT THE GARAGE THEY CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN WHICH WAS SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS, NY. THEY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED DEALER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPRESSION. IT HAD FUEL, SPARK.IT DID NOT HAVE COMPRESSION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN AT WHITE PLAINS AGAIN IN CARRYING ANOTHER TOWING EXPENSE. THE CAR SAT AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY WERE BUSY WITH OTHER VEHICLES. ON WEDNESDAY,THE SERVICE LADY CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RUN SOME DIAGNOSTICS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT MY "TIMING CHAIN BROKE" WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3600.00 TO FIX THE VEHICLE. I TOLD SERVICE THAT I NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND DURING THE CONVERSATION ASKED TO GET TRANSFERRED TO SALES TO WEIGH OUT MY OPTIONS SINCE I STILL HAD A LOAN ON MY VEHICLE ESTIMATED REMAINDER $ 4000.00. THE SALESMAN SAID I WOULD GET $ 500 FOR MY CAR, WHICH WAS A HUGE LOSS. I CALLED HIM BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER AND TOLD HIM I WOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE ON MY OWN, WHICH THAN LED TO ANOTHER $ 200.00 TOW. ON JUNE 8TH

TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF AND DAMGED THE HEAD, RODS AND VALVES. CAR HAS ONLY 7)K MILES. I HAVE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM SATURN TO REPAIR FOR 3K

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON U.S. 301 AT 9:00 A.M. ON OUR WAY HOME IN OUR 2001 SATURN (L100) COUPE. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAD STARTED WHILE DRIVING HOME. WHILE GOING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER AND FORCED US TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE THOUGHT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN IF WE WERE IN AN AREA WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO FLAG DOWN A PASSING TOW TRUCK TO HELP US OUT. THE ROAD SERVICE UNIT DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FAMILY AT HOME. THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN APART AND EXAMINED. THE FIRST EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPLAIN THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I SAID YES, ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I THOUGHT WITH THE LOW MILES (58,767) ON THE CAR, THE WORK WOULD BE WORTH WHILE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A DAMAGED HEAD AND BENT VALVES. WHAT LOOKED LIKE A $1000.00 TIMING CHANGE REPLACEMENT QUICKLY WENT TO SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE! I CALLED THE SATURN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT WARRANTIES THAT WENT WITH THE CAR AND WHAT HELP THEY COULD PROVIDE. THEY EXPLAIN THAT THEY COULDN'T CONSIDER A WARRANTY WITHOUT FIRST EXAMING THE CAR IN THEIR OWN SHOP AND HAVING ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS PROVIDED TO THEM. WITH THE ADDITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, A STREAM OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRST TIME WAS TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE MOST RECENT WAS ON JUNE 5, 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED AND THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERCHANGEABLY. THE PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,979. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

2001 SATURN L 200 SERIES CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN AFTER GETTING A BOOSTER THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKS CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION AREA**CC THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED OUT DUE TO THE STARTER BEING STUCK. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE BURNED OUT STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION HOUSING AND IGNITION CYLINDER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER FOUND A CODE AND THE BCM HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERABLE, THE DEALER STATED THE AC CONTROL HAD SHORTED OUT. *JB

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 271 IN OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 FAILED CAUSING ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PARK THE CAR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THEN MOVED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, THE TIMING CHAIN WITH THE NEW OILING MECHANISM WAS INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE HEAD NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO BENT VALVES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 L200 SATURN IN MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN I HEARD A SOUND AND THE ENGINE QUIT. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERS MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT LATER INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $2,900 AND $3,300 TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

ENGINE KNOCKING BADLY. DEALER LISTED CAUSE AS "WEAK TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER"TOLD IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THE MILEAGE (77468). CHAIN PKG COST $733.86 (PARTS/LABOR) I'VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE MANY SATURNS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

TRAVELING ON RTE 27 SOUTH IN AVON PARK FLORIDA ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET VEHICLE TOWED TO ALAN JAY SATURN IN SEBRING. AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND WOULD COST $1000 TO FIX. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE. I FIND THIS NOT TO BE THE CASE. THEY REPLACED THE CHAIN THEN TOLD ME SOME VALVES WERE BENT AND WOULD COST $1600.00 MORE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. IT WAS FORTUNATE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO ROADSIDE. *TR

2001 SATURN L200. 59,000 MILES. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND SHE LOST POWER. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR HELP. NO ONE WAS HURT. I READ THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. I COLLECT CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT I HAVE EVER HAD A TIMING CHAIN GO OUT ON WITHOUT SERIOUS REVVING, AND RELEASE OF THE ENGINE RPMS!! *AK

WE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK ON THE 2001 SATURN L200 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN RICHMOND ON APRIL 17, 2007. BREAKING IN THIS FASHION IT FATALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. I LEARNED AFTER THE FACT THAT SATURN HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LUBRICATING NOZZLE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN DURING THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE EXISTING MODELS, INCLUDING OURS, EVEN THOUGH WE PURCHASED IT AFTER THE DESIGN CHANGE HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SATURN THEMSELVES HAS WARRANTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT THE 90,000 MILE SERVICE - OURS BROKE AT 84,700. SATURN HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE ENGINE NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $5000. WE'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS, TOTAL OF 60000 MILES ON THE CAR. REGULAR OIL CHANGES FROM THE SAME SERVICE FACILITY. *AK

2001 SATURN L200 CUSTOMER IS DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT RECALLED IGNITION CONTROL MODULE THAT FAILED 35,000 MILES AFTER BEING REPLACED**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE RECALL PART WAS NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART. THE LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND THE REAR GUIDE WAS MIS-ALIGNED. *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AFTER ONLY 31,000 MILES ON A 2001 MODEL SATURN L SERIES. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 SEDAN MONDAY APRIL 23, 2007 WHEN I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY(ACCELERATING AND MERGING) WHEN I HAD NO WARNING, MY CAR JUST STALLED ON ME. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO MY RIGHT. MY ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. IT IS AT A NON-DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER BECAUSE 1. WHERE I WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED AND 2. WHO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD AUTHORIZE THE TOW TRUCK TO GO TO. I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF SURVEYS ON THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEIR SATURNS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AND WITH SIMILAR COMPONENTS. THE REPAIR CENTER HAS CONFIRMED THAT MY TIMING BELT HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVE 6 BENT VALVES WHICH THEY HAVE SENT IN TO BE MACHINED AND FIXED. I AM AWARE OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS TIMING BELT FAILURE(DP05-008). IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, WHO RECOMMEND THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DETACHED AND DAMAGED THE HEAD. ALSO, THE HEAD, FRONT GASKET, AND ALL RELATED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND COST $1,669.94. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT TO HAVE SUCH A FAILURE. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE HE DISCOVERED A FEW COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,898.*AK

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AROUND REAR OF CAR. FUEL PUMP LEAKING FUEL. FUEL PUMP REPLACED, OLD FUEL PUMP PART AVAILABLE. 2001 SATURN L-200, 116,000 MILES. SMELL WAS SO STRONG AT TIMES A SPARK OR LIT CIGARETTE WOULD CAUSE EXPLOSION OR FIRE. DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMOM PROBLEM AT 100,000 MILES. *JB

TIMING CHAIN ON 2001 SATURN L200 WITH 78,000 MILES BROKE WHILE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, LOST ALL POWER. SATURN REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. THISWAS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH MOST VEHICLES WITH A 2.2 L ENGINE MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 200-2003. THEY NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE OIL NOZZLE, AND WERE TELLING THE CUSTOMERS IT WASTHEIR FAULT DUE TO NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE OIL CHANGES. HAVING A VEHICLE LOSE POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY CONSTITUTED A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.*AK

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. *AK

I WAS DRIVING A 2002 SATURN L-100 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, AND WHEN IT DID, I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MERGE WITH THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE CAR STALLED AND I COASTED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR, AND HAD IT TOWED. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC, AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AVOID ANYONE OR ANYTHING HAD CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MASS OF THE ENGINE IS STILL TURNING, THE LIGHTS INFORMING YOU THAT THE CAR HAS STALLED DO NOT COME ON. MY OIL AND IGNITION LIGHTS ONLY CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS TRAVELING SLOWER THAN 10 MPH. DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE THAT THE ENGINE HAS STALLED, THEN YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE BRAKE POWER REMAINING. ONCE THE VACUUM BOOSTER IS FULL OF AIR, THE BRAKES BECOME HARDER TO ACTUATE, BUT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THAT MY BRAKES WERE ALSO ABOUT TO GO. IT WAS TRULY WEIRD. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT ON WON'T GO OFF WAS IN WRECK AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ONLY LIT UP ON DASH *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE PISTONS TO STOP WORKING, WHICH TOTALLY RUINED MY ENGINE. I ONLY HAVE 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR! THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG, MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I HAD NOT ENTERED THE THRUWAY YET. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED. IT COST ME $2,479.50 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MORE CROWDED STREET OR THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AS WELL AS ANYONE AROUND ME. I CONTACTED SATURN BECAUSE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH CARS, SAY THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE LOW MILEAGE. I DID CALL THE COPS BECAUSE I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL ZONE IN A NO PARKING AREA. I DID CAUSE TERRIBLE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK THE CAR AWAY BEFORE THE POLICE SHOWED UP.*JB

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET DOING NO MORE THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. UPON TAKING IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THAT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL. I NOW AM FACING 3,000-3,500 IN REPAIR COST IF I DON'T USE SATURN PARTS DOUBLE THAT IF I DO SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. *JB..UPDATED 02/12/15*BF

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE 2001 SATURN L200 AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND, AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TIMING CHAIN SHEARED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 62,000 MILES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 SATURN L200 AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART A FEW TIMES THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHEARED, THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN TWO CYLINDERS, AND THERE WAS HIGH COMPRESSION ON THE OTHER TWO CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 77,000 MILES.*AK

I NOTICED ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET AND I DECIDED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OUT OF TOWN ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE IT OFF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKE ON IT. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT TIMING CHAINS SHOULD NEVER BREAK. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 110K ON IT. NOW I HAVE A BROKEN VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS STILL AND A LARGE COST TO FIX OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *NM

MY SATURN LW300 HAD MANY PROBLEMS WHILE I OWNED IT. ON TUESDAY I HAD A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR. THE IMPACT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOLD ME THE LIGHT WENT ON BUT THEY MALFUNCTIONED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED NOR WAS MY THREE YEAR OLD SON. *NM

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, MY 2001 SATURN L200 WITH OUT ANY WARNING DIED. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESS WAY. I HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THEY ADVISED ME TO CALL MY SATURN DEALER BECAUSE A WELL MAINTAINED AUTO WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK. *NM

2001 SATURN L300. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES I NOTICE THAT THE CAR "JUMPS" WHEN ACCELERATING (LIKE THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A NOISE BUT ONLY WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON OTHER TIMES IT'S OK. *NM

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A POP WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE CAR QUIT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. EVENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON A UNLIT ROADWAY. WHEN THE AR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN SAID IT WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE BUT ALL OIL CHANGES WERE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. SATURN ALSO CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A MAJOR ONE, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN ISSUED A TSB IN JUNE 2003 WHICH STATED THAT THE OILER TO THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PROPERLY OIL THE CHAIN, BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPEATED FAILURES. A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON BEHALF OF ALL OWNERS WITH THIS FAILURE MAY NEED TO BE STARTED IF SATURN CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING LITTLE NOISES IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT WAS COLD, AND AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP THE NOISE WOULD STOP. I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED PRETTY REGULARLY, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR. 2 DAYS AGO, I DROVE ONE MILE FROM MY WORK,AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL I HEARD A LOUD POP IN THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING STOPPED. I WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THE REAR CAM WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND THERE IT WILL SIT FOR AWHILE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AS THE ESTIMATED COST TO JUST GET INTO IT IS $400, AND THEN MOST LIKELY WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. I AM ON A MODEST INCOME, AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. THIS IS MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK, SO IT WILL MOST LIKELY AFFECT MY LIVELIHOOD. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NOT SERVICED THE CAR SINCE 2001 AND PRETTY MUCH I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY, BUT NOT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAPPENED AT 89000 MILES. I THINK THAT SATURN SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY BY THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURNS AND I WANT THEM TO REPLACE MY ENGINE, PARTS AND LABOR AND STAND BEHIND THEIR WORK AS WELL. I FEEL LIKE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, AS WELL AS A CLASS-ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN. *NM

2001 SATURN L200 HAD A CAM CHAIN FAILURE WHICH HAS CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD AND POSSIBLE PISTON DAMAGE THAT WILL COST WELL OVER 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX ON A CAR THAT HAS 75000 MILES ON IT! I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS IN INVESTIGATION BY YOUR AGENCY NOW. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE EVENING OF 12/29/06 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEEK BEFORE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MECHANIC AND HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANICWAS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THEN HE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF ANY VALVES WERE BENT. 8AK

2001 SATURN L SERIES TIMING CHAIN BROKE**CC *JB

WITH MY SATURN L-200 THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTED, WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER IT WOULD NOT MAKE THE NOISE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN RUNNING. I WAS ON MY WAY TO A COMPANY MEETING IN KC, AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, IT JUST STAYED AT A CONSTANT IDLE. I OF COURSE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, AND HAD NO SUCCESS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, AND THAT IT HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 2,000 - 7,000 DOLLAR RANGE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. NOT HAPPY! *NM

MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE WAY TO MY FAMILIES THANKSGIVING WITH NO WARNING. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER 5 HOURS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. MY OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ON TIME THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE CAR, THIS I HAVE RECORDS OF. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM SATURN CORPORATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER CLAIMS I HAVE SEEN THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE THE BILL TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS WAY TO HIGH FOR ME TO PAY, OVER 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP LEAKED GAS PROFUSELY AND ON A WORSENING BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE, AND NO FURTHER PROBLEMS HAD OCCURRED. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, MY HUSBAND'S 2001 L200 SATURN 4-CYL LOST ALL POWER. HE SAFELY COASTED TO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. REPAIR SHOP STATES TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION. THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE/COSTS IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ALERTED THE CONTACT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED WHO INDICATED THE BATTERY COULD BE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC BECAUSE THE NEAREST DEALER WAS 100 MILES AWAY. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE AT THE AUTO SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE TIME CHAIN FAILURE. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 (81,00 MILES) BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALL POWER STOPPED AND HAD TO COAST TO SAFETY, WAIT ALONE ON THE TURNPIKE FOR HELP. RESEARCH SHOWS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS STILL HAPPENING! *NM

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON I-75 IN KENTUCKY DOING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I NOTICED THAT I LOST THE GAS PEDDLE AND BARELY HAD STEERING. NO LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE DASH AND I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A STEEP DOWN GRADE CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC! HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (AFTER SITTING FOR 2 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN). THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS THEN 3 HOURS FROM HOME WITH IT NEEDING A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE!! I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT! MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH A CAR THE DECIDED TO QUIT RUNNING ON A STEEP GRADE AND ALL THE SEMIS AROUND!! *NM

I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 WHICH I BOUGHT IN 2003 USED. I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY 6 LANE MAJOR ROAD WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DIED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE BEFORE ROLLING TO A STOP, BUT CAUSED A MAJOR HAZARD SITTING IN THE ROAD WITH CARS HAVING TO GO AROUND ME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND FOUND IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT HAD BROKEN, ALSO DAMAGING SEVERAL VALVES IN THE PROCESS. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AFTER 12 DAYS AT A COST TO ME OF $2700. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE TIME MY CAR WAS BEING FIXED AT A COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. I HAD TO TAKE A LOAN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND RENTAL. IN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY, MANY SATURN L200'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT VARIOUS MILEAGE MARKS. I HAVE ONLY 56,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND UP UNTIL NOW, HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, BUT THIS WAS MAJOR. I, LIKE THE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVE KEPT MY OIL CHANGED AND KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED BY THE NHTSA WHICH WAS CLOSED. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 45 PAGES OF COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET AND WONDER IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DEATH TOLL IS SIGNIFICANT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NM

I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, AND MY 2001 SATURN L200, JUST GAVE OUT ON ME. I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. IT WOULDN'T STOP OR ANYTHING. I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO ANYTHING. I CAME ABOUT 2 INCHES AWAY FROM HITTING A LIGHT POLE. MUST OF BEEN GOD THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN. I BEEN READING THAT THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. I COULD OF BEEN REALLY HURT OR GOT INTO A BAD ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING ON THE COST OF HOW MUCH IT WILL BE FOR REPAIRS. *NM