2002 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE, NONE 2. THE FAILURE, TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATES WHILE CAR RUNNING, AND WILL NOT RESTART. 3. HAVE TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN. *TR

SATURN WAGON LW200 HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, I.E., ITS TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON 9/20/08 WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND PUT MY SPOUSE AT RISK OF HARM AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FULLY INSPECTED AND SERVICED ON 9/13/08 AT A LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAD BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVICED SINCE ITS PURCHASE. THE TIMING CHAINS ON THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE WERE RECALLED FOR MODEL YEARS 2000 AND 2001 AND THE MECHANIC AT HASLETT MARATHON WHERE IT WAS TOWED FOR INSPECTION REPORTED THIS WAS THE SAME PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SALVAGEABLE. *TR

MY SATURN L200 STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND SATURN HAD ADDED A PART TO THE ENGINE TO GET MORE OIL OR LUBRICANT TO THIS CHAIN SO IT WOULDN'T BRAKE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR AT SATURN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE NEVER MENTIONED THIS PART THAT SHOULD BE ADDED. I CALLED THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE IN L100 MODELS WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, BUT NOT THE L200'S. THE L100 AND L200 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE NOTICED A SUDDEN JOLT. HE ALSO EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WHERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, INSPECTED AND ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,500.00. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.

MY CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $85 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DEFECTED TIMING CHAIN THAT DESTROYED MY ENGINE. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE OVER $3,000. MY CAR IS A 2002 SERIES AND DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE MAIN SATURN HEADQUARTERS IN DETROIT TO VOICE OUR COMPLAINT AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS CAR DEFECT. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE QUIT (STOPPED RUNNING AND DECELERATED). I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE PRESSURES INSIDE THE ENGINE ARE BAD. SPOKE WITH SATURN AND WAS TOLD IF I REPAIRED IT AND THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT RECALL LIKE THE OCT. 2008 COMPLAINT, I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 02 SATURN L100 BROKE CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. AFTER READING SOME OF THE BLOGS, I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS PARKED WHEN ITS FAILURE REVEALED ITSELF. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT +/- 18:50, ON NOVEMBER 18TH 2008 WITH MY 2002 SATURN L200 WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED OR CUT OUT. I HAD TO QUICKLY TRY AND SWITCH LANES TO GET TO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS LOSING SPEED. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALERSHIP I.E. SATURN OF PLANO. THE NEXT MORNING I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THAT MY CAR WAS THERE AND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IS WRONG. THEY PHONED BACK EXPLAINING THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND THAT IT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT MY VALVES WHERE DAMAGED AND A 50/50 CHANCE THAT MY PISTONS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. THEY CAN'T TELL EXACTLY WHAT MIGHT BE DAMAGED...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND SOME OF ITS COMPONENTS FELL INTO THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 74,000.

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 SATURN SL2 BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. LOCAL SATURN DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAD A RECALL ONLY ON 2001 MODELS. LOOKING AT THE NHTSA THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE REFERENCE PEP08-061. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, CAR LOST ALL POWER, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. JUST HAD WATER PUMP REPLACED 1 MONT EARLIER FOR LEAKING. 2002 SATURN L100 BELIEVE IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3,000. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE HIS MODEL YEAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), THEY WOULD ONLY ASSUME PARTIAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON OUR CAR 2002 L-SERIES SATURN THAT HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ONLY THE 2001 YEAR MAKE OF MY CAR IS COVERED ON A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE DEALER JUST WORKED ON THIS PART 5 MONTHS AGO AND THEY DENY THAT THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE RELATED. *TR

WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CREATED AN IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC HAZARD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT MOVE OFF CURBED ROADWAY. TOWED TO REPAIR WHERE DIAGNOSIS IS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOUND RECALL ON 2001 VERSION OF SAME VEHICLE. NOW I READ THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION AND SAME CONCERNS IN 1999-2003 VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO READ THAT SATURN IS CLAIMING THESE WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK DUE TO HEAVY LOAD ON CHAIN AT THAT TIME. MINE FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH! I ALSO READ THAT IN REOPENING THIS CASE THE NHTSA IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES IN YEARS OTHER THAN 2001 IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD. MINE FITS THIS SITUATION. MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED BUT I BELIEVE THAT SATURN SHOULD PAY THE BILL...

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SERVICE REPORT FROM SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHEN TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A FEW WEEKS BEFORE, DID NOT LIST ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. SATURN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACTUALLY SAID THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE A TIMING CHAIN. HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED BUT ENGINE HAS NO COMPRESSION, ON TWO CYLINDERS. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR ENGINE DAMAGES, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING, EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF CAR. I HAVE THE OLD CHAIN, ON WHICH, ONE OF THE LINKS FAILED. THE CAR HAS 78K MILES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AT 65 MPH AT NIGHT. WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTING SLOWING DOWN. I NEARLY WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WITH TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS TRYING TO MAKE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD A TIMING BELT BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SATURN, THEY REPLACED THE HEAD ASM,CORE-HEAD, GASKET AS, CHAIN PGK, SEAL ASM, BOLT ASM, GASKET-EN, BOLT-6, AND BOLT HV. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $2,780.34. *TR

2002 SATURN L 200 HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE ON ROUTE 197 AND CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WOULDN'T RESTART. CAR HAS ABOUT 60K MILES ON IT. FORTUNATELY MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. SATURN REVIEWED OUR MAINTENANCE RECORD, DEEMED IT "EXCELLENT" AND SAID IT WOULD COST ME ONLY $3500 TO GET A REBUILT ENGINE PUT IN. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN. I AM RELUCTANTLY GOING FORWARD WITH REPAIR BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR NOW, BUT I THINK THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM IN ALL L200 SHOULD PROMPT RECALL. *TR

MY 2002 SATURN L SERIES CAR HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO IT AS YOUR #07V519000. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ENGINE STALLED AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CRASH. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 37157 - THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I CALLED SATURN WHO SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED IN ANY WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATIONS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE SECOND DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

I WAS DRIVING TO CHAMPAIGN TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE SATURN L200 DIED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CHAMPAIGN. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE IT TOTALED THE ENGINE. IT WAS JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS AND I HAD NO MONEY. SATURN TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE $2700. I HAD TO GET A LOAN FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH HAS CAUSED MORE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART AND SAID NOTHING! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE TIMING BELT, WHICH STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE CHAIN COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V519000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING.THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE.*CN

I HAD TOLD MY SATURN DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO ABOUT A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY L-200 (2002). THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY JUST THE NORMAL NOISE THAT THIS CAR MAKES WHEN IT FIRST STARTS. THE NOISE CONTINUED, BUT ONLY AT START-UP. I BROUGHT IT IN RECENTLY FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. THE NEXT DAY THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND IT IS FRUSTRATING AND PUZZLING TO ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INVESTIGATE FURTHER WHEN I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07V519000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

2002 L SERIES SATURN TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SHE WAS STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. (WARRANTY ENDED JULY -2007 & ENGINE DAMAGE IS IN EXCESS OF $2500.) *TR

2002 SATURN L-200. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. 64,000 MILES. DEALER WAS TRYING TO BLAME LACK OF MAINTENANCE UNTIL I PROVED REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN TWIN CAM ENGINE. WHY DO THE DEALERS TRY TO BLAME THE OWNERS? MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, BUT I FEEL THEY TRIED TO AVOID THE COVERAGE ON THE EXTENDED PLAN. *TR

TIME CHAIN ON AN L200 SATURN (MY 2002) AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF USAGE. I HAD JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE CHAIN BROKE. PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS HEARING VALVE NOISE, BUT FORTUNATELY I PULLED THE AUTOMOBILE INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING CHAIN RESULTED IN A COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE VALVES, CHAIN, ETC. AND REQUIRED FULL REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR. THIS INCLUDED THE HEAD, VALVES, CHAIN, TENSIONER, SPROCKETS, ETC. SATURN INDICATED THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED CHAIN TENSIONER WOULD BE REPLACED DURING THIS REPAIR AND SHOULD PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. THIS REDESIGNED PART WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT A DEFICIENCY IN OIL DELIVERY TO THE CHAIN. IMPORTANTLY, I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SATURN DEALER WITH ALL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES, ETC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-100. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $5,400. THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,940 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,900. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

2002 SATURN LW300 STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS TRAVELING AT @ 40-50 MPH. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS @ 59K. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE COASTED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING CHAIN. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER RELATED FAILURES AS WELL. THE CONTACT PAID $3,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,850 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,800.

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 2.2 4 CYLINDER ON SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2007 THROUGH AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE ROUTE 93 AND MONTVALE AVENUE IN STONEHAM MASSACHUSETTS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SHUT DOWN, LEAVING HER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FORTUNATELY FOLLOWING VEHICLES WERE ABEL TO SWERVE AROUND HER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF MEDFORD ,AND I AM AWAITING FINAL DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM ,BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH SATURNS AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THIS LIST. IF SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBELM, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE THAT WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF SUCH A PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER IS VERY LUCKY! I HAD CALLED THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK TO HAVE A TAPPING NOISE CHECKED OUT AND...

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND RUINED OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED THE ENGINE TO BE DISASSEMBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 65,000. SATURN AGREED TO DO A 50/50 SPLIT FOR THE REPAIRS AND SHE DID NOT AGREE THAT SHE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE INCLUDED AN OIL CHANGE, REPLACING THE PCV VALVE, AND 4 NEW TIRES. THERE WERE SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE; 2002 SATURN AUTOMOBILE, 74,000 MILES. *JB

THIS IS RELATED TO EA06009 ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, WHILE DRIVING ON A 50 MPH HIGHWAY WE LOST POWER TO OUR SATURN LW200 2002 WAGON. WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WE CAME WITHIN SECONDS OF BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. WE HAVE ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAVE CHANGED OIL EVERY 3-4000 MILES. SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST (>$2000) TO GET THE ENGINE FIXED. PLEASE NOTE, THE CHAIN BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY, AND NOT AT START-UP AS GM STATED IN A LETTER TO YOU ON THIS MATTER. MY WIFE AND I CAME CLOSE TO DYING. AN ENGINE THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN THAT BEAKS ON A HIGHWAY WITH JUST 50,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE IS A...

I WAS RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY CALL WITH MY LOCAL FIRE DEPT WHEN MY 2002 SATURN L SERIES MOTOR QUIT RUNNING ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY. IT TURNED OUT THAT I AM ONE OF MANY THAT HAD THE TIMING BELT BREAK WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. NO ROUGH IDLE OR HESITATIONS, PIFF IT WAS DEAD. THE MOTOR HAS ONLY 75000 MILES. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE SATURN FIX IT NOR WANT TO GIVE THEM THE FUNDS SO I AM HAVING ANOTHER MECHANIC FIX IT WITH STILL SOME HIGH EXPENDITURES. LUCKILY I WAS NOT LIKE SOME WHO HAD TO REPLACE VALVES AND SUCH. THE CHAIN FELL TO THE LOWER AREA. THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LOOKS AS IF ENGINEERING OR QUALITY MATERIALS ARE AN ISSUE, NOT OIL CHANGES AS IT APPEARS SATURN IS USING AS AN EXCUSE TO AVOID THE ISSUE. *JB

ON 7/1/6 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH MY SATURN SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. MY CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING NORMALLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY CAR LOST ALL POWER. IT WAS 104`& 20 MILES FROM CIVILIZATION. I WALKED 1 MILE AND THERE WAS A CAMPER ALSO DISABLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE PEOPLE CONTACTED A TOW COMPANY IN THE NEAREST CITY. MY CAR WAS TOWED 120 MILES. ON 7/3, THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WITH SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE($4000.00). THE SM STATED THAT HE DID NOT RECOMMEND USING ANY USED PARTS TO FIX THE ENGINE. HE ACTED CONCERNED AS TO WHY THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN MY CAR. HE MENTIONED THAT THE L SERIES CARS HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP BEING WORKED ON. ON 7/5, I SPOKE TO THE AREA MANAGER FOR THE SATURN CORPORATION....

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR BROKE, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE WHICH -- THE DEALER TELLS ME -- WILL REQUIRE A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. I COULD NOT GET POWER, SO I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND GET THE CAR TOWED. *JB

ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY OF 2006, MY 2002 SATURN L-200 ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, DIED. THE CAR, LUCKILY, WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED WITH TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH POSSIBLE REPAIR COSTS STARTING AT $ 2,800.00. MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP SAVE MONEY. THE SATURN DEALER RECOMMENDED A FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $2,130.00. I CONTACTED CORPORATE SATURN TO SEE IF MORE COULD BE DONE TO HELP WITH COSTS AT WHICH TIME I QUOTED TO THEM THE INFORMATION I HAD FOUND ONLINE ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION GOING ON REGARDING THE L-SERIES AND THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE INVESTIGATION. THEY DECLINE TO ASSIST ME AT THAT TIME. THE CAR IS NOW GETTING A NEW...

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED, THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHTS DIMMING. THE TECHNICIANS AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP ARE NOTHING BUT RUDE. THEY DONT FIX THE PROBLEMS YOU BRING THE CAR IN FOR AND YOU END UP HAVING TO TAKE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY OR EVEN SOMETIMES THAT SAME EVENING FOR A REPAIR THAT WASNT DONE PROPERLY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD CAR BUT IT HAS BEEN CONSTANT TROUBLE AND IS CONSTANTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK