2002 Saturn LS complaints

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 2.2 4 CYLINDER ON SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2007 THROUGH AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE ROUTE 93 AND MONTVALE AVENUE IN STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT DOWN, LEAVING HER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FORTUNATELY FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE ABEL TO SWERVE AROUND HER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF MEDFORD ,AND I AM AWAITING FINAL DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM ,BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH SATURNS AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THIS LIST. IF SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBELM, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE THAT WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF SUCH A PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER IS VERY LUCKY! I HAD CALLED THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK TO HAVE A TAPPING NOISE CHECKED OUT AND THEY SCHEDULED ME FOR NEXT TUESDAY AND MADE NO MENTION ON THE PHONE THAT THIS COULD BE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY 2002 SATURN L200. I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 54000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT THIS MORNING WITH NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING ON THE EXPRESS WAY WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STALLED. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY THE SEMI BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND AVOID ME AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR OUT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER READING A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? SATURN SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,361. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. UPDATED

5/2007 - AC COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FREON LEAKING; THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED ON THIS SAME VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2006. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 70,000. *AK

23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, HER COUSIN, AND 3 YEAR OLD NIECE WERE DRIVING ON I-70 NEAR CHICAGO WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DIED. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF INTERSTATE TO SIDE OF ROAD BY 2 YOUNG WOMEN WITH 3 YEARS IN CAR. TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WITHOUT WARNING ON A CAR WITH 54,000 MILES ,LEAVING THE CAR NON FUNCTIONAL IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE EXPRESSWAY, 300 MILES FROM HOME, AND LEAVING DAUGHTER, COUSIN AND NIECE STRANDED IN A STRANGE CITY WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, OR THAT A CAR THAT SUDDENLY LOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS NEEDING A NEW TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN L200 ABOUT 1 1/2 YEAR AGO WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY IT NOW HAS 80,000K MILES. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 2MPH AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER TAKING INTO THE SHOP THEY SAID MY TIMMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I AM VERY UPSET AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I GET MY OIL CHANGES DONE ON TIME AND I DONT THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. MY CAR BILL WAS $2725.00. I WENT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY PRETTY MUCH DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO ME AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE 2002 SATURN L200 WHILE DRIVING , NOT AT START UP WHILE PARKED . WE WERE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED SO WE AVOIDED A COLLISION OR OTHER PHYSICAL MISHAP. AS WE HAVE LEARNED HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH DOZENS OF OTHER SATURN, THE CHAIN BREAKAGE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, E.G., VALVES. THUS, THE REPAIR COST WAS FAR GREATER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, HAD THE ENGINE BEEN DESIGNED WELL. ONE NEED NOT BE AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER TO CONCLUDE THAT SATURN HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL MODELS WITH A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT THIS FLAW WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THOSE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN SUCH A MODEL, AND TO THOSE DRIVING ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS.*AK

NORMAL DRIVING 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING WHATSOEVER BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURRED. TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 51000 MILES, LOST COMPRESSION IN 3 OF 4 CYLINDERS, LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE, WAS ABLE TO STOP AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. SATURN REFUSED TO REPAIR FOR FREE, CHARGED ME 2000 DOLLARS (DEDUCTIBLE ON THEIR WORST WARRANTY THEY SOLD AT THE TIME). OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED BY TWO OTHER MECHANICS BEFORE AS A LAST RESORT TAKEN TO A SATURN DEALER TO BE FIXED. SERVICE MANAGER ALSO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE TSB THAT HAD BEEN RELEASED CONCERNING THE OIL NOZZLE ON MY SATURN. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE CONTACT FELT A LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILE ,AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER, AND THE INTAKE VALVES WERE REPLACED. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OCCURRENCES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE VALVES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SATURN SHOULD HAVE REPLACED COMPONENTS LISTED ON SERVICE BULLETIN # 03-06-01-017. ALSO, THE CONTACT FILED CASE NUMBER SR1-23172743 WITH SATURN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 64000. *AK UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

2002 SATURN L200 WITH 111,000 MILES. I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STATE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE ENGINE AS WELL . *AK

TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 AT 75000 MILES. *JB

MY WIFE'S 2002 L100 SATURN SEDAN, BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGH, SO I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS FIGURING IT WAS A BAD PLUG (I ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, I AM A QUALIFIED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC FOR THE MILITARY, SO I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED). THE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN BECAME EXTREMELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE HAD A ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND WOULD STALL. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LEXINGTON, KY. DEALERSHIP. LATER THE SERVICE REP. CALLED AND SAID I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD AND THE IGNITION MODULE, YOU HAVE GONE 3,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. I ASKED HOW DOES A CATALYTIC CONVERTER GO BAD IN LESS THAN 5 YRS. AND UNDER 100,000 MI.? THE REP. SAID I DON'T KNOW BUT IT IS GOING TO COST $3,000 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. I TOLD HIM WAIT A MINUTE, YOU ALL ALREADY CHANGED THE IGNITION MODULATOR ON THE RECALL BEFORE. I CONTACTED AN OUT IN TOWN MECHANIC, WHO PROVIDED ME WITH RECALL INFO ABOUT THE BAD IGNITION MODULATOR, THAT WHEN IT FAILS IT COULD/WOULD DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO ME FROM THE MECHANIC I SAW. REP. SAID WE HAVE CHANGED THREE MODULATORS BEFORE YOU CAME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEY SEEM TO KEEP FAILING AND YOU SHOULD CALL SATURN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I DID AND INFORMED THEM WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME AND WHAT THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF. SATURN SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME BACK AFTER CONTACTING THEIR ENGINEERS. SATURN CALLED BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX T

1) ON THE EVENING OF FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007 MY 2002 SATURN L-100 SEDAN STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY "DIED". I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO MECHANIC SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE. 2) THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO ADVISE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 49,000 MILES ON IT. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE, ABOUT $6,000 WORTH OF WORK. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY ADVISED I SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES, WHICH I DID THAT EVENING. THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE HEAD WITH A REBUILT PART FROM GM, APPROXIMATELY $3,200 WORTH OF WORK. AT THIS POINT SATURN IS REQUESTING MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR OIL CHANGES. *JB

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2007 AT ABOUT 3:30 PM, WE WERE HEADING EAST ON HIGHWAY 509 IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON WHEN THE CAR JUST LOST POWER & DIED. WE WERE COMING AROUND A CORNER AND MADE IT TO A NARROW SHOULDER & WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SO THAT CARS COULD BARELY GO AROUND. WE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK SINCE THE SHOULDER WAS NOT VERY WIDE & WE WERE STRANDED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A MILD CORNER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN WE FINELY GOT THE VEHICLE HOME, I CALLED SEVERELY LOCAL MECHANICS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. MOST TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TIMING CHAIN & INSTRUCTED ME ON HOW TO CHECK. ONCE THE COVER WAS OFF, IT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS GONE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT MY WHOLE ENGINE WAS NOW PROBABLY GONE. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR US TO BE IN DUE TO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE THAN 57,000 MILES, THE TIMING CHAIN. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND RUINED OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED THE ENGINE TO BE DISASSEMBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 65,000. SATURN AGREED TO DO A 50/50 SPLIT FOR THE REPAIRS AND SHE DID NOT AGREE THAT SHE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE INCLUDED AN OIL CHANGE, REPLACING THE PCV VALVE, AND 4 NEW TIRES. THERE WERE SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON 2002 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLE. *NM

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND MY SATURN L200 ENGINE JUST DIED. UPON INSPECTION AT SATURN OF DAYTON NORTH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. I HAVE CHANGED THE ENGINE WITH USED AND STILL HAVE LITTLE POWER. I AM WAITING FOR TEST RESULTS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE OIL WAS DIRTY, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER ONLY 61,000 MILES. I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT SATURN WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF AUTO COMPANY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH SATURN'S RESPONSE THAT I MUST NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OIL! I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A SATURN TO ANYONE, AT THIS POINT IN MY EXPERIENCE. *NM

MY L200 SATURN HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DEFECT BECAUSE SATURN HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING A LARGER OIL NOZZLE IS INCLUDED IN THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT KIT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION AT LOW ENGINE RPM. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BECAUSE WITH THE STANDARD TRANSMISSION FATALITIES COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED. THIS CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL AND FILTER CHANGES EVERY 3-5K MILES. SATURN HAS THE CAR NOW AND HAS REPORTED IN ADDITION TO THE FAILED TIMING CHAIN IT ALSO HAS A BENT VALVE AND POSSIBLE PISTON DAMAGE. THIS EFFECTIVELY MEANS THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE IS NOW NO CONFUSION IN MY MIND WHY THE JAPANESE AUTO INDUSTRY IS EATING DETROIT'S LUNCH. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NORTHBOUND FROM CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA WE PULLED OUR 2002 SATURN L200 INTO THE PASSING LANE TO OVERTAKE A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. WHILE WE WERE MAKING THE PASS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST COMPLETE POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS PROBLEM HAD THERE BEEN HEAVY TRAFFIC INVOLVED. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THEY FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WHICH IMMBOLIZED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF ANY TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. NO SOUNDS, NOTHING. WE HAVE SERVICED OUR VEHICLE AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FOR EVERY SERVICE INTERVAL SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE NEW. WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND IT TO BE QUITE COMMON IN THE VEHICLE WE OWN. OUR VEHICLE IS STILL INOPERABLE AS OF THIS WRITING. *JB

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE; 2002 SATURN AUTOMOBILE, 74,000 MILES. *JB

THIS IS RELATED TO EA06009 ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, WHILE DRIVING ON A 50 MPH HIGHWAY WE LOST POWER TO OUR SATURN LW200 2002 WAGON. WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WE CAME WITHIN SECONDS OF BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. WE HAVE ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3-4000 MILES. SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST (>$2000) TO GET THE ENGINE FIXED. PLEASE NOTE, THE CHAIN BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOT AT START-UP AS GM STATED IN A LETTER TO YOU ON THIS MATTER. MY WIFE AND I CAME CLOSE TO DYING. AN ENGINE THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN THAT BEAKS ON A HIGHWAY WITH JUST 50,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES DUE TO THIS DEFECT. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L-100. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE AUTOMATIC POSITION THE HEADLIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY BUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. WHEN THEY FLASH THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES GO BACK AND FORTH AS IF THEY LOSE POWER AND RE-GAIN IT. WHEN THE GAUGES LOSE POWER AND CONTINUE TO LAY DOWN, THE SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION UNTIL THEY RECEIVE POWER AGAIN. WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS MANUALLY TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS DO NOT FLICKER, HOWEVER THE GAUGE, INTERIOR AND DASH LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLICKER. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES. NO ONE HAS A CLUE OF WHAT THE CAUSE CAN BE. CAN HEAR CLICKING FROM UNDERHOOD FUSE BOX WHEN IT DOES THAT. CAN ALSO FEEL THE CLICKING IN THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL AS SATURN CLAIMS. *NM

LTR FM (MA) BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT HE HAD WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF HIS 2002 SATURN L100. *TS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT NON OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN SMOOTHLY SHEARED OFF. *NM

FAILED TIMING CHAIN IN MY 2002 SATURN L100. I ONLY HAD 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. IT TOOK MY MECHANIC HOURS TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE TIMING CHAIN LOOKED OK. TURNED OUT IT WAS STRETCHED AND WASN'T CATCHING. TO FIND THE PROBLEM THIS HAD TO BE DONE BY TURNING THE MOTOR BY HAND. HE SUGGESTED I HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALER(OF CLARENCE) WHICH I DID. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. ALSO MY MECHANIC SAID SATURN HAS REDESIGNED THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE OF PAST PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT NOW IS A WHOLE KIT. THE HOLE THAT THE OIL GOES THROUGH WAS TOO SMALL AND THEY DESIGNED IT WITH A LARGER HOLE. THIS REPAIR COST ME $913.00!! I AM VERY UPSET AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SATURN. THEY SAID THEY WILL "REVIEW MY COMPLAINT." *JB

STEREO COMES ON AND GOES TO AUX MODE EVERY TIME CAR IS TURNED ON. THE STEREO WAS REPLACED ONCE, NOW THERE IS A BULLETIN THAT STATES ONE MUST REMOVE POWER TO THE UNIT IN ORDER TO RESET IT. THIS ENTAILS PULLING THE FUSE EACH TIME IT STARTS HAPPENING, EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS. *JB

REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FINALLY REPLACED VIA A BULLETIN. HOWEVER, THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED UP NEAR THE TOP OF THE WINDOW CONTINUOUSLY HAS ONE OF THE CENTER LAMPS INOPERATIVE, ONE TIME THE LAMP HAD JUST FALLEN OUT. IT HAS BEEN FIXED 5 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP. *JB

MY TIMING CHAIN IS GOING OUT ON MY 2002 SATURN L100. I DON'T KNOW THE COST TO FIX YET AS I HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT TO A GAS STATION AND NOT A REPAIR FACILITY. *NM

WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE AND THEN JUST DIED. HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. HE HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE L-SERIES. THEN I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE WORK DONE; TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, HEAD, VALVES, PISTONS WERE ONLY SCORED -- TOTAL BILL OF $3,700!! CAR IS A 2002 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO SAY IT WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO "POOR MAINTENANCE," BUT IF THEY HAD LOOKED AT THEIR RECORDS, THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN I HAD THE CAR SERVICED ONLY BY THEM ON A REGULAR ON-TIME BASIS! IN FACT IT HAD BEEN IN FOR A SERVICE (OIL CHANGE) ONLY THE WEEK BEFORE. LET'S FACE IT: THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH, GAS GAUGE MOVES UP AND DOWN, MILEAGE RESET BACK NUMBERS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10002122 SERVICE BULLETIN #: 030601017 THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT ABOUT 45-55 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL SOMEWHAT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANICS GARAGE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY ENGINE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE (NOT 67000 MILES!), HAD SNAPPED AND THAT IN TURN DESTROYED THE UPPER HALF OF THE ENGINE REQUIRING IT TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE THROUGH SATURN AND NEEDING MY CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK, I ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE ENGINE MYSELF TO THE TOLL OF $2400. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT AWARE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE CURRENT ENGINE IN STILL USING THE OLD TIMING CHAIN/OILIER. *JB

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT REGARDING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN HIS VEHICLES WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUDDENLY FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKE AND THEN HE BEGAN RIDING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL. THERE WAS NO STEERING AND THE CONSUMER COULDN'T ACCELERATE AWAY FROM THE GUARDRAIL AND WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *JB THE ENTIRE RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TIRE, RIM, BRAKE ASEMBLY, ROCKER ARMS, AXLE AND STRUT WERE MISSING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 2/9/2007 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFER TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY THE LABOR TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. *NM

I AM A 3TIME SATURN OWNER--BOTH MY SL SERIES WERE EXCELLENT! THIS L300 HAS BEEN A DISAPPONTMENT. THE ODOMETER SUDDENLY WENT FORM 43K TO 694K (STUCK) W/O WARNING OR EVENT. THE DASH TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING. IM TOLD THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE) HAS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $600. THIS MAY BE THE SATURN THAT DRIVES ME BACK TO TOYOTA. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER SURGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEN ALL POWER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO A STOP. WHEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER. ON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED. UPDATED 11/3/2006 - *NM

REAR TAILGATE BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. I HAVE HAD CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL REPLACED OVER 4 TIMES. *NM

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2006, I TOOK MY 2002 L200 TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2001, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP LINE LEAK THAT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED ON THE PRIOR SATURDAY, 9/23/06, BY THE FIRESTONE FACILITY WHERE I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICING BECAUSE I COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SATURN OF THE VALLEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP LINES WERE LEAKING AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE''S MILEAGE WAS 75,202. SATURN OF THE VALLEY AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART BUT I PAID THE LABOR. PRIOR TO THE ABOVE EVENT, ON JANUARY 30, 2006, MY 2003 L200 WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2002. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE''S MILEAGE WAS 58,270. THE TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT CAME TO $553.79 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR AND APPLICABLE TAX. SATURN OF THE VALLEY DID NOT OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART OR LABOR. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS, I WROTE TO SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED THAT THEY COVER THE COST OF THE PART WITH REGARD TO THE 1/30/06, 2003 L200 FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS THE SAME PART FAILED ON BOTH OF MY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL, ONE PRODUCTION YEAR APART, PURCHASED NEW AT THE SAME FACILITY, AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. SATURN CORP. DENIES

SATURN L200 STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVE. NO WARNING, JUST TOTAL ENGINE STOPPAGE. STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER, AND AFTER BUYING AND REPLACING THE STARTER, I AM NOW BEING TOLD IT WAS/IS THE TIMING CHAIN. APPARENTLY SATURN KNOWS THAT IT HAS WEAK TIMING CHAINS YET DOES NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM OF WEAK TIMING CHAINS. *NM

2002 SATURN L200 LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB THE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OF THE TIRE. *JB

TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 74,000 MILES ON MY 2002 L SERIES SATURN, SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO FIX. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2002 SATURN L300 BACK ON 9/30/2002. CAR, AT TIME OF PURCHASE, WAS BRAND NEW. SINCE ITS PURCHASE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER. RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START SO SATURN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR COLUMBUS, GA LOCATION TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED BATTERY HAD DIED AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. THE NEW BATTERY REPRESENTS THE 3RD BATTERY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SINCE I PURCHASED IT (VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 55,000 MILES ON IT). I ASKED, WHILE THEY HAD IT IN THE SHOP, TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AS THEY WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. MY WIFE WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP YESTERDAY 8/29/06 AND WAS ADVISED ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE 4TH SET OF TIRES THIS CAR HAS HAD SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BACK IN LATE 2002. AT TIME OF PURCHASE I ADDED A 5 YEAR 60,000 MILE B-T-B WARRANTY WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE. SATURN, FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS BOTH TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CORP HEADQUARTERS HAS DECIDED THAT THE CAR IN FACT DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AND THAT MY PREGNANT WIFE (WITH 1 YEAR OLD IN BACK SEAT) MUST BE DRIVING IT POORLY. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR DOWN SO QUICKLY HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE DOWN THE RIGHT GUARDRAIL WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN SMOOTHLY SHEARED OFF. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO INFORMED.*AK UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

I OWN A 2002 SATURN L100. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE AUTOMOBILE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STARTING. IT TURNS OUT, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO SATURN THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE(BCM). REPLACEMENT COST APPROX. $550.00. I HAVE TWO ISSUES. 1. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD START AFTER MAKING A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS, IT WAS DRIVABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS TRIPPED WHICH COULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY(ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL) CAUSING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. 2. MY RESEARCH ON VARIOUS ON-LINE SITES SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT A VAST NUMBER OF SATURN CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM,I.E. BCM FAILURE. CONSEQUENTLY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS BCM HAS BEEN POORLY MANUFACTURED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. *JB

I WAS RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY CALL WITH MY LOCAL FIRE DEPT WHEN MY 2002 SATURN L SERIES MOTOR QUIT RUNNING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY. IT TURNED OUT THAT I AM ONE OF MANY THAT HAD THE TIMING BELT BREAK WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. NO ROUGH IDLE OR HESITATIONS, PIFF IT WAS DEAD. THE MOTOR HAS ONLY 75000 MILES. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE SATURN FIX IT NOR WANT TO GIVE THEM THE FUNDS SO I AM HAVING ANOTHER MECHANIC FIX IT WITH STILL SOME HIGH EXPENDITURES. LUCKILY I WAS NOT LIKE SOME WHO HAD TO REPLACE VALVES AND SUCH. THE CHAIN FELL TO THE LOWER AREA. THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LOOKS AS IF ENGINEERING OR QUALITY MATERIALS ARE AN ISSUE, NOT OIL CHANGES AS IT APPEARS SATURN IS USING AS AN EXCUSE TO AVOID THE ISSUE. *JB

DRIVING AT 30 MILES PER HOUR MY 2002 SATURN L200 LOST ALL POWER. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND FORTUNATELY HAD ENOUGH STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL,WHICH HAD NO POWER, TO WHERE I COULD SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP AND FOUND IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT BROKE CAUSING VALVE DAMAGE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $3019.I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE MANY ON FILE AND HOPE SATURN WILL RECALL AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. SATURN HAS OFFERED ME 2 YEARS OF FREE OIL CHANGES IF I REPAIR IT,HARDLEY SEEMS TO WARRANT WHAT COULD CAUSE DEATH. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, MY 2002 SATURN L100 LOCKED UP AND QUIT WORKING. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, RESULTING IN A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,150, PLUS $190 IN TOWING CHARGES. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY, I FEEL THIS IS STILL A NEW ENOUGH CAR THAT A COSTLY REPAIR AS THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF TIMING CHAINS BREAKING ON THE L SERIES CARS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH., THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND, FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL MANY TIMES, THE BRAKES RESPONDED AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BEARING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE BEARING OVERHEATED CAUSING THE SQUEAL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE BEARING SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2002 SATURN L300, OF WHICH I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER. A FEW WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE "BRIGHT" INDICATOR WOULD APPEAR SOMETIMES WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON SOMETIMES FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE MOTOR WAS STOPPED. THE LIGHTS ALWAYS WENT OUT, AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OK TO WAIT UNTIL OUR NEXT MAINTENANCE VISIT TO THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. LAST WEEK THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T GO OFF, SO WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT. WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IF WE PUSHED THE LIGHT STICK (THE LONG SWITCH THAT PROJECTS OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN) SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE DASHBOARD, THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. WE THOUGHT USING THIS DISCOVERY AND PROPPING THE LIGHT SWITCH TOWARD THE DASHBOARD WOULD HOLD US UNTIL OUR APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, THE DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, THE LIGHTS BECAME MORE STUBBORN AND THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME FIERY HOT NEXT TO THE SWITCH. THERE WAS ALSO THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. I PARKED THE CAR AND STAYED HOME. THE NEXT DAY AT THE APPOINTMENT, MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE PEOPLE SEE A SHORTING OUT OF THE LIGHT STICK ALL THE TIME WITH SATURNS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR IN THE SHOP AT THAT MOMENT HAVING THE SAME REPAIR WORK DONE. I AM NOT AN EXPERT AND DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS. ANY TIME THERE IS A SHORT IN A CAR, I JUST ASSUME THERE IS AN ASSOCIATED FIRE DANGER. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT IF THIS PROBLEM IS AS COMMON AS THE DEALERS SERVICE PERSONNEL SAY, THEN THE