2001 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

2001 LS SATURN - TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY - ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. EVEN THOUGH SATURN HAS RECALLED SOME OF THE L SERIES FOR THIS PROBLEM - THEY SAY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED! *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY AT 50MPH. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON HEARING ABOUT THE SATURN RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I SUBMITTED MT CLAIM TO SATURN FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THEY CALLED ME ABOUT A WEEK LATER TO TELL ME THAT MY CLAIM WAS BEING PROCESSED. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I REQUESTED BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THAT DENIAL. I SUSPECT THAT THE DENIAL WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT MY SATURN WAS MANUFACTURED IN 09/00 AND THE RECALL WAS FOR CARS MANUFACTURED FROM 11/00 TO 02/01. I REQUEST THAT THE RECALL ORDER BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE DATE THAT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH WHERE THE ENGINE DIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH ALSO DAMAGED THE HEAD AND VALUES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN, RESURFACING THE HEAD, AND REPLACING THE BAD EXHAUST VALUES I MAILED IN MY RECALL MATERIALS ON 2/9/2008. ON 2/13/2008 SATURN CALLED TO TELL ME THEY APPROVED MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON 2/25/2008 SATURN CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEY WERE DENYING MY REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

2001 SATURN L200 REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AFTER THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. SHE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. ATTACHMENTS ARE NOT THERE. *KB

MY 2001 SATURN L200 FAILED TO START DUE TO A BROKEN/DAMAGED TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS 101,000 MILES. I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN ON THIS VEHICLE, AND IN FACT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR CERTAIN VINS IN THIS SAME MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS DAMAGE CAUSED ME TO INCUR $1900 WORTH OF REPAIRS. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE ISSUE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AS SOME CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED. SATURN AND GENERAL MOTORS ARE NOT DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO HELP CONSUMERS REPAIR THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE PROBLEMS OCCUR AND POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS ARISE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). HE HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED A LINK AND CAUSED THE GUIDES THAT KEPT THE CHAIN IN PLACE TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE CHAIN EXPANDED, DAMAGED THE VALVES, AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND GM RECALL NUMBER 06074, EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT IS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR

TIMING CHAIN SEPARATION AND FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED MUCH ENGINE DAMAGE WITH REPAIR COST AT $1,800. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY 2001 SATURN LS 200 AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HAD REPAIRED TO THE COST 3K. NOW CAR IS NOT SHIFTING AND IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, WAITING TO BE HAULED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. *TR

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ANY WARNING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN ZKINSIE AVE IN RACINE WI. I WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED. I LOST PWR STEERING AND PWR BRAKING AND HAD TO WRESTLE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND COAST TO THE CURB. I'M JUST GLAD THERE WAS NO SEMI-TRUCK FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND ME. *TR

2001 SATURN L200 WITH 2.2 4 CY. ENGINE. TIMING BELT BROKE , ENGINE HAD 70,000 MILES. $3000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. SATURN HAD KNOW THIS WAS PROBLEM AND HID FACTS TO OWNERS. *TR

2001 SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING ME TO COAST THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION NARROWLY MISSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *JB

I DRIVE A 2001 SATURN L200. IT HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO A TIRE SHOP TO GET NEW TIRES. THE MAINTENANCE MAN WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. WE ENDED UP CALLING SATURN AND, AT FIRST, THEY SAID IT WAS A WORN KEY AND THAT WE COULD COME IN AND THEY WOULD MAKE US A NEW ONE. SO WE DID THAT, AND THE KEY STILL WOULDN'T TURN. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING. WE WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND THE MAINTENANCE GUY TURNED THE CAR ON AND IT STARTED UP FINE. HE TURNED IT OFF TO DO SOME PAPERWORK. HE GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, TURNED IT ON, AND ALL IT DID WAS "SPIN." THEY CAME OUT TO TELL US THAT THE...

TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 BROKE WITH NO WARNING AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR ON A CITY STREET. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AFTER LOSING ALL POWER. AFTER READING MANY, MANY POSTS ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH SATURNS OF THE SAME YEAR/MODEL WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE, I FELT I NEEDED TO REPORT THAT I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CHAIN BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CHAIN "BUNCHED UP" BENDING SEVERAL VALVES AND BREAKING A PISTON RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS DUE TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NOR HAD AN AFFECT ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. *JB

SUDDEN FAILURE OF TIMING BELT IN OUR 2001 SATURN L300 (56,000 MILES, REGULAR DEALER SERVICE), CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ROAD WITH NO POWER STEERING. ENGINE COMPLETELY RUINED. DEALER WANTS $4,000 TO REPAIR. SATURN SAYS REPLACE BELT AT 100,000 MILES. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE COMPLAINTS. DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. *JB

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 23,600 MILES. *JB

NOT SURE IF I REPORTED HERE ALREADY, BUT DOING SO AGAIN JUST IN CASE. I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 ("PREMIUM CERTIFIED" PRE-OWNED). IT FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURER OF THE TIMING CHAIN DEFECT (MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED 2/01). I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, TO THE TUNE OF $2900 WORTH OF REPAIR COST. AS WRITTEN ON THE REPAIR ORDER, THIS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TENSIONER (SP?) PROBLEM WITH THE CHAIN DESIGN. MY FAILURE HAPPENED UPON STARTING MY VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY; HOWEVER, IN MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING AND IT IS ONLY A MIRACLE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY DEATHS OR SERIOUS INJURIES RESULTING FROM THIS DEFECT (AT LEAST, NOT THAT WE KNOW OF). MY VEHICLE HAD 80K MILES AT THE TIME...HOWEVER, MOST OF THOSE MILES WERE HIGHWAY (LONG TRIPS DOWN SOUTH). I WONDER WHETHER...

2001 SATURN L200 TIMING BELT FAILURE. *JB

ON MONDAY, JULY 9, 2007 MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS CRANKING, AND THEN HAD PROBLEMS TAKING OFF. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAVE NOW HAD A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR REPAIR BILL TO HAVE TO FOOT. AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OF THE UNRELIABLY AND SAFETY ISSUES, I HAVE NOW PURCHASED A NEW HONDA THAT I CAN DEPEND ON. FROM THE HUNDREDS OF LISTINGS I HAVE FOUND ONLINE I DO SEE THAT THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND BELIEVE THIS TO BE RIDICULOUS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN ON A COUNTY ROAD AT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS SHOT DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. I NOW HAVE TO PAY 1500 FOR A NEW MOTOR TO BE INSTALLED. I STILL OWE MORE THAN 4,000 ON THE CAR. IN RESEARCHING THE SATURN, I FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL OF THE SATURN FOR THIS. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST GM REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN IN THE SATURN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN AND AT A STOP HEARD A SUBTLE METALLIC CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY A FEW MINUTES LATER I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN DRIVES THE CAMS. HAVING HEARD ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BREAKING TIMING CHAINS AND READING COMPLAINTS ON THE NETS WEB SITE ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM I WAS IMMEDIATELY ALARMED. BEFORE I COULD EVEN STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR TO SHUT IT OFF, I HEART A LOUDER METALLIC CLANK AND THE CARE STOPPED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE LITERALLY UNDER MY NOSE. HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR SUCH THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALWAYS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED SATURN AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG SATURNS. HE FEELS AS IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON - COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWS NO PROBLEM - MOST PUMPS, PLUGS, STARTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED - STILL STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2001 SATURN L 200 SERIES CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN AFTER GETTING A BOOSTER THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKS CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION AREA**CC THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED OUT DUE TO THE STARTER BEING STUCK. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE BURNED OUT STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH, IGNITION HOUSING AND IGNITION CYLINDER. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE DEALER FOUND A CODE AND THE BCM HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERABLE, THE DEALER STATED THE AC CONTROL HAD SHORTED OUT. *JB

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON U.S. 301 AT 9:00 A.M. ON OUR WAY HOME IN OUR 2001 SATURN (L100) COUPE. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAD STARTED WHILE DRIVING HOME. WHILE GOING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER AND FORCED US TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE THOUGHT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN IF WE WERE IN AN AREA WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO FLAG DOWN A PASSING TOW TRUCK TO HELP US OUT. THE ROAD SERVICE UNIT DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FAMILY AT HOME. THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN APART AND EXAMINED. THE FIRST EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE...

ENGINE KNOCKING BADLY. DEALER LISTED CAUSE AS "WEAK TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER"TOLD IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THE MILEAGE (77468). CHAIN PKG COST $733.86 (PARTS/LABOR) I'VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE MANY SATURNS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

TRAVELING ON RTE 27 SOUTH IN AVON PARK FLORIDA ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET VEHICLE TOWED TO ALAN JAY SATURN IN SEBRING. AFTER THREE DAYS OF WAITING THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND WOULD COST $1000 TO FIX. I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE. I FIND THIS NOT TO BE THE CASE. THEY REPLACED THE CHAIN THEN TOLD ME SOME VALVES WERE BENT AND WOULD COST $1600.00 MORE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. IT WAS FORTUNATE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO ROADSIDE. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AFTER ONLY 31,000 MILES ON A 2001 MODEL SATURN L SERIES. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 SEDAN MONDAY APRIL 23, 2007 WHEN I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY(ACCELERATING AND MERGING) WHEN I HAD NO WARNING, MY CAR JUST STALLED ON ME. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO MY RIGHT. MY ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. IT IS AT A NON-DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER BECAUSE 1. WHERE I WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED AND 2. WHO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD AUTHORIZE THE TOW TRUCK TO GO TO. I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF SURVEYS ON THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEIR SATURNS AROUND THE SAME YEAR AND WITH SIMILAR COMPONENTS. THE REPAIR CENTER HAS CONFIRMED THAT MY TIMING BELT HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVE 6 BENT VALVES WHICH THEY HAVE SENT IN TO BE MACHINED AND FIXED. I AM AWARE OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS TIMING BELT FAILURE(DP05-008)....

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS1. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, WHO RECOMMEND THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DETACHED AND DAMAGED THE HEAD. ALSO, THE HEAD, FRONT GASKET, AND ALL RELATED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND COST $1,669.94. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT TO HAVE SUCH A FAILURE. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE HE DISCOVERED A FEW COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,898.*AK

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE PISTONS TO STOP WORKING, WHICH TOTALLY RUINED MY ENGINE. I ONLY HAVE 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR! THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG, MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. LUCKILY I HAD NOT ENTERED THE THRUWAY YET. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED. IT COST ME $2,479.50 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MORE CROWDED STREET OR THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AS WELL AS ANYONE AROUND ME. I CONTACTED SATURN BECAUSE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH CARS, SAY THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE LOW MILEAGE. I DID CALL THE COPS BECAUSE I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL ZONE IN A NO PARKING AREA. I DID CAUSE TERRIBLE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK THE...

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE EVENING OF 12/29/06 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEEK BEFORE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MECHANIC AND HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANICWAS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN, AND THEN HE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF ANY VALVES WERE BENT. 8AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ALERTED THE CONTACT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED WHO INDICATED THE BATTERY COULD BE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC BECAUSE THE NEAREST DEALER WAS 100 MILES AWAY. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE AT THE AUTO SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE TIME CHAIN FAILURE. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

WIFE'S CAR...SHE NOTICED A NOISE,TOOK TO MECHANIC...TIMING CHAIN BROKE. DAMAGE TO PISTONS....REPORTED TO (GEICO MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE) INSPECTOR CAME OUT SAID LACK OF OIL CHANGES. WANTED RECORDS...I DO ALL OIL CHANGES. MANY INCIDENTS REPORTED ON INTERNET. TECH SERVICE BULLETIN 03-06-01-017. SATURN SAYS ONLY FOR DEALERSHIPS TO READ ... SATURN L200 WITH 63000 MILES. *JB

MY 2001 L-SERIES SATURN DEVELOPED A LOW SPEED MISS, WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STICKING VALVE AT SATURN OF FREDERICK, MD. THREE DAYS LATER ON A NARROW ROAD MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 55 MPH. CAUSING A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE OVER TO A VERY NARROW SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE AS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH ALSO CAUSED BENT VALVES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS INSTALLED AND THE HEAD WAS RE-DONE WITH NEW VALVES AND GASKETS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS AND UPDATED KIT CORRECT EARLY DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH AN OILIER NOZZLE. *JB

CAR IS A 2001 SATURN LW 200 STATION WAGON, WHICH HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY WITH THE DEALER (LAST DATE OF SERVICE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 1/2 TO 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT). VEHICLE'S TIMING BELT FAILED DURING SHORT LOCAL TRIP (2 MILES FROM HOME) UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. TIMING BELT FAILURE RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL ENGINE DAMAGE INCLUDING DENTED VALVES. DRIVER HAD NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE: ENGINE SIMPLY STALLED OUT AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY WITH DEALER AND DEALER NEVER INDICATED THAT TIMING BELT WAS WORN OR REQUIRED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP FOR EVALUATION OF PROBLEM. FIRST REPAIR SHOP BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS TIMING BELT BUT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM; RECOMMENDED DEALER SERVICE. DEALER ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS AT $2300. OWNERS DECIDED TO DELAY REPAIR PENDING POTENTIAL SALE OR...

ON AUGUST 4, 2006 MY 2001 SATURN L SERIES SEDAN DID NOT START. AS THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IS 20 MILES AWAY, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE VEHICLE AND GEARS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC AND MYSELF THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD AS THE CAR HAS ONLY 49,145 MILES ON IT. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH I COULD HAVE BEEN. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM IN MY TYPE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED SATURN AND WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO REIMBURSEMENT AS THIS WAS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR MY CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE PART WAS $940. I HAVE HAD THE GEARS AND TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *JB

THE CAR WOULD START ROCKING WHEN WAITING FOR A LIGHT. IT WOULD LOOSE POWER AT LOW RPMS AND EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER IN CLARENCE DID NOT TELL US TO CHECK THE TIMING CHAIN. TYPICALLY I TRAVEL ON EXPRESSWAYS AND A BLOWN ENGINE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MULTIPLE CAR CRASH. *NM

MY SIXTEEN YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SATURN L200 AND CAME HOME TO TELL ME THAT THE CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. HE CALLED ME TO SHOW ME THE RESULTS: A SHATTERING TIMING CHAIN. THE LINKS OF THE CHAIN WERE BREAKING APART, BUT HAD NOT YET COMPLETELY FAILED. SINCE THE PIECES THAT HAD BROKEN OFF COULD NOT BE CONFIDENTLY RECOVERED FROM THE ENGINE, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EMERGENCY THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE HAD THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING ON ANY OF THE BUSIER STREETS IN OUR AREA, WHERE TRAFFIC CAN BE MODERATE TO HEAVY. THE ENGINE WITH THE FAILING TIMING CHAIN IS STILL CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IF NEEDED FOR EA06-009. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH MAY HAVE EMINATING FROM THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM, ON 6/19/05. THE SOUND WAS MORE PRONOUNCED DURING A COLD START. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM A SECOND TIME AT NO COST.

ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET DOING 50 MILES AN HOUR. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH I MOVED TO THE FAST LANE TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND RAPID DECELERATION. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY SERIOUS INCIDENT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR DIAGNOSED IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TIMING CHAIN, AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TIMING CHAIN ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE FILE NUMBER SEEMS TO BE PE06-006. *JB

SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TIMING BELT ON START-UP ONE VERY COLD MORNING(15 DEGREE.) SERVICE MGR. AT DEALERSHIP LATER EXPLAINED THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING ONTO BELT AND FROZEN COOLANT MAY HAVE FORCED THE BREAK. DEALER REPLACED BELT AND PUMP AT MY EXPENSE ($1100). ONLY "WARNING" I HAD WAS LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON BRIEFLY DAILY AT STARTUP BEGINNING 1 WEEK BEFORE FAILURE. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF WATER LEAKING ON ENGINE NOR ANY PUDDLING UNDER THE CAR BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. *JB

OIL COOLER FAILURE. NOTICED ORANGE COLORED "GUNK" ON GROUND UNDER CAR FOLLOWING OIL CHANGE. SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOOK CAR IN FOR COOLANT FLUSH. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE COOLANT AND THAT ENGINE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TEAR INTO ENGINE TO DISCOVER SOURCE. FOUND IT TO BE A LEAKING OIL COOLER. OIL COOLER WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL COOLANT HOSES, THERMOSTAT, AND COOLANT RESERVOIR. TOTAL WAS $2100 ($571 FOR OIL COOLER). HAVE ALL OLD PARTS. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGES A TSB REGARDING OIL COOLER IN THE L81 ENGINE BUT REFUSES TO REIMBURSE EVEN FOR PARTS. *JB

SATURN LW300 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE (3/05) - REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE (11/05) - REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE (11/05) - REPLACED OIL COOLER LEAK (11/05) - RESEALED BATTERY FAILURE (JUST OVER 1 YEAR OLD, 11/05) - REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2001 SATURN L200 SNAPPED AT 45,000 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, FIRST TO MY MECHANIC AND THEN TO A SATURN DEALER. THE TIMING CHAIN DAMAGED PARTS OF MY ENGINE AND IT COST ME $2200 TO REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN A TSB TO UPGRADE THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT OWNERS WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT USE THE OLD TIMING CHAIN KIT AS REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE OF THE UPGRADE. SATURN HAS REFUSED ANY MONETARY HELP WITH THIS ISSUE.

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE ENGINE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND IT WAS IN THE SHOP TWO WEEKS LATER. SO FAR I'VE GONE THROUGH 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, 2 ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES. I THINK ONLY ONE COIL, WITH A COUPLE OXYGEN SENSORS TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. BOTH OF THE CYLINDERS HAVE GONE OUT ON THE CLUTCH. I'M STILL WAITING FOR SATURN TO CALL ME ON AN AIR CHECK VALVE THAT SUPPOSEDLY FAILED. AS FOR THE POWER LOCKS, THEY JUST SEEM TO LOCK OR NOT TO LOCK WHEN THEY FEEL FIT TO DO SO. I ALSO GET A SERVICE LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT TO.....