2002 Saturn LS complaints

MY SATURN (MANUAL 5 SP) HAS OVER 202,000 MILES AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES ARE FROZEN/BROKEN. I CANNOT CURRENTLY FIND ANY REPLACEMENT/AFTER MARKET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN TO WORK THIS DAY AND ALL WAS WELL. SHE WENT ABOUT HER WORK DAY AND LEFT FOR HER LUNCH BREAK AT 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON. SHE DROVE THE CAR AND GOT HER FOOD AND CAME BACK FROM LUNCH. LATER ON THAT EVENING SHE PUNCHED OUT AT 5:00 PM TO LEAVE. WHEN SHE WENT TO START THE CAR THE MOTOR TURNED OVER AT A MUCH FASTER THAN USUAL RATE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I KNEW WHEN I GOT THERE THE CAR HAD NO COMPRESSION WHEN I TURNED IT OVER. I HAD AAA TOW IT TO THE GARAGE (WORTH THE PEACE OF MIND TO HAVE) AND THEY TOLD ME SURE AS ANYTHING THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT MOVING WHEN IT HAPPENED, MUST HAVE LET GO AS SHE PARKED THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND MOTOR WE PUT IN THIS CAR. STILL WAITING ON THE REPAIR ESTIMATE. CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CRANKSHAFT GEARS BECAUSE A COUPLE OF TEETH GOT RIPPED OFF IN THE PROCESS. NICE.... THANKS SATURN AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. *TR

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM CAR WHILE DRIVING, WHEN STOPPED OR PARKING CANT HAVE THE WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE THE SMELL MAKES YOU SICK AND GIVES YOU A HEADACHE. CANT BELIEVE THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS. MECHANIC SAYS HE CANT SEE THE LEAK BUT BELIEVES ITS THE FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM NOT WORKING. THIS CANT BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!! MY FAULT AGAIN FOR BUYING AN AMERICAN CAR!!!!!!!!!! *TR

STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. REPAIR SHOP FOUND LEAK AT TOP OF GAS TANK WHICH SPRAYED GAS UP THROUGH THE BACK SEAT. PROBLEM WAS ONLY DISCOVERED LONG AFTER IT STARTED PUTTING MY FAMILY AT SERIOUS RISK! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS 85,415 UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11

THE STEERING WAS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY WHICH MADE THE CAR UNSTABLE AND SCARY TO DRIVE SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME ALL THAT HELD THE SUBFRAME TOGETHER WAS SOME RUSTY PARTS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD CRASH IF IT HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. I KNOW I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT THEY SALT THE ROADS BUT THERE IS NO REASON A 9 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE A SUBFRAME THAT HAS FAILED. *TR

TIMING CHAIN SEPERATED ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 AT 15 MPH 2 MONTHS AGO. IT COST ME $2700 TO REPLACE ENGINE AND THEN I FOUND THE LINKS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS VERY ISSUE BUT WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT IT DIDN'T COVER MY CAR. I AM HIGHLY UPSET ABOUT THIS AS MY ENGINE DID EXACTLY WHAT ALL THE OTHER SATURNS IN THE RECALL DID SO WHY IS MINE EXCLUDED?? I WANT MY YEAR COVERED IN THE RECALL. *TT

MY CAR SHOWED NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. STARTED TO WORK LOST POWER. COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE AT A BUSINESS. WAS TOLD TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. IT WILL COST $2600.00 TO REPAIR. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH HEADLINERS SAGGING. *TR

TIMING CHAIN BROKE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE. NO NOISE OR WARNING BEFOREHAND. TRAVELING IN CENTER LANE OF THREE LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO SHOULDER WITHOUT ACCIDENT. COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IF STOPPED ON ROADWAY. AFTER READING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION, I'M APPALLED THAT NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN SENT BY GM SUGGESTING A REPLACEMENT OF THE CHAIN TENSIONER AND OILER. I COULD HAVE DONE THIS MYSELF. INSTEAD, I SPENT $2000 FOR AN ENGINE.

DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON I-35 IN DALLAS, VEHICLE DIED, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. AFTER DETERMINING ENGINE WAS INTERFERENCE MODEL & VIEWING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 I CALLED SATURN TO DETERMINE IF THE 2002 WAS COVERED UNDER THIS. SATURN REPLIED IT WAS NOT. NOT REPAIRED YET BUT AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED OF IF DAMAGED HEAD CAN BE REBUILT. LOWER END WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE INSPECTED AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED IF HEAD IS REBUILT. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE ODOMETER, HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING, OR WHAT TEMPERATURE THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,841.

I OWN A 2002 SATURN L 300 6 CYLINDER 3.0 ENGINE CAR. IN JUNE 2010 I HAD A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE WITHMY CAR (REDUCED POWER, CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS). I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. I PURCHASED THE THROTTLE BODY FROM GM DIRECTLY AND HAD IT INSTALLED AT AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC. NOT KNOWING THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND COMPUTER PROGRAMMING ISSUES AROUND THIS CAR, I LET THE OUTSIDE MECHANIC DO THE INSTALLATION NOT KNOW ALL THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING ISSUES AROUND THIS PART. ABOUT A MONTH OR SO LATER I CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SAME ERROR MESSAGES, BUT THIS TIME I BROUGHT IT TO GM, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A WIRING ISSUE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO GM 5 MORE TIMES REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIRING TO THE THROTTLE BODY, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, AND ON MAY 2, 2011 ANOTHER TRIP TO HAVE THE COMPUTER RE-PROGRAMMED TO SYNC THE NEW ECM TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS PAST WEEK I BEGAN GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE (SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT) FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. I CALLED GM DIRECTLY AND OPENED A COMPLAINT CASE NUMBER AND BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TOT HE GM DEALER NOW FOR THE 6TH TIME. THE PRIOR VISITS TO GM THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY WON'T HONOR ANY GUARANTEES BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AT AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SHOP. I CAN SEE THAT HOLDING WEIGHT THE FIRST OR SECOND VISIT BACK TO GM, BUT NOW THIS IS THE 6TH VISIT BACK AND THEY STILL HAVE YET TO COMPLETELY FIX THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON MY CAR. I HAVE SPENT OVER 3,000.00

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I AM FOLLOWING UP ON A COMPLAINT WHICH I HAD FILED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. ODI ID NUMBER : 10407378. THE INCIDENT STARTED WITH A GASOLINE SMELL IN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR COST ME $900.00 TO FIX A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AFTER MY MECHANIC HAD PERFORMED A SMOKE TEST AND A PRESSURE TEST OF THE GAS TANK. I HAVE 72,200 MILES ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 SEDAN. I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND IT IS VERY SAD THAT OUR AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT STEPPING FORWARD TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEMS AND OTHERS. THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR DIED FROM THIS INCIDENT AND OTHERS IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND NEGLIGENT. I ALSO OWN A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER XE AND THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL ON A STEERING SHAFT THAT A RUST ISSUE AND IT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO A FAILURE AND ISSUED A RECALL. NOW THAT IS BEING RESPONSIBLE AND BEING PROACTIVE BEFORE THE UNFORTUNATE HAPPENS. THE LAST TIME I PURCHASED AN AMERICAN CAR WAS IN 1977 AND THE 2002 SATURN. YEA I DON'T THINK I'LL BE BUYING AN AMERICAN CAR ANY TIME SOON AGAIN. *TR

WE HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 FOUR DOOR SEDAN WITH ABOUT 72,000 MILES AND NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SPELL COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL AREA. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WILL BE DROPPED OFF IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR REPAIR. I WILL POST MORE INFORMATION ONCE THE PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND THE SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS BY SATURN OWNERS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM WHEN I GOOGLED IT. I'M REALLY SHOCKED THAT A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED. *TR

2002 SATURN L100. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION MODULE PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED IN NOVEMBER 2010 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, JUST A FUSE LIGHT. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SHE WAS INFORMED IT WAS SIMPLY A GLITCH AND IT WOULD GO OUT BY ITSELF. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER WENT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS AND WAS INFORMED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. UPDATED 09/06/11

WHEN TURNING ONTO MORGANTON ROAD IN FAYETTEVILLE NC (HIGH TRAFFIC AREA DUE TO PROXIMITY OF THE MALL) AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, WITH TRAFFIC SPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A POP FOLLOWED BY THE CAR LOSING POWER. WITH NO POWER IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD AND INTO THE BANK PARKING LOT. ONCE THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME A MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS STILL SITTING IN THE YARD WAITING TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. AFTER RESEARCHING I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER SATURN OWNERS. THE MAY 2002 L-SERIES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME FAULTY TIMING CHAIN EQUIPMENT AS THOSE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH IN MY 2002 SATURN L200 LOST ALL POWER ON THE I-5 FREEWAY. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I THEN HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, AND THEY MAY ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND PISTONS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. LUCKY IT HAPPENED TO ME AND NOT MY YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS INEXPERIENCED WITH SITUATIONS AS ABOVE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE SAME 2.2L ENGINE FOR TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE THE 2002-2003 YEARS AS THEY ALL USE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE CLOSE CALLS AS THIS ONE. I HAVE SERVICED THE ENGINE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE NEW. I EVEN HAVE RECEIPTS FOR PROOF. *TR

1. TIMING CHAIN BREAK/FAILURE AT 30 MPH ON A SATURN 2002 L-200. 2. VEHICLE'S ENGINE STOPS RUNNING IMMEDIATELY. POSSIBLE SERIOUS/LETHAL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. 3. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. BENT VALVES ETC. ENGINE HEAD DAMAGED. 4. ENGINE REPAIR ESTIMATES $2500-$2800. ENGINE REPAIRED BY OWNER FOR $1700. 5. GM DESIGN DEFECT. CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND HE STATED TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.EVEN THOUGH THE SATURN 2001 L200 WAS UNDER A RECALL FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURES. GM DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN THE 2002 L200'S AND NO RECALL WAS MADE. IN MY OPINION GM DID NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT. *TR

INITIAL INDICATION WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE AT 50-65 MPH, BUT NO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. SUSPECTED WHEEL WEIGHT FELL OFF. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, BEGAN TO NOTICE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT. NOW THOUGHT CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LAST DAY, STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE AT 10 O-CLOCK POSITION FOR CAR TO STAY STRAIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED OUT AND SPLITTING WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT ATTACHMENT OCCURS. MECHANIC CONFIRMED PROBLEM. MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 112,500. PLAN TO TAKE CAR OFF ROAD AND DONATE TO CHARITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE ENGINE AS WELL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE DRIVER WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000. SM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JOLTED ABNORMALLY AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 610 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH BEFORE A LARGE, SWEEPING TURN, MY 2002 SATURN L200 LOST POWER. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE LOST AND THE CAR HEADED TOWARDS A GUARDRAIL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE PARKING BRAKE AND SKID TO A STOP JUST OUTSIDE OF THE DITCH. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AT 83,000 MILES, CATASTROPHICALLY. A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN CONFIGURATION WAS ISSUED ON 2001 SATURN L200S, BUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON NOT ON THE 2002 SATURN. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTEDLY WITH ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

2002 SATURN DIED WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CRASHED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 GM 06074 THAT USES THE SAME PARTS. *TR

AS I DROVE, UP HILL, WHILE USING THE SPEED CONTROL FEATURE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV HIGH RPMS. IT THEN JERKED AND BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THEN HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. AT THE REPAIR FACILITY I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND FOUND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT ISSUE FOR THE 2001 SATURN L200. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 07V519000 GM RECALL NUMBER:06074 I THEN READ THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMER COUNCIL PETITIONED (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : DP08002) TO HAVE THE RECALL EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL 1999 TO 2003 SATURN VEHICLES THAT USED THE SAME TIMING CHAIN. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE END OF A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP WHERE A WIDE SHOULDER WAS AVAILABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, HAD TO BE PUSHED HOME. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORMER SATURN OF NAPERVILLE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE, COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE $4700.00 TO $4900.00. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO HOME GARAGE. *TR

FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF GAS TANK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LW300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS A GASOLINE ODOR. IT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF OR WHEN IT REMAINED ON CONTINUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LW300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS A GASOLINE ODOR. THE ODOR WAS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF OR WHEN IT REMAINED ON CONTINUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 3.5 MILES THE VEHICLE STOPPED. INSPECTION CONFIRMED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED AND THE VALVES WERE BENT ABNORMALLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

I HAVE DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE IN THE BCM'S IN THE SATURN L-SERIES SEDANS. IN AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE BCM, WE PULLED THE BCM OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED ELECTRICAL TESTS ON THE UNIT TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS WE WERE EXPERIENCING. THE ROOT CAUSE TURNS OUT TO BE MICROSCOPIC FRACTURES IN THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE HEADER CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE BCM AND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THESE FRACTURES ARE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER MOUNTING OF THE HEADER CONNECTOR TO THE MAIN BOARD OF THE BCM. AS THE MANUFACTURE OF THE HEADER CONNECTOR HAS PROVIDED STRAIN RELIEF MOUNTING POINTS ON THE CONNECTOR TO KEEP IT WELL MOUNTED TO THE BOARD SO VIBRATION WILL NOT AFFECT THE JOINTS TO ALL OF THE PINS. SATURN HAS FAILED TO USE THESE MOUNT POINTS AND HAS OPTED TO NOT USE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE OR BOLTS TO SECURE THE HEADER CONNECTOR TO THE MAINBOARD AT ALL. THIS ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE VIBRATION CAUSED MICRO FRACTURES IN THE PIN SOLDER JOINTS CAUSING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL OPENS TO THE MAINBOARD ON THE HEADER PINS.THE ULTIMATE SAFETY COMPLAINT COMES INTO PLAY WHEN THE BCM STOPS DISPLAYING INFORMATION ON THE DASH (I.E. ALL OF THE DASH GAUGES GO DEAD), THE DRIVER HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT SPEED THEY ARE DOING, NOR IF ANY OF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE ARE WORKING AT ALL. THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER THAT SIGNED OFF ON THE PLANS FOR THIS DESIGN SHOULD HAVE AN ETHICS VIOLATION COMPLAINT FILED AS WELL, FOR KNOWINGLY ALLO

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND FUEL DRIPPING UNDERNEATH. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 L200 WITH 75,000 MILES SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING LOST CONTROL, BUT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH OUT BEING HIT THANKFULLY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 MODEL BUT THE 2002 WAS NEVER ISSUED. *TR

I OWN A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH ABOUT 74,000 MILES. MY WIFE NOTICED A FAINT GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. A VISUAL INSPECTION BY MY MECHANIC DIDN'T SHOW MUCH. HOWEVER WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE LEAK HAD GOTTEN MUCH WORSE SO THAT GAS COULD BE SEEN LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD OF HAPPENED IF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AND THE GAS LEAKED A FEW MORE INCHES TOWARD THE MUFFLER. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 I HAD THE FUEL PUMP MODULE (PART 22710031) REPLACED AT A COST OF $655.87. I SEE OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BE RECALLED? LAST YEAR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND WRECKED THE ENGINE. ALSO A COMMON, BUT AS OF YET, NOT RECALLED PROBLEM. AT LEAST THAT WOULDN'T HAVE SET THE CAR ON FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE LEAK AND STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000.

DRIVING TO SCHOOL. TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 SATURN L100. MECHANIC COST $1,900 TO FIX. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN L100 2.2L 4-CYLINDER VEHICLE ON 9/13/2010 THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING , THE ENGINE STALLED , THE VEHICLE LOST ALL MOTIVE POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TWO OF THE ENGINE'S VALVES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200 SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SATURN 200L SUDDENLY GAVE OUT. THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THEM SEVERAL TIMES, THEY CAME UP A LITTLE. I THOUGHT THE BRAKES NEEDED CHANGING, SO I HAD THAT DONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. I GO TO STOP AND SUDDENLY THERE ARE NO BRAKES. THEY ALWAYS WORK OK AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND I SEE ON MYCARSTATS.COM THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

2002 SATURN FUEL PUMP WENT VERY BAD... CAR OK WHEN PARKED IN GARAGE NEXT MORNING BAD GAS FUMES COULD HAVE CAUSED EXPLOSION..HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND REPLACED THE PUMP. *TR

I WAS LEAVING WORK AND PULL ONTO A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN GAINING SPEED AND AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH I HEARD A THUMP IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR STALLED AND COASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT HALFWAY OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED HOME FOR REPAIR. UPON INVESTIGATION, CHECKING COMPRESSION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD IN FACT BROKE DURING OPERATION ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS INTERN HAS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL ENGINE AND NO FAULT OF MY OWN. *TR

MY 2002 SATURN L100 TIMING CHAIN BROKE. LOOKING INTO THE REPAIR I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER SATURN OWNERS. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE CAR AS OF YET DUE TO THE COST. I THINK THIS BEING A COMMON FAILURE SATURN SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. THE CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, AND THE CAR DECELERATED. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR WARNING LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE DYING. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE, I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR. THE ENGINE TRIED TO TURN OVER, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE (CYLINDER HEAD SPECIFICALLY). NO REASON FOR THE BREAKAGE COULD BE FOUND. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE NEEDED. *TR