2001 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

IN DEC 2008 I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY 2001 SATURN L200, WHICH HAD 63,220 MILES, DUE TO FAULTY TIMING CHAIN. THE MECHANIC CALLED SATURN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL, HOWEVER I AM FINDING OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON TIMING CHAINS(PER SATURN VIN#S 1Y504884-1Y559453). MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THAT RANGE AND I AM TOLD IT IS NOT INCLUDED. I CALLED NHTSA AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT GIVEN VIN SPECIFIC INFORMATION. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO FIND THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE AND NOBODY WANTS TO HELP CONSUMERS. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS WELL BUT WAS DECIDING WHETHER TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR EXPENSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

THE ENGINE ON MY 2001 SATURN LW 200 (73K MILES) SUDDENLY QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY IN SEATTLE. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO A SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING RAMMED. MY MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN ENGINE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH HE SAID IS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH THAT MILEAGE. I CHECKED ON-LINE AT NHTSA AND SAW THAT ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF 2001 L SERIES SATURNS WERE RECALLED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-ENDANGERING PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN, SUCH AS IT IS IN 2010, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE (BASED ON VIN) WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I WAS NEARLY KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, WHICH MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ON-LINE. SATURN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, WHICH ARE IN EXCESS OF $2,000. *TR

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NON ADVERSE CONDITIONS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. AUDIBLE RATTLING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WILL TURNOVER BUT WILL NOT FIRE. TIMING CHAIN IS STILL AVAILABLE AS REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, PENDING ANY RESPONSE FROM THE NHTSA, WITH REGARD TO A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND RECALL FOR SAME MODEL YEAR SATURN L200 SERIES WITH CHAIN MANUFACTURED IN ANOTHER PLANT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA RECALL 07V519000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE PER GM RECALL#06074. AFTER CALLING THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ONCE A MONTH AND SHE CHANGED THE OIL VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE IGNITION WOULD ALSO STUDDER WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; TWO TIMING CHAINS WERE REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED AT...

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, THEN STALLED. I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT WOULD NOT RE-START, SO I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME WHERE I STARTED TROUBLESHOOTING. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I FOUND IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE CHAIN HAD ENOUGH SLACK IN IT TO JUMP ABOUT 6 TEETH. THIS CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ALL CYLINDERS. *TW

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR SUDDENLY DECREASED SPEED TO 20MPH. MY CAR CONTINUED TO LIMIT IT'S SPEED TO 30MPH FOR ONE HOUR. AFTER AN HOUR I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN SPEED. I LATER TOOK MY CAR INTO A SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING CHAIN GUIDE HAD RUBBED UP AGAINST A CYLINDER CAUSE IT TO CRACK THUS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. MY CAR HAS 102,000 AND NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. IN 2007 I HAD ALL THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AND HEAD BOLT SET REPLACED BECAUSE MY INTAKE VALVES WAS LEAKING AND THE HEAD THE GASKETS WERE ALL BLOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH AND THAT WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE WILL BEGAN SHAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148876.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT EXHIBITS A NO START CONDITION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN SEPARATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 07V519000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,012.

CAR PURCHASED USED AND INSPECTED (MIDAS) IN JUNE 2007; DRIVEN HOME TO KS FROM IA (8 HRS) IN DEC--NO OIL REMAINING WHEN ARRIVED. OIL LEVEL A PROBLEM ALL WINTER, BUT NOT DRIVEN MUCH--OIL ADDED AS NEEDED. AGAIN DRIVEN HOME FROM IA IN MAY 08-- TIMING CHAIN EXPLODED AND BENT ENGINE VALVES IN FAST LANE ON HIGHWAY BRIDGE! FORTUNATELY, OUR SON WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO SIDE BEFORE HIT BY TRAFFIC. TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE AND THEN TO SATURN DEALERSHIP IN LIBERTY MO. DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT VALVES WERE BENT BUT DIDN'T MENTION THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON TIMINGCHAIN...$2500 FIX. ALSO RECEIVED A LECTURE ABOUT CHECKING OIL PROPERLY...BASICALLY BLAMED SON FOR SUPPOSEDLY NOT CHECKING OIL (WHICH HE DID DO). NOTE: I READ AN ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER OWNER WHO GOT THE SAME "TALKING POINTS"--VIN NOT IN RECALL, CHANGE OIL REGULARLY. IN AUG 08, YOUR CAR LOST ALL OIL IN 2...

SATURN 2001 L-200 2.2L I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. AS I SLOWED DOWN FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND I LOST POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I RECKLESSLY VEERED OFF ONTO A SIDE STREET WHERE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART BUT WOULD ONLY TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT JUST BY TURNING IT OVER, AND SEEING THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT TURNING, SINCE IT WAS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE CAM SHAFT, THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE. HE ALSO SAID HE SEES IT ALL THE TIME ON THIS YEAR MODEL. ALONG WITH THE BROKE TIMING CHAIN, THEY SAID THAT THE HEAD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACE AS WELL BECAUSE THE INWARDS OF THE ENGINE HAVE...

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...

2001 SATURN L300 3.0L V6 GRINDING NOISE ENGINE STALLED. TOOK TO MECHANIC SAID TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SEIZED ENGINE. WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. NOTICED 4 CYLINDERS HAVE RECALL BUT NOT THE V6. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FAILURE ALSO DESTROYED ENGINE VALVES AND HEAD. *TR

CAR STOPPED RUNNING WOULD NOT RESTART. SATURN DEALER SAID TIMING CHAINS FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACED ENGINE AT MY COST APPROX 1 YEAR AGO. ON 2-11-09 THE SAME [XXX] THING HAPPENED. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY NOTIFIED HER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SHE WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE SATURN MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 2001 SATURN L200 SERIES 2.2L "F" ENGINE RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS ENGINE DAMAGE VIRTUALLY LEAVES THIS CAR WITH A NEGATIVE NET WORTH VALUE. I BELIEVE SATURN KNOWS WELL OF A POOR TIMING CHAIN COMPONENT IN THESE ENGINES AND SHOULD BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. MY VEHICLE APPARENTLY FALLS 1 MONTH SHORT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL PARAMETERS. I HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH ENGINES AND HAVE A VERY HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF TIMING CHAINS BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL TIME LINE SEEING THAT THESE CHAINS FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. TIMING CHAINS DO NOT JUST BREAK OR SEPARATE AT 100,000 MILES, WEAR IS A COMPONENT I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THE END RESULT IS MOST LIKELY ENGINE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS DUE TO VALVE INTERFERENCE IN AN OUT OF TIMED ENGINE. MY FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

WE WERE DRIVING ON RT. #98 RUNNING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED. WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING SO COASTED TO EDGE OF HIGHWAY. GOT OUT AND RAISED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AND IT JUST CRANKED OVER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND THEY TOWED CAR BACK TO MY HOME SINCE IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED IT ALL OVER AND DECIDED THAT I COULD NOT DISCERN WHAT WAS WRONG. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MSC REPAIR HERE IN MARYSVILLE AND THEIR MECHANIC FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN SO I HAD HIM GO AHEAD AND REPAIR THIS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1500.00. AFTER HE HAD IT BACK TOGETHER AND BEFORE HE TRIED TO START IT...

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. NO RESTART OF VEHICLE, TOWED TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, ( NOT SATURN) WAS TOLD BY SATURN NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, THEREFORE I HAD NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO ME. ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRED. OPTIONS ARE REPLACE ENGINE OR PURCHASE NEW VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. RECALL 07V519000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2001 SATURN L-SERIES VEHICLE CONCERNING THE TIMING CHAIN IN JAN. 2008, WHEN I CALLED TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL POPULATION. I QUESTIONED WHY I HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN ASSURED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IN MY CAR WAS GOOD AND WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EIGHT MONTHS LATER - THE TIMING CHAIN IS OUT IN CAR. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MARCH 2001 AND THE RECALL POPULATION ENDED WITH CARS BUILT IN FEB. 2001. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL. MY CAR IS BEING FIXED AT MY COST. THE CAR JUST REFUSED TO START ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING BAD. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT...

I HAD JUST EXITED FROM INTERSTATES 440 WHEN MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY ENGINE POWER OR POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT QUIT. UPON INVESTIGATION I DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE PARTS AND MADE THE REPAIR. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED THIS MODEL OF CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY EXPENSE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINES BUT THEY TELL ME MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VIN NUMBER IS IN THE RANGE INDICATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 29, 2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE IN EACH DIRECTION HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY 2001 SATURN (WITH 41,000 MILES)SUDDENLY STALLED, LOSING ALL POWER FUNCTIONS (STEERING, BRAKES AND SPEED CONTROL). I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS 3 LANES OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND ONE LANE OF PARKING LANE WHERE I BEACHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT TURN OVER. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANIC'S NYS LICENSED GARAGE IN THE NEXT TOWN. MY MECHANIC NOTED THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS ITEMS DAMAGED BY THE FAILURE LIKE INLET AND EXHAUST VALVES AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE REQUIRED ACCESS TO THE PARTS AND OTHER PARTS INVOLVED. USING A SEARCH I FOUND...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY BE COMPUTER RELATED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH DAMAGED THE VALVES. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2,700. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE RECALL AND, THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

ENGINE FAILURE, TURNS OUT THAT AT LEAST 1 VALVE IS BENT DUE TO A SLIPPING TIMING CHAIN. *TR

2001 L300 SATURN 2.2 L V6 TIMING BELT TENSIONER SEIZED WHILE DRIVING IN LATE APRIL 2008. TIMING BELT BROKE AND ENGINE JUMPED TIME AND BENT ALL VALVES ACCORDING TO SATURN OF RT. 33, PENNSYLVANIA. VEHICLE DOES NOT START, NOR WILL RUN. SATURN DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO CHANGE ENGINE FOR $4500 AND SATURN HOTLINE OFFERRED DISCOUNT ON NEW OR USED VEHICLE. NO RECALLS WERE MENTIONED. ENGINE HAS 57-58,000 MILES.

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN L61 (ECOTEC) ENGINE. SERVICE "TECH FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS STARTING TO SEPARATE" DURING VISIT FOR BRAKE MAINTENANCE, AT 69,000 MILES. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED 2 MONTHS BEFORE WINDOW FOR RECALL 07V-519 (NOVEMBER 2000 - FEBRUARY 2001). PARTS REPLACED AS PER RECALL PROCEDURE. *TR

I ALSO HAVE A 2001 L200. MY PROBLEMS STARTED JUNE 5, 2006. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 70 MPH, AND AFTER JUST CRESTING A HILL IN NORTHWESTERN IOWA, MY ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT BUT FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT 64,800 MILES. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO TOW THE CAR 230 MILES ONLY TO HAVE SATURN OF LINCOLN TELL ME THAT IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE CHAIN BROKE. (EITHER FROM HAVING INCOMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OR SOME OTHER REASON.) I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED WITH A USED ONE. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR HAD 39,000 MILES. I HAD TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. (MIGHT HAVE HAD 60,000 HARD MILES) IT WORKED FINE, I KEPT GOOD TRACK OF THE OIL CHANGES WITH THIS MOTOR. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAD DISASTROUS EFFECTS HAD THE ENGINE SEIZED OR...

I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED (CRUISE CONTROL) OF 72 MPH, HAVING JUST RAISED THE SPEED SETTING FROM 70 MPH. ENGINE SPEED INCREASED TO 4200 RPM WHILE INCREASING VEHICLE SPEED. 1 TO 2 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER AND I QUICKLY LOST SPEED. I PULLED OVER THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THIS COULD HAVE PROVEN TO BE DISASTROUS HAD I BEEN IN A LEFT LANE WITH NO SHOULDER OR HAD THE ENGINE SEIZED AND LOCK THE WHEELS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER. SHE NEARLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE ENGINE AT THE SITE, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS NO ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT WE DID NOT QUALIFY. EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS FOR OUR EXACT MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE THE VIN DID NOT MATCH. SATURN DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3500-$4000. I SPOKE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE IS REPAIRING FOR $1355. I CALLED SATURN CORPORATE AND FILED A REPORT AND HAVE THAT ID#. I WAS TOLD THAT...

WAS DRIVING WHEN TIMING CHAIN SUDDENLY SNAPPED. PUSHED VEHICLE TO ROADSIDE AND PROCEEDED TO GET TOWED. REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $2,400.00. CONTACTED BEAVERTON SATURN RETAILER AND WAS TOLD I'D BE CONTACTED LATER WITH NO RESPONSE. UPON CALLING SATURN CORP. AND USING INFORMATION ACQUIRED FROM NSHTA.COM ABOUT A SPECIFIC RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WAS TOLD ONLY THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN # IS WITH IN THE RECALL BREAKPOINT BUT IS NOT COVERED AND THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN . ONLY THAT IT WASN'T AND THEY HAVE NO REASON OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. *TR

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO BROKEN TIMING CHAIN 2001 L2 SATURN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55MPH MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON MY 2001 SATURN LS200. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT ALSO BLEW THE MOTOR IN MY CAR. I AM STILL SHOPPING AROUND FOR PARTS AND TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR

TOOK CAR IN TO REPLACE RECALLED TIMING CHAIN, ABOUT 500 MILES LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER THE CRANK SEAL WENT OUT, (A PART THAT WAS REMOVED TO DO THE RECALLED REPAIR) WHEN THE CRANK SEAL WENT OUT ALL THE OIL LEFT THE ENGINE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, LUCKY FOR US WE WERE THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME AND ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL, THEY SAID THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER, THEY SAID THE SEAL IN COLD WEATHER CAN RETAIN MOISTURE FREEZE AND WHEN STARTED CAN TEAR, THIS SEEMS MUCH WORSE THAN THE TIMING CHAIN RECALL THAT WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR, AT LEAST WITH THE TIMING CHAIN GOING OUT THE MOTOR WILL NOT LOCK UP. I LOOKED ON...

WENT OUT ONE MORNING AND TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAINS WERE BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACED. *TR

I OWN A 2001 SATURN LW300 WAGON WITH 96,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO COAST THE LAST ONE-HALF MILE TO OUR SUB-DIVISION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT IT HAD JUMPED THE TIMING, AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO NEW ENGINES AVAILABLE, AND THAT USED A USED ENGINE WOULD COST AROUND $4000.00, WHICH IS THE WHOLESALE VALUE FOR THE CAR. I HAVE DECLINED REPAIRS, AND AM LOOKING TO SELL OR DONATE THE CAR TO CHARITY FOR SALVAGE PARTS. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE NIGHT AND CAR STARTING MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND JUST STALLED ON ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY TO A PARKING LOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PUT IT ON A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND HAS SINCE RUINED MY WHOLE ENGINE. NOW MY CAR SITS IN MY YARD WITH NO GOOD MOTOR OR TIMING CHAIN AND I STILL OWE $4000 AND PAYING $300 A MONTH TO PAY FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR EVEN A USED ONE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO THE GYM. AS I WAS ON A HIGHWAY ON RAMP, MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT, AND WHEN IT DID, IT BENT THE VALVES AND DID DAMAGE TO A PISTON, AS EVIDENCED BY COMPRESSION TEST FAILURE AND VISUAL INSPECTION. HE ALSO NOTED THAT EVEN ONCE THE TIMING CHAIN WAS GRABBED, IT COULD NOT BE PULLED FREE OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY. HE STATED THAT THE PARTS COULD BE REPLACED AND ENGINE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $3,400.00 PLUS TAX, OR I COULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,500.00 PLUS TAX, AND HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS AND LABOR. I OPTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. SATURN JUST NOTIFIED ME OF THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT WILL ONLY...

MY WIFE WAS ON THE ON RAMP TO A VERY BUST STATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STALLED, AND SHE COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. TURNS OUT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VALVES TO BEND AND PISTON DAMAGE, WHICH WOUND UP COSTING 3746.29 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE TO REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF PARTS WAS GOING TO COST THE SAME AMOUNT IF NOT MORE.) *TR

MOTOR FAILURE LESS THAN 47,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A PERSISTENT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,535.

I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200, 2.2L, 4 CYL, DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM SEDAN, VIN [XXX]. 106K MILES. I MAINTAIN IT REGULARLY. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK YESTERDAY 9/5/07 AND THE ENGINE STALLED ABRUPTLY MAKING A NOTICABLE "CLUNK" NOISE. I WAS ALMOST UP TO 55MPH WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I COASTED TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULDNT FIRE, IT WOULD TURN OVER HOWEVER. THAT GAVE ME THE AWFUL FEELING THAT THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN PROBABLY BROKE. I TOWED THE CAR HOME AND TORE IT DOWN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. ALSO THE LEFT ADJUSTABLE CHAIN GUIDE WAS ALSO BROKEN. NOW I AM WORRIED THAT THE VALVES OR PISTONS MAY BE DAMAGED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS I AM DEFINITELY NOT ALONE. GM MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRAP DESIGNS. I'M SICK OF THIER QUALITY ISSUES. AFTER I FIX...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L100. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

MY 23 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY 2001 SATURN L200 DOWN A HIGHWAY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007, ABOUT 8PM, DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. BUT, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHO IS INDICATING A $ 2800.00 CHARGE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT, TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, WITH AN EVER INCREASING TREND. IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN SATURN AND IT'S COMPANY AFTER FINDING OUT THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO QUICKLY RECOMMEND A RECALL BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST DUE TO SATURN NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L200 WITH APPROXIMATELY 37- OR 29K MILES FROM A SATURN DEALER IN JULY OF 2004. THERE ARE ABOUT 80,500 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. TWO DAYS AGO I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE TIMING CHAIN "FAILED" AND BEAT UP THE ENGINE (PER THE SATURN DEALER, WHERE I HAD THE CAR TOWED THAT MORNING). ALTHOUGH I NEVER USED SATURN FOR OIL CHANGES, I DID CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES. RECENTLY, HOWEVER (SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND HOUSING, SATURN GAVE ME A COMPLETE INSPECTION. THERE WERE SEVERAL MINOR ITEMS LISTED NEEDING ATTENTION, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED, NOR DID I EVER RECEIVE NOTICE OF THIS INHERENT AND DANGEROUS DEFECT (FUNNY HOW THEY CAN FIND ME TO SEND NOTICES OF THEIR UPCOMING SALES "EVENTS", HOWEVER). SINCE IT WAS LATE FRIDAY WHEN...