2002 Saturn LS complaints

MAY 27, 2008 -WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CAR CUT OFF WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL PUMP. FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED(3X'S)THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE PCM( COMPUTER MODULE) AND IT CUT OFF AGAIN, THE CAR IS STILL @ THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION FOR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT, IN MAY IT IS NOW JULY 15,2008. *TR

MY 2002 SATURN L SERIES CAR HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO IT AS YOUR #07V519000. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ENGINE STALLED AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CRASH. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 37157 - THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I CALLED SATURN WHO SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED IN ANY WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL SERVICE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VALVE IN THE ENGINE TO FAIL ALSO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN SATURNS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN OF JOLIET WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2005. IT IS A 2002 L200 SERIES. THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK AND SAID THERE WAS A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $500 AND OVER $900 TO REPAIR DEPENDING ON WHERE THE LEAK IS AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ON DISABILITY SOCIAL SECURITY AND CAN NOT AFFORD SUCH A HIGH REPAIR BILL. WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK IT IS A PROBLEM THAT CALLS FOR A RECALL. THIS MUST BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. WHEN THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND PARKS, HE SMELLS GASOLINE. HE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS. HE WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INTENSIFIED. HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING 20 MILES IF THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BOUNDS AUTOPLEX. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED, THE MECHANIC COULD SMELL THE GASOLINE; HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANAGER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AMERICAN AUTO, WHERE THEY REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $800 TO REPLACE THE TANK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THEY INSTRUCTED HIM TO HAVE THE TANK REASSEMBLED AND THEN BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT LEAKING AXLE SEALS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING AND IT WOULD COST HIM ABOUT $770.00 TO FIX IT. *KB ***NAR***

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATIONS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE SECOND DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME AND NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING. CAN HEAR CLICKING NOISES IN CONSOLE AND STATIC FROM SPEAKERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SWITCHES FOR ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE ENGINE MODULE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER SENSORS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FAILED. WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL HOUSING SCREW WAS LOOSE AND THE FILTER COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,564 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 L100 SATURN AT 11:00PM COMING HOME AND IT JUST QUIT. IT HAS BEEN A VERY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. IT IS A TIMING CHAIN THAT WENT OUT. SATURN DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT HAS ABOUT 97,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE SATURN TECHNICIAN SAID MY CHAIN 'SNAPPED IN TWO' AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD. AFTER BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ECOTEC ENGINE IN THE SATURN L-SERIES FROM 2000-2003. SATURN WAS VERY UNWILLING TO HELP OR ACCEPT ANY SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED. THE FIRST ONE WHEN THE CAR WAS MADE, SECOND ONE WAS INSTALLED 09/17/2004, WHICH WAS PUT ON BACKWARDS BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CAUSED MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO CRACK IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS INSTALLED ON 03/03/2005, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND ONE. I HAVE STRONG EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ASKED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHY SO MANY CONVERTERS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AND THEY TELL ME IT'S EITHER CHEAP GAS OR LACK OF TUNE-UPS. THEY WANT $2,000.00 TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD AND ANOTHER CONVERTER. ALSO, MY HEAD LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, SO WHEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, I HAD THE DEALERSHIP DO A HISTORY SUMMARY ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FIRST OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT NEVER HAD BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO CHAMPAIGN TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE SATURN L200 DIED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CHAMPAIGN. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE IT TOTALED THE ENGINE. IT WAS JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS AND I HAD NO MONEY. SATURN TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE $2700. I HAD TO GET A LOAN FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH HAS CAUSED MORE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND SAID NOTHING! *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SATURN L200 TO WORK AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING A COLLISION. DIAGNOSIS BY A GM MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN, CAUSING 6 EXHAUST VALVES TO BEND. WE ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING OUR OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. *TR

OUR 2002 L200 SATURN HAD THE TIMING CHAIN FAIL AT APROX 79,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR THIS WAS $2973.15 THAT IS INCLUDING THE COST OF TOWING O THE DEALER. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT OF FAILED AT 79,000 MILES. THEY NEED TO INCLUDE 2002 L200'S IN THE RECALL THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE ON THE 2001 L SERIES CARS FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ON THOSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE 2002'S AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS WITH THIS YEAR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. CAR WOULD NOT RUN. *TR

IGNITION KEY HOUSING WOULD NOT WORK (I.E. KEY SWITCH WORN OUT). REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF HOUSING. *TR

ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT. CAR WOULD NOT OPERATE. *TR

THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAIN ON AND MAYBE INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE ODOMETER IS REGISTERING ABOUT 300 MILES PER SECOND. LAT KNOWN MILEAGE WAS AROUND 76,000 MILES. THE ODOMETER HAS SAILED PAST THE MILLION MILE MARK SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

REAR TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. *TR

SATURN L200 2.2 ECOTEC - TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 2 IN LINCOLN MA. DRIFTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE TIMING BELT, WHICH STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE CHAIN COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING.THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE.*CN

I HAD TOLD MY SATURN DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO ABOUT A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY L-200 (2002). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY JUST THE NORMAL NOISE THAT THIS CAR MAKES WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THE NOISE CONTINUED, BUT ONLY AT START-UP. I BROUGHT IT IN RECENTLY FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. THE NEXT DAY THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND IT IS FRUSTRATING AND PUZZLING TO ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INVESTIGATE FURTHER WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07V519000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

2002 L SERIES SATURN TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SHE WAS STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. (WARRANTY ENDED JULY -2007 & ENGINE DAMAGE IS IN EXCESS OF $2500.) *TR

2002 SATURN L-200. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. 64,000 MILES. DEALER WAS TRYING TO BLAME LACK OF MAINTENANCE UNTIL I PROVED REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN TWIN CAM ENGINE. WHY DO THE DEALERS TRY TO BLAME THE OWNERS? MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, BUT I FEEL THEY TRIED TO AVOID THE COVERAGE ON THE EXTENDED PLAN. *TR

TIME CHAIN ON AN L200 SATURN (MY 2002) AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF USAGE. I HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE CHAIN BROKE. PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS HEARING VALVE NOISE, BUT FORTUNATELY I PULLED THE AUTOMOBILE INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTED IN A COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE VALVES, CHAIN, ETC. AND REQUIRED FULL REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR. THIS INCLUDED THE HEAD, VALVES, CHAIN, TENSIONER, SPROCKETS, ETC. SATURN INDICATED THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED CHAIN TENSIONER WOULD BE REPLACED DURING THIS REPAIR AND SHOULD PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. THIS REDESIGNED PART WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT A DEFICIENCY IN OIL DELIVERY TO THE CHAIN. IMPORTANTLY, I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SATURN DEALER WITH ALL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES, ETC. *TR

2002 SATURN L200 52,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON THE LOOP HERE IN LUBBOCK GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. MY CAR STARTED GOING VERY SLOW AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER STEERING SO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO BE WORKED ON AND HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP. WELL HE CALLED LATER AND SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND IT HAD BROKE. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE OUTLASTED THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. NOT ONLY DID THIS BREAK, BUT WHEN IT BROKE, IT TORE UP MY ENGINE AS WELL. I THEN DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR "L200 TIMEING CHAIN" AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT SATURN WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND POSTED A BULLETIN TO THEIR SERVICE CENTERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASH AND FLICKER RANDOMLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKER IN THE DAYTIME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AT NIGHT. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A HANDOUT STATING THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER HEARS A WHISTLING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION, WINDOWS MAKE CHIRPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING THEM UP, AND HEATER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 11/27/07 *TR

THERE WERE NO SPECIAL EVENTS (ACCIDENTS, UNUSUAL ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC) PRECIPITATING THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 75.5K MI.S ON IT. WE HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THIS CAR AFTER PARKING IT. I GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND FOUND THAT LIQUID GASOLINE IS COMING FROM ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND SOAKING THE SIDES OF THE TANK. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPT SEEMED FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT IS LIKELY A LEAKING FITTING ON THE FUEL PUMP; REQUIRING A NEW FUEL PUMP $400+. WE OWN AN 2002 FORD F-150 THAT HAD A RECENT RECALL ON A CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE THAT THEY SAID COULD CAUSE A FIRE AFTER ENGINE SHUTDOWN-WE HAD THAT RECALL DONE ALTHOUGH WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE GAS LEAK WE ARE HAVING ON OUR SATURN SEEMS MUCH MORE VOLATILE THAN THE FORD'S PROBLEM. THE ODOR HAS BAD ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO PARK THE CAR INSIDE OUR GARAGE (NEAR OUR WATER HEATER), BUT NO RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF (I FOUND MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL WITH THE 2.2L 4-CYL ENG ON THE INTERNET). I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR AGENCY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERED COMPELLING SATURN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT REPAIRING THIS LEAKING FITTING. CAN YOU RECOMMEND WHAT MY IMMEDIATE ACTION OR RECOURSE ON THIS MATTER SHOULD BE AT THIS POINT? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-100. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $5,400. THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,940 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,900. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

ON AUGUST 8, 2007 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE POWER TO MY CAR CUT OFF AND MY WHEELLOCKED IN POSITION. LUCKY FOR MY I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE LANE CLOSET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO SAFETLY EXIT THE ROAD. I THEN BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND I DID EXTENSTIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT I ONLY BOUGHT 1YEAR PRIOR IN JUNE OF 2006 FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PAY $2400 TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED AND HAD NO VEHICLE TO USE FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO THOUGHT SHE BOUGHT A RELIABLE CAR. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND HAD TO BORROW MONEY. MY NEXY STEP IS TO CONTACT SATURN TO COMPLAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

1)REAR BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. 2)NO CONSEQUENCES 3)SATURN REPLACED LIGHTS SOCKETS FOR REAR TAIL LIGHTS ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECALL #05V245000 BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS WHICH WERE SHORTED OUT BY THE DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. *TR

ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN UPSTATE NY, MY 2002 SATURN L200 SUDDENLY BEGAN DECELERATING AND AS MUCH AS I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO STOP. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WHICH WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND MOST CARS WERE SPEEDING AROUND ME. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO, WITHOUT EVEN EXAMINING THE CAR SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THIS DIAGNOSIS PROVED TO BE TRUE AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF THE L200 SERIES. I ALSO BECAME ANGERED BECAUSE I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR TO SATURN AT LEAST THREE TIMES COMPLAINING OF THE WARNING SIGNS--THE CAR HAD DONE THIS SAME THING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, BUT ALWAYS RESTARTED AFTER A WAIT OF ANY WHERE FROM ONE MINUTE TO THREE HOURS. EACH TIME I BROUGHT IT TO SATURN THEY ACTED LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE, AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED ABOUT IT AND ALL SATURN MECHANICS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I PAID $21,000 FOR THIS CAR, WITH THE INTENTION THAT IT WOULD LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS. I JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR IT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I BELIEVE SATURN SHOULD PAY TO FIX THIS. THE TIMING CHAINS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SATURN. *TR

2002 SATURN L-200 WITH HEAD LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SWITCH SHORTS OUT WHICH CAUSES HEAD LIGHTS TO COME ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT SHORTS AND CAUSES THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. AT TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, ONCE CAR WAS WARM, I STARTED HEARING A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MECHANIC RAN AN EMISSIONS TEST AND DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER, ALTHOUGH I HAD NO MORE WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT ONCE THEY INSTALLED THE GASKET, THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE AND THE CAR WAS NOW UNDRIVEABLE AS THE MANIFOLD ITSELF WAS WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (INCLUDING ANOTHER GASKET AS THE 1ST WAS DAMAGED BY TRYING TO INSTALL IT ON A WARPED MANIFOLD). THE CAR HAS APX 58,000 MILES. SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS BEFORE AND ONLY EXPLANATION FOR IT HAPPENING WAS EXTREME HEAT, YET THIS ENGINE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED; OIL IS CHANGED AS SOON AS LIGHT COMES ON. LUCKY I DID NOT INCUR MAJOR DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OR THE ENGINE (AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE I AM WAITING FOR THE TIMING BELT TO GO. WHY NO RECALL ON THIS??) *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES LATER THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED A CRACKED FITTING ON THE TANK. THE COMPONENT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $576.22. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP NIPPLE WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING. UPDATED 09/27/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TIMING CHAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE QUIT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE $2156. SATURN TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST UP TO $7500. *AK

2002 SATURN LW300 STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS TRAVELING AT @ 40-50 MPH. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS @ 59K. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE VALVES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. THE VALVES WERE BENT. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

ELECTRONIC CONTROLE COMPUTER SHORTED OUT. STOPPED WORKING AT 92000MI. ALARM DID NOT WORK, KEY FOB DID NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION INTER LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, FUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK, TEMP GAUGE DID NOT WORK, NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM LAMP ON PASS. SIDE INOP., FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO SATURN OF ABILENE, TX. TOLD IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT SATURN DOESN'T KNOW THE FIX. SATURN OF TEMPLE REPORTED THERE WAS A SHORT UNDER THE FUSE BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH SHORTED OUT THE BCM, HORN, HIGH BEAM AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. COST: $600 FOR ISSUES BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE COASTED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER RELATED FAILURES AS WELL. THE CONTACT PAID $3,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,850 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,800.

THE 2002 SATURN L200 JUST QUIT RUNNING YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE, AND THAT IT WAS LIKELY THAT OTHER SEVERED, AND COSTLY ENGINE DAMGE OCCURRED AS A RESULT. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURNS WITH THE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. AS I WAS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE TURNPIKE, A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *AK

ODOMETER READS 694978 AND THAT IS NOT CORRECT. ACTUAL MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER SHOULD BE 47,000. THE TRIP-METER DOESN'T NOT MOVE FROM ZERO AND THE 694978 DOESN'T CHANGE. I AM DRIVING IT BUT THE MILEAGE ISN'T ADDING UP. HOW DO I DETERMINE WHEN II REQUIRE SERVICE??

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.