2002 SATURN LS Complaints

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A SPOT AND THERE WAS A CLANKING SOUND FROM BEHIND THE DASH FOLLOWED BY A STALL. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE FROM THAT POINT. I HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF OF THE STREET TO AVOID TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO SATURN OF MARIETTA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. IT WAS STATED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE AND THEY WERE AWARE OF IT. IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT MY CAR, CURRENTLY, WASN'T INCLUDED. I INQUIRED WHY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD PROBABLY BE EXPANDED. I WENT AHEAD AND PAID FOR AN ENGINE TO BE INSTALLED FOR $2983.53. I WENT ABOUT MY LIFE, WAITING FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXPANDED. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE RECENTLY REACHED THE SAME MILEAGE THAT MY OLD ENGINE WAS AT WHEN IT FAILED AND IT DID LIKEWISE. SAME ISSUE WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED IF THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OR NOT, I BELIEVE IT WAS. I TRIED TO FIND DETAILS BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS CLOSED AND RECORDS ARE LOST (SO I'VE BEEN TOLD). I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM THE REPLACEMENT AND GM IS UNWILLING TO HELP. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE. THE RECALL WAS FOR CARS BUILT 11/00 - 2/01 AND A NEW DESIGN WENT INTO EFFECT IN 5/02, MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 8/01...NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE NEW DESIGN WAS IMPLEMENTED. WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE CONSUMERS WITH VEHICLES MADE BETWEEN 3/01 AND 4/02? OVER A YEAR WORTH OF PURCHASERS THAT WERE LEFT OUT AND PUT IN A DANGEROUS POSITION. GM IS RUNNING OVER US AND WE NEED HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY LOW AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY LOW AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/23/14*CN

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE DIED AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MY 2002 L200 STALLED AFTER A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SLIPPED/BROKE AND HAD DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TIMING BELT ON THESE CARS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAD SATURN PERFORM THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT END OF OCTOBER, BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2008 FOR APPROXIMATELY $5000. I'VE SINCE COME TO REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SATURN L200S FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THEY'VE CLAIMED THAT MY VIN DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE DEFECTIVE PART BEING A KNOWN ISSUE AND MY CAR EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT A RECALL WAS SUBMITTED. UPDATED 09/10/14

INITIALLY, KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. NOW CAR NO LONGER STARTS. STARTER REPLACED BUT CAR STILL DOES NOT START. POSSIBLY FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER/SWITCH. *JS

ON JUNE 25, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN L-200 FROM ANDREWS AUTOMOTIVE IN MASON, MICHIGAN WITH JUST OVER 62,000 MILES ON IT. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON US-127 JUST SOUTH OF HARRISON, MICHIGAN, I FELT A SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND SAFELY COME TO A STOP. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP IN HARRISON WHERE THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND PISTONS HIT THE VALVES WHICH WILL NECESSITATE A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT AND THE BOLT WAS CRACKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN SL2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED OUT OF THE SWITCH CAUSING THE ALARM TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE, THE KEY HAD TO BE INSERTED BACK INTO THE IGNITION AND SWITCH BACK TO THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.