2001 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

SECOND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *TR

2001 SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. CAR STALLED IN BUSY TRAFFIC. CAR HAD 50K MILES ON IT. REPAIRS COST $3,200. *TR

TIMING CHAIN BROKE. ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS EXAMINED BY SEVERAL MECHANICS AND DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND MAY BE UNDER THE GUIDELINES FOR A FREE REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND I AM JUST LOOKING FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL TO EITHER ME, MY SON , OR ANY PASSENGERS. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTENANCES AND HAS 98,000 MILES ON IT. *DT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH; THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE ON INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO I REPLACED MY ENGINE DUE TO MY TIMING CHAIN BREAKING AND CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE. I RECENTLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AND NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THEIR ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IF SATURN KNOWS THIS SITUATION IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM WHY CANT THEY BE MADE RESPONSIBLE? I JUST DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT THAT SO MANY INCIDENTS ARE GOING UNANSWERED.. THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE FOR OUR PROBLEM TO BE HEARD. *TR

MY 2001 SATURN L-200 HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK (WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON IT). WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, CAR WAS ACTING ERRATIC. MADE ME NERVOUS SO I GOT OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ONTO A SIDE STREET. CAR QUIT IN THE CENTER OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN. FORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND GET AROUND ME WITH NO PROBLEM. AS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED, SATURN SAYS MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES INCLUDED IN THEIR PREMATURE TIMING BELT FAILURE RECALL; THEY'D BE HAPPY TO FIX IT, BUT AT MY EXPENSE. I KNOW SATURN IS ON ITS WAY OUT, BUT HOPEFULLY OTHER SATURN OWNERS CAN BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SO THEY CAN HAVE THEIR TIMING CHAINS CHECKED OUT BEFORE THEIR CAR CONKS OUT AND SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

I REPLACED THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH, BLOWER MOTOR, AND RESISTOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER DOING ALL THE ABOVE, THE HEATER STILL DID NOT WORK. IT APPEARS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE HEATER CONTROL WAS THE PROBLEM. TWO OF THE PRONGS IN THE WHITE PLUG WERE BURNT AND DID NOT ALLOW THE DC ELECTRIC CURRENT TO GO INTO THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT. IT IS LUCKY THAT THE FAN WENT OUT BEFORE IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THERE ARE TWO CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE CAR, ONE 5 YEARS OLD AND ONE 9 YEARS OLD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE 40 AMP FUSE DID NOT BLOW EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUIT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. WE HAD ALREADY CHANGED THE ENGINE 3-4 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SATURN WOULD NOT FIX. *TR

MY 2001 SATURN SL200 HAD EXTREME VIBRATION AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE ON A LONG TRIP OUT OF STATE. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN BY MY COLLEGE AGE STUDENT. CAR ENGINE WAS JUMPING, IDLING VERY ROUGH, AND LOSING POWER. FORTUNATELY, SHE DID MADE IT BACK TO COLLEGE SAFELY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO SATURN OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND PLUGS, WIRES AND SPARK PLUG CASSETTE WERE REPLACED DUE TO A MISFIRING DIAGNOSIS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP, IT STILL RAN ROUGH. I RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID VALVE COVER AND ENGINE WERE DIRTY. ALSO, THEY SAID TIMING CHAIN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE SATURN TIMING CHAIN RECALL, THEY STATED THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. TO ME, DRIVING THE CAR, IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. SATURN CHARGED ME AN EXORBITANT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START HER VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. A PRIVATE MECHANIC TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS REPAIR FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 07V519000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

UPON DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY SATURN 2001 L200 SUDDENLY STALLED - BRAKING, ACCELERATOR, AND STEERING BECAME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. WITH DIFFICULTY, I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY GET TOWED 40MILES TO MY LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND MAY HAVE ALSO DAMAGED THE ENGINE VALVES.I WAS ADVISED BY SATURN, THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THIS MODEL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND ALL REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF HOW THIS ISSUE CAN MANIFEST ITSELF AND ALSO THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER EARLIER AS PART OF THE ONGOING RECALL NOTICE. *TR

TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT SATURN STATES IT IS OUTSIDE THEIR CURRENT RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE AFTER PLACING GAS IN IT AND HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE, TRAFFIC HOLDUP, AND HAVING TO PUSH CAR OUT OF WAY. WAS TOLD BY SATURN THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, BUT INCIDENT HAPPENED EXACTLY HOW IT WAS DESCRIBED IN RECALL. *TR

MY 2001 SATURN L200, PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2006, NO LONGER RUNS BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BEND. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM 'HARDLY EVER HAPPENED WITH THE L-SERIES' HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY USED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES WAS ALSO USED IN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLES WITH 2.2 LITER ENGINES, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I ALSO FOUND THAT SATURN HAS REPAIRED 2,932 VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES AND THERE ARE ANOTHER 890 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO TOW MY DISABLED VEHICLE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD SKIP AND EVENTUALLY STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SATURN DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

AFTER 2 TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENTS IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS,THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AGAIN ON MY SATURN 2001 L200 DAMAGING THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. TOWED IT TO SATURN OF TOMS RIVER N.J. THEY SAID THAT SINCE I HAVE ALREADY HAD 1 CHAIN REPLACED ON THE RECALL THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD WHEN THE CHAIN WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL (AT SATURN OF FREEHOLD WHICH IS OUT OF BUSINESS)THAT THIS WAS NOT THE SAME CHAIN BUT A NEW AND IMPROVED DESIGN. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY REPAIR WAS NOT REALLY WORTH FIXING BUT IF I'D LIKE THEY COULD INSTALL A USED ENGINE FOR $4300. THIS IS JUST PLAIN NEGLECT FROM A DYING COMPANY. WHY WOULD THEY REPLACE A CHAIN THAT'S JUST GOING TO GO AGAIN AND WORSEN THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE EVEN MORE. SATURN/GM NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD FOR THEIR POOR...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000.

I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT HERE IN TOWN. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE, WITHOUT WARNING, MY SATURN DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE REASON FOR LOSS OF POWER -- BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH CAUSED (IRONICALLY) A CHAIN EVENT. *TR

MY CAR HAS SERVICE LIGHT ON. MY LIGHTS FLICKER. SATURN HAS A RECALL ON TIMING BELT AND SATURN COMPANY SAYS MY CAR IS NOT IN A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE VALVE COVER, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,321. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/19. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 L200 SATURN. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY MAYBE 120,000 MILES ON IT. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN IS MESSED UP. I CONTACTED ANOTHER MECHANIC TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PRICE. HE TOLD THE PRICE RANGES FROM 1000-1500 DOLLARS. TODAY I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD FIND SOMEONE TO REPAIR THIS CAR AT A MUCH CHEAPER RATE UNTIL I CAME ACROSS ALL THESE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR SATURN TIMING CHAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TIMING BELT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

TIMING CHAIN BROKE. ENGINE IS FREEWHEELING, INTERFERENCE MOTOR, CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE. A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH. WHEN IT HAPPENED. I WAS LUCK THERE WAS A TURN OUT. IT WAS A TWO LANE, CURVY ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AAA ARRIVED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A TIMING CHANGE FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER INFORMED THEM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT RELY ON AAA'S INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC IF IT WILL BE THE SAME INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,343.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,887.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND IN IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP WITH A BETTER QUOTE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IT WOULD NEVER COMPLETELY START. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIRED FOR FREE SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

IN JUNE OF 2007, MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER WERE TRAVELING TO LOS ANGELES, WHEN OUR 2001 SATURN L200 (WITH ONLY 65,714 MILES) STOPPED RUNNING ON THE FREEWAY OUTSIDE OF SANTA BARBARA, CA. THAT MORNING THE CAR STARTED, DROVE OFF FINE AND GAVE NO WARNING OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG, UNTIL THE CAR'S ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND FORTUNATELY THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED NOR THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SATURN WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. UPON CALLING SATURN WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. WE DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SATURN CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. WE INCURRED A $3,000+ REPAIR BILL BEFORE HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WE HAD LEARNED THAT THE '00-'03 L SERIES WERE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA AND CONSUMER...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW300. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. TYPICALLY, FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 3/3/09 *CN THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR (ENGINE) STALLED, LOCKED UP AND IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED AT TWO SEPARATE INSTANCES. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE WITH THE FIRST INSTANCE (3/14/06) AND THE MOST OF IT THE SECOND TIME (2/4/08). I WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT OUR VIN # DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS A FLUKE WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AND ME TWICE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN 2001 L200 SERIES ENGINE; WHERE IT WILL STALL THE FIRST TIME STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BECAUSE MY VIN# WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL RANGE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE RANGE"? I WAS TOLD THE EXCLUDED RANGE IS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND 1Y559453. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP "WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN"? I WAS TOLD THE CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE; AS LONG AS I CHANGE THE OIL ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE...

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER CAUSING ME TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING. THE RESULT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE O2 SENSOR WHICH I REPLACED ONCE WITH SATURN THAT FAILED 2 YEARS LATER AND 2 OTHERS REFURBISHED THAT WERE PURCHASED FROM NAPA WHICH THE FIRST FAILED 3 MONTHS AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE OTHER A MONTH AFTER THAT ONE WAS REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE TIMING BELT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.

ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 "L" SERIES SATURN STALLED, CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT THE MAIN OFFICE. 2 PEOPLE FROM THE MAIN OFFICE STATED I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY WORK OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND 2 PEOPLE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED I WAS NOT INCLUDED. I HAVE TRANSCRIPTS OF EVERY CONVERSATION, A COPY OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, MY RECEIPTS AND PHOTOS. *TR

OUR 2001 SATURN HAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN AND WITH LITTLE HELP FROM GM OR THE SATURN CORP. OUR LOCAL DEALER IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN, BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED TO AN EXTENT. OUR CAR HAS JUST UNDER 70,000 MILES AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE @ A SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR AN OFF RAMP. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THAT IT HAD BENT ALL OF THE PISTONS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS OVER $1600.00. I LATER FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. SATURN SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN A COINCIDENCE THAT MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME THING THAT THE RECALLED VINS WERE AFFECTED BY. SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL ALL CARS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WERE USED IN. THIS WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE! *TR

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A SAFETY RECALL 07V519000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED HE SAID THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. KG *UPDATED 10/20/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB

2001 SATURN L200. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR CUT OFF. THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. SHE LUCKILY WAS ON A STRAIGHT A WAY AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND TOOK THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE WITH IT. NOT THE BELT THE CHAIN BROKE. IT CAME TO A TOTAL OF $2500.00 TO REPAIR. I WENT ONLINE AND TYPED IN 2001 SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN AND CAME UP WITH A LIST OF OVER 9 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON THE CARS RANGED FROM 20,000 (NEW) TO 100,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. NOT TO MENTION MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM VERY DISGUSTED IN HOW WE WERE TREATED AS WELL BY SATURN. *TR

LOUD TAPPING @ HIGHWAY SPEED, TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED RECALL OF 2001 L2 SERIES SATURN FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS DAMAGE, WHICH MECHANIC SAYS WILL BE APROX $2000.00. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A RECENTLY PURCHASED 2001 SATURN L-SERIES HOME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, RUINING MY ENGINE AND LEAVING ME STRANDED. MY DATE OF MANUFACTURE IS 10-2000, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILING PER MY MECHANIC CAR OCCASIONALLY CHUGS & SPUTTERS AT STOP LIGHT, TYPICALLY WHEN AIR COND IN USE NOTHING REPLACED OR DONE YET DUE TO COST & POTENTIAL RECALL.*TR

MY CAR ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS TIMING CHAIN BROKE. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME OF A RECALL FOR THIS PART FOR MY CAR. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I CALLED SATURN DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEY TOLD ME IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY PARTICULAR CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS 2001 SATURN L-SERIES MODEL DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE RECALL NUMBER 06074. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH SATURNS RESPONSE TO ME . I TOLD THEM THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE & THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $900.00 TO GET IT FIXED. I TOLD SATURN I WOULD BE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO YOU. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2 LITER 4 CYLINDER WITH 73,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WOULD NOT START,I HAD IT TOWED TO A SATURN SHOP WHERE THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAD IT WAS A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN AND THE DAMAGES ARE ANYWHERE FROM 2400 TO 3000 DOLLARS.*TR

MY 2001 SATURN, L200 SERIES, STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEARBY SATURN DEALER AFTER I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND IN THE PROCESS, SOME VALVES WERE BENT. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A LOW QUANTITY OF OIL. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED ANOTHER MOTOR AND THE COST WOULD ABOUT $2,900.00. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE CAR AND THAT I WOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR'S TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, WITH ONLY 88,000 MILES. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAD SUFFICIENT OIL (MY LAST OIL CHANGE...

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TIMING CHAIN IN MY 2001 SATURN L200 WENT. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2001 TIMING CHAIN BUT NOT FOR MY VIN #. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. *TR

2001 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN THIS CAR WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT AT 64MPH. THE RESULT INCLUDED 8 DAMAGED VALVES AND IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. I AM TRYING TO DO THE WORK MYSELF BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT. EVEN WITH ME DOING THE WORK IT IS STILL VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA COMPLAINT APRIL 6, 2008 REF: 2001 SATURN L200 4-DOOR SEDAN WITH 2.2L DOHC ENGINE PURCHASE DATE: JULY 15, 2004 WITH 27,309 MILES DATE OF INCIDENT: FEB. 27, 2008 WHAT HAPPENED? MY WIFE DROVE APPROX 13 MILES, JUST PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HER WORKPLACE, AND THE VEHICLE DIED. SHE CALLED AND I DROVE TO THE LOCATION TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH I COULD NOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NATION-WIDE AUTO REPAIR CENTER WHERE I WORK AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO OF THE MASTER TECHNICIANS AS WELL AS THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SEPARATED AND THE 4 CYLINDERS HAD NO COMPRESSION DUE TO BENT VALVES. THE REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE FROM $1,150.00 TO $3,800.00. RESULTS: I DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM FROM SATURN AFFECTING APPROX 20,000 VEHICLES....

I HAVE A 2001 L200 SERIES SATURN. I HAVE HAD FOR 1 YEAR. WHILE DRIVING OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT 75 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, MY CAR WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE AND HAD TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES AND GET THE CAR OFF BUSY I-75. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR HOME AFTER LEARNING THAT THE CAR HAD A BROKE TIMING CHAIN. MY TOW BILL WAS 150.00. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT WILL COST TO REPAIR MY CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO HELP WITH FUEL MILEAGE. *TR