2001 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPRESSION. THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $7,200. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN AND WAS ADVISED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE HESITATION. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND RECOMMENCED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,103.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $950. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS OPEN FOR THE FAILURE THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BACK WHEN A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE SEVERELY INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN RANGE WAS BETWEEN 1Y504884 AND IY559453. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE PARTS; HOWEVER, HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MORE THAN $800 IN LABOR COSTS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,788.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2001 SATURN L200. I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE. WHEN THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION, THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES AND THE CHAIN LOOKED IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CHAIN BREAKING ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE TOTAL WAS NEARLY $2,800.00 OF DAMAGE. IN JANUARY OF 2008, SATURN LAUNCHED A RECALL OF 21,000 OF THERE 2001 L200'S. THE REASON FOR THE RECALL WAS "LINKS IN THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE". I NOTIFIED THEM OF MY OCCURRENCE 6 MONTHS PRIOR AND SUBMITTED MY INFORMATION. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THEY NOTIFIED ME...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN. SINCE THAT TIME, SHE HAS ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND DROVE 65 MILES BOTH WAYS, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL HER BACK, BUT NO ONE HAS RESPONDED YET. SHE CALLED IN FEBRUARY OF 2008 AND THE PART WAS STILL UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,653.

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON INTERSTATE. DUE TO TIMING CHAIN NOW DEALER SAID THAT IT WILL COST ME FOR THERE PROBLEM, BUT NOT MY FAMILY'S LIFE. MY WIFE IS WITH CHILD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR CUT OFF. I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD SON WITH ME. IT LEFT US STRANDED 5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. WE WERE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND A GAS STATION FOR A TOTAL OF 7 HOURS WHILE I WAITED FOR MY DAD TO COME GET US. MY SON HAS SEVERE ASTHMA AND THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY WAS NEAR 100 DEGREES. AFTER BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR AN HOUR HIS WHOLE BODY TURNED RED. I HAD TO WALK 2 MILES ON THE SIDE OF THIS MAJOR INTERSTATE TO GET US TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION WHERE WE SAT AND WAITED FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND TORE UP THE HEADS ON THE MOTOR. I HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE TOP END OVERHAUL ON THE MOTOR....

2001 SATURN WAGON. DRIVING AT 30K MPH WHEN TIMING CHAIN FAILED. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BREAKS. WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO A STOP. CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY LOCAL SERVICE STATION. CAR HAS 88K MILES. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN 8 LANE HIGHWAY (INTERSTATE 75 AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS THE 2001 SATURN L200 LOST POWER. IT COASTED ACROSS 2 LANES OF MOVING TRAFFIC AND 2 LANES ACROSS THE FONTAGE ROAD IN ORDER TO PARK THE CAR AND CALLED FOR HELP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN DID NOT HAVE AN EXPECTED LIFE, AND WOULD NOT FAIL IF THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED , IF THE OIL WAS CHANGED PROPERLY, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE) I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE IN SATURN L SERIES CARS FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2003. SATURN HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP ME, AND DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN.*AK

WE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK ON THE 2001 SATURN L200 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION IN RICHMOND ON APRIL 17, 2007. BREAKING IN THIS FASHION IT FATALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. I LEARNED AFTER THE FACT THAT SATURN HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LUBRICATING NOZZLE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN DURING THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THE EXISTING MODELS, INCLUDING OURS, EVEN THOUGH WE PURCHASED IT AFTER THE DESIGN CHANGE HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SATURN THEMSELVES HAS WARRANTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT THE 90,000 MILE SERVICE - OURS BROKE AT 84,700. SATURN HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE 2001 SATURN L200 AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND, AND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TIMING CHAIN SHEARED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 62,000 MILES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 SATURN L200 AT 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART A FEW TIMES THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHEARED, THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN TWO CYLINDERS, AND THERE WAS HIGH COMPRESSION ON THE OTHER TWO CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 77,000 MILES.*AK

I NOTICED ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET AND I DECIDED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OUT OF TOWN ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE IT OFF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKE ON IT. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT TIMING CHAINS SHOULD NEVER BREAK. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 110K ON IT. NOW I HAVE A BROKEN VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS STILL AND A LARGE COST TO FIX OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *NM

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A POP WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE CAR QUIT AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. EVENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON A UNLIT ROADWAY. WHEN THE AR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SATURN SAID IT WAS DUE TO OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE BUT ALL OIL CHANGES WERE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. SATURN ALSO CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A MAJOR ONE, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN ISSUED A TSB IN JUNE 2003 WHICH STATED THAT THE OILER TO THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PROPERLY OIL THE CHAIN, BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPEATED FAILURES. A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON BEHALF OF ALL OWNERS WITH...

WITH MY SATURN L-200 THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTED, WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER IT WOULD NOT MAKE THE NOISE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN RUNNING. I WAS ON MY WAY TO A COMPANY MEETING IN KC, AND THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, IT JUST STAYED AT A CONSTANT IDLE. I OF COURSE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, AND HAD NO SUCCESS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, AND THAT IT HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 2,000 - 7,000 DOLLAR RANGE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. NOT HAPPY! *NM

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON I-75 IN KENTUCKY DOING 70 MILES PER HOUR. I NOTICED THAT I LOST THE GAS PEDDLE AND BARELY HAD STEERING. NO LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE DASH AND I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A STEEP DOWN GRADE CROSSING 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC! HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC (AFTER SITTING FOR 2 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN). THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS THEN 3 HOURS FROM HOME WITH IT NEEDING A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE!! I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HURT! MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH A CAR THE DECIDED TO QUIT...

2001 SATURN 200L KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN ENGINE, STEERING SHOOK VIGOROUSLY WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER ASSUMER THE PROBLEM WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF BUT IT DIDN'T. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEEL BALANCING. THE ADJUSTMENT WERE MADE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TOT HE CONSUMER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. SEVERAL MONTHS WENT BY AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. SOMEONE SUGGESTED TOT HE CONSUMER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE...

I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 WHICH I BOUGHT IN 2003 USED. I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY 6 LANE MAJOR ROAD WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DIED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE RIGHT LANE BEFORE ROLLING TO A STOP, BUT CAUSED A MAJOR HAZARD SITTING IN THE ROAD WITH CARS HAVING TO GO AROUND ME. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND FOUND IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT HAD BROKEN, ALSO DAMAGING SEVERAL VALVES IN THE PROCESS. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AFTER 12 DAYS AT A COST TO ME OF $2700. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE TIME MY CAR WAS BEING FIXED AT A COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. I HAD TO TAKE A LOAN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND RENTAL. IN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MANY, MANY SATURN L200'S HAVE HAD THE SAME...

I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY, AND MY 2001 SATURN L200, JUST GAVE OUT ON ME. I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. IT WOULDN'T STOP OR ANYTHING. I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO ANYTHING. I CAME ABOUT 2 INCHES AWAY FROM HITTING A LIGHT POLE. MUST OF BEEN GOD THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING BELT OR CHAIN. I BEEN READING THAT THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. I COULD OF BEEN REALLY HURT OR GOT INTO A BAD ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. RIGHT NOW I'M WAITING ON THE COST OF HOW MUCH IT WILL BE FOR REPAIRS. *NM

2001 SATURN L-200 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH ONLY 70K MILES SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM THAT SATURN WILL NOT ADMIT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE TIMING BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

WE PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L200 FROM A SATURN DEALER IN 2002 WITH 14,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP MECHANIC. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 57,000 MILES RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,348.00. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT UPON THE INITIAL FRACTURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED, AND BOTH COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

AT 62000 MILES, TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN ENGINE - NO WARNING, CAR JUST STOPPED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALVES AND PISTONS. 2001 SATURN L-200 2.2 L ENGINE, 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TWO CYLINDER HEADS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDER HEADS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 09/13/06.*JB

JULY 4, 2006, SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER JUST HAVING NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED ON MY 2001 SATURN L-SERIES 200, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE ENGINE DIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED ROUNDING A RATHER INNOCUOUS BEND. BUT HAD THIS TAKEN PLACE UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THE CASUALTY LOSS, BOTH PROPERTY AND PERSONAL, COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE NEXT DAY A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT BROKE. PROCEEDED TO CALL SATURN, THEY SAID IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY THREE-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. THE CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, BUT I WAS STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY A CAR IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, SHOULD NOT BE WARRANTED...

I HAVE A 2001 SATURN LS THAT I BOUGHT USED IN OCTOBER 2004. IT HAS ABOUT 54, 000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN JUST BROKE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VALVES WHICH IS COSTING ME OVER $2,000 TO FIX. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *NM

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN MY 2001 SATURN L200. THIS CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED BY A SATURN DEALER, COSTING APPROXIMATELY $2000. *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY SATURN L200 FAILED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 169 IN GOLDEN VALLEY MINNESOTA. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BECAME WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THANKFULLY IT WAS 3 AM IN THE MORNING AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD SO I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN LOGGED IN DEFECT INVESTIGATION PE06006. IN ADDITION I FOUND THAT 29 OTHER PEOPLE POSTED TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_56674.HTML. *NM

1. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE. 2. THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP, ALL POWER WAS LOST BUT FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. 3. THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED ENGINE VALVES TO BE DAMAGED. THE TIMING CHAIN, HEAD AND VALVES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1969.00. *NM

2000 SATURN L100 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. SUDDEN POWER LOSS AT 50 MPH. *NM

MY 2001 SATURN L200 WITH 69K MILES ON IT HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK - IT RIPPED THROUGH THE ENGINE, SHEARING OFF THE GEARS AND BUSTING THE VALVES. I NOW HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK, NO MONEY TO FIX THE CAR, AND HAVE DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF SATURN AND SATURN REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! *NM

2001 SATURN LS 4-DOOR - TIMING CHAIN WENT BAD AFTER BARELY 100,000 MILES. REPAIR TO FIX WILL COST ABOUT $2,000. WE RELIED ON SATURN'S CLAIMS THAT TIMING CHAINS ARE BETTER THAN TIMING BELTS BECAUSE CHAINS NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THAT BEING SAID, WE NOW HAVE A BUSTED TIMING CHAIN WITH EXHAUST VALVE PROBLEMS ON A 2001 SATURN LS 4-DOOR SEDAN. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L200 IN OCTOBER 2004. IT HAD ROUGHLY 64000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST OCTOBER MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP : SATURN OF SAGINAW. AFTER I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED ,THEY MADE IT SOUND LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT . THEY CLAIMED THAT I WAS NEGLIGENT WITH MY OIL CHANGES. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT AND THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS AROUND THE 3000 MILE LIMIT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $2500 FOR A NEW CHAIN AND REPAIRS(BENT VALVES) OR $ 4000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THEY CLAIMED THAT...

1) THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME TO BRING A FAMILY MEMBER TO WORK. THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY, DROVE FINE AND GAVE NO WARNING OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG. THERE WERE NO STRANGE NOISES OR ANYTHING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON EITHER! 2) WITH A LOAD BANGING NOISE, THE TIMING CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING WENT OUT AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. IT WAS NAVIGATED THROUGH TRAFFIC TO PULL INTO A STORE PARKING LOT NARROWLY AVOIDING BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. 3) THE ENGINE WAS FULLY DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN, RELATED TENSIONER(S) AND 6 BENT VALVES. SEVERAL GASKETS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PARTS AND KITS WERE USED TO REASSEMBLE THE ENGINE. *NM

ON OCTOBER 1, 2005 WILL DRIVING HOME, MY CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. AFTER HAVING THREE MACHINCS INSPECT THE VECHILE, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE TIMINING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. I BROUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 38,000 MILES AND IT NOW HAS 50,000 MILES. THE REPAIRS SATURN QUOTED ME WAS 4,700 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. *NM

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY WIFE'S 2001 SATURN L-200 UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE, CAUSING PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE, REQUIRING (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEP'T) A REBUILT ENGINE. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL (FLAT SURFACE, IN-TOWN DRIVING, BROKE ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME), AND NO PREVIOUS WARNING SIGNS WERE AVAILABLE (SPUTTERING, LOSS OF POWER, ETC.). THIS PART IS LABELED AS NOT NEEDING SERVICING/REPLACING UNTIL 100,000 MILES. MY WIFE'S CHAIN BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE VISITS. $3000 FOR A REBUILT ENGINE TO REPAIR DAMAGED CAUSED BY AN ADVERTISED "MAINTENANCE-FREE" PART IS RIDICULOUS.*JB

STARTED VEHICLE AND LEFT GAS STATION WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND DID NOT GIVE ANY DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION ON THE DASH DISPLAY. EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. AFTER SEEING A MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKE AND WILL COST ME $3600 TO REPLACE ACCORDING TO THE SATURN DEALER. AFTER LOOKING AROUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM AND IS OCCURING VERY OFTEN. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE SATURN DEALERS, ACCORDING TO A ARTICLE I READ, THAT STATES THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE OIL SENDING UNIT THAT LUBRICATES THE TIMING CHAIN. THE OIL SENDING UNIT DOES NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH OIL TO THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSING THE FAILURE. SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE SO PEOPLE LIKE ME WITH A DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE DOES NOT HAVE TO OCCUR THIS KIND OF EXPENSE WITH A CAR THAT ONLY HAS...

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ENGINE FAILED DUE TO TIMING CHAIN WHICH CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BEND. HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC CHECK ENGINE AND WAS TOLD CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.*AK

FOLLOWING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY THE DEALER OUR SATURN L300 EXPERIENCED STUTTERING AND HESITATION. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERN FOR THE TIMING BELT. UNDER THE DEALERSHIP'S CARE THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND THE ENGINE SIEZED, CAUSING $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS. THE TIMING BELT WAS NOT DUE FOR RECOMMENDED SERVICE FOR ANOTHER 6,000 MILES.*AK

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

TIMING CHAIN TENSIOR FAILED, RESULTING IN LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING SOUNDS AND DIFFICULTY TURNING STEERING WHEEL. INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL DIM WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL OR TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS. CHARGING SYSTEM TESTS NORMAL.*AK