2002 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON I-35 IN DALLAS, VEHICLE DIED, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. AFTER TOWING VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED. AFTER DETERMINING ENGINE WAS INTERFERENCE MODEL & VIEWING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V519000 I CALLED SATURN TO DETERMINE IF THE 2002 WAS COVERED UNDER THIS. SATURN REPLIED IT WAS NOT. NOT REPAIRED YET BUT AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED OF IF DAMAGED HEAD CAN BE REBUILT. LOWER END WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE INSPECTED AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED IF HEAD IS REBUILT. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH IN MY 2002 SATURN L200 LOST ALL POWER ON THE I-5 FREEWAY. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I THEN HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, AND THEY MAY ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND PISTONS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. LUCKY IT HAPPENED TO ME AND NOT MY YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS INEXPERIENCED WITH SITUATIONS AS ABOVE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 SATURN L200 WITH THE SAME 2.2L ENGINE FOR TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE THE 2002-2003 YEARS AS THEY ALL USE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE CLOSE CALLS AS THIS ONE. I HAVE SERVICED THE ENGINE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE NEW. I EVEN HAVE RECEIPTS FOR PROOF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JOLTED ABNORMALLY AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 610 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH BEFORE A LARGE, SWEEPING TURN, MY 2002 SATURN L200 LOST POWER. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE LOST AND THE CAR HEADED TOWARDS A GUARDRAIL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE PARKING BRAKE AND SKID TO A STOP JUST OUTSIDE OF THE DITCH. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AT 83,000 MILES, CATASTROPHICALLY. A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN CONFIGURATION WAS ISSUED ON 2001 SATURN L200S, BUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON NOT ON THE 2002 SATURN. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTEDLY WITH ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

AS I DROVE, UP HILL, WHILE USING THE SPEED CONTROL FEATURE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV HIGH RPMS. IT THEN JERKED AND BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THEN HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. AT THE REPAIR FACILITY I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND FOUND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT ISSUE FOR THE 2001 SATURN L200. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 07V519000 GM RECALL NUMBER:06074 I THEN READ THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMER COUNCIL PETITIONED (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : DP08002) TO HAVE THE RECALL EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL 1999 TO 2003 SATURN VEHICLES THAT USED THE SAME TIMING CHAIN. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 L200 WITH 75,000 MILES SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING LOST CONTROL, BUT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH OUT BEING HIT THANKFULLY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2001 MODEL BUT THE 2002 WAS NEVER ISSUED. *TR

2002 SATURN LW200 2.2L ENGINE. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND RUINED THE ENGINE. I HAVE READ THAT THE 2001 MODEL HAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED CLICKING NOISES FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VALVE, PISTON AND TIMING CHAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 154,500.

I HAVE A 2002 L200 SATURN IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 2001 THAT HAS A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR. SATURN IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM THAT OBVIOUSLY IS STILL THERE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A INVESTIGATION ON THIS PROBLEM. A QUICK SEARCH PULLS UP A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE STARTING THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP TO LOOK AT THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

2002 SATURN L200 STALLED AT 55MPH AND DID NOT RESTART. SATURN DIAGNOSED BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH DESTROYED MOTOR. *TR

I WENT OUTSIDE TO GET IN MY CAR THIS MORNING WHICH STARTED RIGHT AWAY. AFTER SHIFTING INTO FIRST I BEGAN TO TAKE OFF WHEN THE CAR STALLED ONLY GETTING ABOUT 2 FEET FORWARD. PUSH CAR BACK TOWARD THE CURB AND ATTEMPTED TO JUMP THE CAR WITH MY SISTERS. THEN TRIED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY, AFTER ALL OF THIS FAILED, WE CALLED THE LOCAL MECHANIC OVER AND SAID THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED.. 3200 REPAIR. I'M NOT READY TO SEARCH FOR A NEW CAR BUT LATELY IT'S BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR I USED TO LOVE. AT THIS POINT NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!!!!!!! *TR

TODAY, WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH (ON CRUISE CONTROL) ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, MY 2002 SATURN L200 (WITH 75,000 MILES) STARTED LOSING ALL POWER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS SHOWING OIL AND BATTERY WERE LIT UP BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR TWICE, BOTH TIMES RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT TURNING OVER. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ON THE CAR, AAA FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED. AT THIS POINT, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, AS I AM WAITING ON QUOTES FROM VARIOUS MECHANICS. *TR

TIMING CHAIN OF SATURN L200 FAILED A SECOND TIME WITHIN 35,000 MILES OF FIRST REPAIR LEAVING THE CAR STRANDED ON THE ROADSIDE AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS MODEL SEEMS TO BE POORLY DESIGNED LEADING TO FAILURE. *TR

HAVE TICKING COMING FROM TIMING CHAIN AREA ON ENGINE. LUCKILY I HAVE CAUGHT IT BEFORE THE CHAIN BREAKS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND NEED REPLACING. CALLED GM AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL LIST. MY TIMING CHAIN DESIGN IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. A PETITION WAS OPENED FROM NORTH CAROLINA BUT CLOSED DUE TO "FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES." HERE'S THE LINK TO THE RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/DEFECT/RESULTS.CFM?ACTION_NUMBER=DP08002&SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&SUMMARY=TRUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *TR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JEFF HARRIS

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 STRETCHED AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR. THE CAR HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WOULD SIMPLY NOT START IN MY DRIVEWAY, HAD IT TOWED, TO A MECHANIC IN MY TOWN, IOWA CITY, IA. I CONTACTED SATURN-- THEY DIDN'T OFFER TO REPAIR-- BUT SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE THE CAR TOWED THE 40 MILES TO A FORMER DEALER TO HAVE IT 'DIAGNOSED' I DECIDED THIS WAS NOT MUCH OF AN OFFER! THE MECHANIC HERE IN MY TOWN HAS LOCATED A USER MOTOR WITH 47,000 MILES AND HAS QUOTED $2,500 TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE MOTOR HE HAS ORDERED WILL ALSO HAVE THIS TIMING CHAIN DEFECT. TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE NEW MOTOR WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $500. TOTAL> $3,000. GIVEN THAT THE CAR HAS TO BE SAFE FOR ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY CHILDREN, I HAVE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87000.

SATURN L200 TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY - NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. *TR

I HAVE A SATURN L200 WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE AND 64,100 MILE ON IT. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JULY 9 2009, MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I HAD JUST CLEARED AN INTERSECTION AND THE CAR FORTUNATELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM FOR ME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE THE CHAIN BROKE. THE ENGINE REQUIRED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. THE VALVES WERE BENT AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS WRECKED. ALL TOLD WITH PARTS AND LABOR, THE BILL CAME TO $2,142.33. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO TO A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3800.00. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A JERK. THE ENGINE DIED AND I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. TURNS OUT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE VALVES WERE BENT. TOTAL REPAIR COST WOULD BE AROUND $3,500. *TR

MY 2002 L200 HAS 92,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A CROWDED 5 LANE INTERSTATE IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WHEN MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THERE WERE NO STRANGE NOISES OR SMELLS INVOLVED, NOR WAS THERE ANY SMOKE. THE RPM METER WENT DOWN TO ZERO. THANKFULLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE AND SO DID THE BRAKES. I PUT ON MY HAZARD BLINKER AND WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAST MY WAY OVER TO THE SHOULDER. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE HIT ME. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THAT IT HAD POSSIBLY ALSO DAMAGED THE VALVES, SO I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $3500. THAT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR, SO I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME DECIDING WHETHER TO DO THE REPAIR OR SELL THE CAR AS IS. THE...

ON JANUARY 13, 2009 I TOOK MY CARE TO SATURN TO HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES ASSESSED IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL LIGHTS THAT WERE ON STEADY OR BLINKING ON AND OFF ON THE DASH. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED NY INSPECTION STICKER WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THAT THIS VISIT. I TOLD HIM NO I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE LIGHTS AT THE PRESENT TIME. ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE TECHNICIAN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WHAT THEY FOUND WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE NEEDED: BODY CONTROL MODULE (SHORTED), THERMOSTAT - ENGINE OIL COOLER (LEAKING), OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (LEAKING) AND DRIVER'S FRONT AXLE SEAL (LEAKING). I WAS QUOTED A PRICE IN EXCESS OF $2,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR, PURCHASED BRAND...

TIMING CHAIN FAILED ON 2002 L200 WITH 111K MILES ON IT. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO MAJOR DEFECTS OR COMPLAINTS. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER INTO A PARKING LOT SAFELY WITHOUT INVOLVING ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT NOT ONLY DID THE TIMING CHAIN FAIL BUT THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER HAS COMPLETELY COME LOOSE AND ENDED UP IN THE OIL PAN. SO FAR THE REPAIR, INCLUDING THE LABOR AND CHAIN KIT, WILL RUN AROUND $1500 IF THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE. I AM HAVING MECHANIC KEEP OLD PARTS SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION UNDERWAY. I WANT MY PARTS AVAILABLE SHOULD THEY BE NEEDED. SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2001 MODEL WITH THE...

RE. 2002 SATURN L200 MODEL W/2.2 4CYL. ENGINE...VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART....I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN.....I HAVE 69,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CORRECT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.....SATURN HAS BEEN ISSUED A TSB IN 2003 REGARDING A REPLACEMENT OIL NOZZLE TO FACILITATE THE OILING OF THE TIMING CHAIN....I PLAN ON CONTACTING MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER REGARDING THIS MANNER AND PLAN ON GOING HIGHER UP WITH THE COMPLAINT IF NECESSARY....I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER OVER THIS AND HOLD SATURN ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY, BONNIE L. KRUEGER *TR

11-2006 FAILURE #1 NORMAL DRIVING. CAR SLOWED AND BECAME UNDRIVABLE AS IF OUT-OF-GAS. WOULD NOT RE-START. TOWED BACK TO DEALER. REMEDY REPLACE TIMING CHAIN. NO OLD PART. 11-29-2008 FAILURE #2 ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ON TEMPORARILY (MEANING NO SERIOUS EVENT, ACCORDING TO SATURN VEHICLE MANUAL) AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF OPERATION BEFORE PARKING CAR. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES OVER TWO DAYS. ON FINAL THIRD DAY AFTER 15 MINUTES OF OPERATION GRINDING RUMBLE BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUDER. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT ENGINE STALL. CAR RESTARTED. KEPT RPMS ABOVE STALL THRESHOLD. FOR FIVE MORE MINUTES BEFORE PARKING. ENGINE CRANKCASE VOID OF OIL. ADDED TWO QUARTS. UPON STARTING ENGINE. FRESH OIL WAS SEEN EXITING UPPER REAR OF ENGINE. DROVE TO DEALER. TEAR DOWN HALTED WHEN METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN OIL PAN. CAR CURRENTLY PARKED AT DEALER. RECOMMENDATION FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

MY WIFE'S CAR QUIT RUNNING SUDDENLY. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND REPAIRS WOULD COST $3200, INDICATING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE BESIDES THE BROKEN CHAIN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NOR WERE THERE ANY INJURIES. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ~97000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH AND ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

THE CAR WAS IDLING REALLY ROUGH EARLIER IN THE DAY. I WAS GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BUT ONLY GOT A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CAR DIED. IT TRIES TO TURN OVER BUT NO LUCK. A MECHANIC FRIEND SAID IT SEEMS TO BE THE TIMING BELT. AFTER REVIEW ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES I TEND TO AGREE. IT'S BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I'M AWAITING MY DIAGNOSIS. IF IT IS IN FACT THE TIMING BELT AND SATURN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHY DIDN'T THEY FIX IT? A RECALL WOULD BE GREAT BUT IF NOT THAT AT LEAST NOTIFY US OF THE PROBLEM SO WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED. I'M REALLY UPSET THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 5 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR WITH ME. DO SOMETHING SATURN!! *TR

TIMING CHAIN ON 2002 L200 SEDAN WITH 2.2 L ENGINE BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND REFUSE TO START. THIS CAR HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE UNEXPECTED BREAK. LUCKILY, IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING (6:10 AM) AND TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL. I DID MANAGE TO GET THE CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT A BUSIER TIME, MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER. IN ADDITION TO THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDING REPLACEMENT, ALL VALVES AND THE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AND COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST $ 2,500.00. BLUE BOOK PRICE FOR THIS CAR IS $ 4,165.00. *TR

MY 2002 SATURN L200, PURCHASED FROM SATURN OF SCHAUMBURG IN DECEMBER OF 2005, NO LONGER RUNS BECAUSE OF A 'SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM'. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BEND. I WAS TOLD BY SATURN OF SCHAUMBURG THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EFFECT MY MAKE OR YEAR, ONLY 2001 VEHICLES. I WAS FURTHER 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...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SWITCHES FOR ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE ENGINE MODULE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER SENSORS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FAILED. WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT JIFFY LUBE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL HOUSING SCREW WAS LOOSE AND THE FILTER COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,564 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND 65MPH ON A HIGHWAY. THE SATURN TECHNICIAN SAID MY CHAIN 'SNAPPED IN TWO' AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEAD. AFTER BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ECOTEC ENGINE IN THE SATURN L-SERIES FROM 2000-2003. SATURN WAS VERY UNWILLING TO HELP OR ACCEPT ANY SORT OF RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 SATURN L200 TO WORK AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING A COLLISION. DIAGNOSIS BY A GM MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN, CAUSING 6 EXHAUST VALVES TO BEND. WE ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING OUR OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. *TR

OUR 2002 L200 SATURN HAD THE TIMING CHAIN FAIL AT APROX 79,000 MILES. COST TO REPAIR THIS WAS $2973.15 THAT IS INCLUDING THE COST OF TOWING O THE DEALER. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT OF FAILED AT 79,000 MILES. THEY NEED TO INCLUDE 2002 L200'S IN THE RECALL THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE ON THE 2001 L SERIES CARS FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ON THOSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE 2002'S AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS WITH THIS YEAR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

SATURN L200 2.2 ECOTEC - TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 2 IN LINCOLN MA. DRIFTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

ON AUGUST 8, 2007 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE POWER TO MY CAR CUT OFF AND MY WHEELLOCKED IN POSITION. LUCKY FOR MY I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE LANE CLOSET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO SAFETLY EXIT THE ROAD. I THEN BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND I DID EXTENSTIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT I ONLY BOUGHT 1YEAR PRIOR IN JUNE OF 2006 FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO PAY $2400 TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED AND HAD NO VEHICLE TO USE FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO THOUGHT SHE BOUGHT A RELIABLE CAR. I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND HAD TO BORROW MONEY. MY NEXY STEP IS TO...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES LATER THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TIMING CHAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE VALVES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. THE VALVES WERE BENT. UPDATED 08/07/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON MY 2002 SATURN L200. I HAVE A 2002 SATURN L200 WITH 54000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT THIS MORNING WITH NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING ON THE EXPRESS WAY WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STALLED. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY THE SEMI BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND AVOID ME AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR OUT AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER READING A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? SATURN SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,361. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. UPDATED

I PURCHASED A 2002 SATURN L200 ABOUT 1 1/2 YEAR AGO WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY IT NOW HAS 80,000K MILES. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 2MPH AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF. AFTER TAKING INTO THE SHOP THEY SAID MY TIMMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I AM VERY UPSET AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I GET MY OIL CHANGES DONE ON TIME AND I DONT THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. MY CAR BILL WAS $2725.00. I WENT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY PRETTY MUCH DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO ME AND SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE 2002 SATURN L200 WHILE DRIVING , NOT AT START UP WHILE PARKED . WE WERE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED SO WE AVOIDED A COLLISION OR OTHER PHYSICAL MISHAP. AS WE HAVE LEARNED HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH DOZENS OF OTHER SATURN, THE CHAIN BREAKAGE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, E.G., VALVES. THUS, THE REPAIR COST WAS FAR GREATER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, HAD THE ENGINE BEEN DESIGNED WELL. ONE NEED NOT BE AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER TO CONCLUDE THAT SATURN HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL MODELS WITH A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT THIS FLAW WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THOSE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN SUCH A MODEL, AND TO THOSE DRIVING ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE CONTACT FELT A LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILE ,AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER, AND THE INTAKE VALVES WERE REPLACED. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OCCURRENCES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE VALVES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SATURN SHOULD HAVE REPLACED COMPONENTS LISTED ON SERVICE BULLETIN # 03-06-01-017. ALSO, THE CONTACT FILED CASE NUMBER SR1-23172743 WITH SATURN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 64000. *AK UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

2002 SATURN L200 WITH 111,000 MILES. I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STATE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE ENGINE AS WELL . *AK

TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 AT 75000 MILES. *JB