2002 SATURN LS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

1) ON THE EVENING OF FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007 MY 2002 SATURN L-100 SEDAN STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY "DIED". I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE AUTO MECHANIC SHOP NEAR MY HOUSE. 2) THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO ADVISE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 49,000 MILES ON IT. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE, ABOUT $6,000 WORTH OF WORK. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY ADVISED I SHOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES, WHICH I DID THAT EVENING. THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE HEAD WITH A REBUILT PART FROM GM, APPROXIMATELY $3,200 WORTH OF WORK. AT THIS POINT SATURN IS REQUESTING MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR OIL CHANGES. *JB

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2007 AT ABOUT 3:30 PM, WE WERE HEADING EAST ON HIGHWAY 509 IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON WHEN THE CAR JUST LOST POWER & DIED. WE WERE COMING AROUND A CORNER AND MADE IT TO A NARROW SHOULDER & WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SO THAT CARS COULD BARELY GO AROUND. WE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK SINCE THE SHOULDER WAS NOT VERY WIDE & WE WERE STRANDED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A MILD CORNER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN WE FINELY GOT THE VEHICLE HOME, I CALLED SEVERELY LOCAL MECHANICS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. MOST TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TIMING CHAIN & INSTRUCTED ME ON HOW TO CHECK. ONCE THE COVER WAS OFF, IT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT THE...

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND MY SATURN L200 ENGINE JUST DIED. UPON INSPECTION AT SATURN OF DAYTON NORTH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. I HAVE CHANGED THE ENGINE WITH USED AND STILL HAVE LITTLE POWER. I AM WAITING FOR TEST RESULTS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE OIL WAS DIRTY, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER ONLY 61,000 MILES. I ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT SATURN WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF AUTO COMPANY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH SATURN'S RESPONSE THAT I MUST NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OIL! I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A SATURN TO ANYONE, AT THIS POINT IN MY EXPERIENCE. *NM

FAILED TIMING CHAIN IN MY 2002 SATURN L100. I ONLY HAD 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. IT TOOK MY MECHANIC HOURS TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE TIMING CHAIN LOOKED OK. TURNED OUT IT WAS STRETCHED AND WASN'T CATCHING. TO FIND THE PROBLEM THIS HAD TO BE DONE BY TURNING THE MOTOR BY HAND. HE SUGGESTED I HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SATURN DEALER(OF CLARENCE) WHICH I DID. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. ALSO MY MECHANIC SAID SATURN HAS REDESIGNED THE TIMING CHAIN BECAUSE OF PAST PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT NOW IS A WHOLE KIT. THE HOLE THAT THE OIL GOES THROUGH WAS TOO SMALL AND THEY DESIGNED IT WITH A LARGER HOLE. THIS REPAIR COST ME $913.00!! I AM VERY UPSET AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SATURN. THEY SAID THEY WILL "REVIEW MY COMPLAINT." *JB

NHTSA #: 10002122 SERVICE BULLETIN #: 030601017 THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT ABOUT 45-55 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL SOMEWHAT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANICS GARAGE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY ENGINE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE ENGINE (NOT 67000 MILES!), HAD SNAPPED AND THAT IN TURN DESTROYED THE UPPER HALF OF THE ENGINE REQUIRING IT TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE THROUGH SATURN AND NEEDING MY CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK, I ENDED UP...

SATURN L200 STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVE. NO WARNING, JUST TOTAL ENGINE STOPPAGE. STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER, AND AFTER BUYING AND REPLACING THE STARTER, I AM NOW BEING TOLD IT WAS/IS THE TIMING CHAIN. APPARENTLY SATURN KNOWS THAT IT HAS WEAK TIMING CHAINS YET DOES NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM OF WEAK TIMING CHAINS. *NM

TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 74,000 MILES ON MY 2002 L SERIES SATURN, SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SATURN DOES NOT WANT TO FIX. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, MY 2002 SATURN L100 LOCKED UP AND QUIT WORKING. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, RESULTING IN A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,150, PLUS $190 IN TOWING CHARGES. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY, I FEEL THIS IS STILL A NEW ENOUGH CAR THAT A COSTLY REPAIR AS THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF TIMING CHAINS BREAKING ON THE L SERIES CARS. *NM

TIMING CHAIN PREMATURELY FAILED AND RUINED MY ENGINE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I AM INCENSED AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN INCORRECT OIL CHANGE BY A NON-DEALERSHIP GARAGE. IN CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH L200 SATURNS. WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT TAKEN ACTION TO REQUIRE SATURN TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM? HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO WARRANT A RECALL? *NM

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO MY 2002 L200 SATURN 4-DOOR SEDAN, VIN NO- [XXX] ENGINE: 2.2 L DOHC 16 VALVE L4 ENGINE LL0 1.9LL4 (THIS IS ON ONE OF THE SATURN SERVICE PAPERS ABOUT THE ENGINE) MY COMPLAINT IS VERY LONG AND EXCEEDS THE 2,000 CHARACTER MARK, I WILL BE MAILING YOU ALL OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION. I WAS TOLD THAT A CLAIM NUMBER WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO DO THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED IN MY SATURN. *JB THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND BALANCE CHAIN WOULD PROBABLY FIX THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THE CONSUMER AGREED TO THE REPAIR. REPLACING THE CHAINS DIDNT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER...

WHILE TRAVELING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, MY 2002 SATURN LW200 STATION WAGON SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE GARAGE AND BY A SATURN DEALER AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN RESULTING IN LOSS OF COMPRESSION DUE TO BENT OR BROKEN VALVES. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND APPARENTLY REQUIRES AN NEW ENGINE OR OVERHAUL. TO DATE, THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER STATED THAT SATURN IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO CORRECT THE DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE FAILED TIMING CHAIN. SATURN ALSO CLAIMED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL INTO THE VIN RANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ADDRESSED IN THEIR REDESIGN OF THE TIMING CHAIN. CURRENTLY,...

ON 3/9/06 MY SATURN L200 2002 WOULD NOT START, I SPOKE TO VARIOUS PEOPLE AT SATURN AND RECEIVED 4 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, (TRANSMISSION, TIMING CHAIN BROKE,NEED A NEW ENGINE AND NOW THE TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED) I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SERVICE WHAT SO EVER, THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT IS LACK OF MAINTENANCE, WHEN I ASKED FOR A EXPLANATION THE REGIONAL AREA MANAGER HUNG THE PHONE UP ON ME!!! HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OILER VALVE WHICH NOW I KNOW THERE IS. I HAVE BEEN PROMISE CALL BACKS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE. I ALSO EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAVE PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES AND HAD RECALLS, MAINT., ETC. DONE WHICH HE DID NOT CARE, HIS RESPONSE WAS WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TELL YOU!!!THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR PROBLEMS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN L200 HOME FROM BOSTON ON 3-12-06 APPROX. 6:00 PM WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND CONTACTED SATURN. AFTER THEY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THEY CAME UP WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF A FAILED TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE FAILURE. I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T. I GOOGLED COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE SATURN L200 AND BROKEN TIMING CHAINS ARE VERY COMMON WITH MANY SATURNS. GMAC EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO ISSUE TECH. BULLETINS ABOUT TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. GMAC KNOWS ABOUT THE HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THESE TIMING CHAINS AND HAS NOT TAKEN APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND ARE TRYING TO PASS THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS DEFECT ON TO THEIR CONSUMERS.*JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE E DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND DAMAGED THE PISTONS AND VALVES ON THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE ENGINE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES ,AND THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIRES. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK TO THE RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND JOINTS WHICH HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND AXLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW ROTORS AND MORE TIRES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE A...

2002 SATURN L200 WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS FLICKER AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON EXPRESSWAY AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERATIVE. *MR SATURN SUGGESTED THAT THE FLICKERING WAS NORMAL. IN VERY HOT/HUMID WEATHER, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN HOT AD THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD STOP RUNNING. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE STALLING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ALIGNMENT, TOE AND CAMBER PROBLEM. *SC

DRIVING DOWN A 4-LANE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE JUST QUIT RUNNING. THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OR WARNING LIGHTS. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT BEING HIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND DAMAGED SOME VALVES IN THE PROCESS. THE CAR HAS 53,000 AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS WAS $2,300.00. I INFORMED SATURN THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED BASIC MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AND THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN TO AND FROM HOME AND THE OFFICE. IN ADDITION, I INFORMED THEM THAT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES OF THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON THE INTERNET RANGING FROM 30,000-65,000 MILES. SATURN SAID THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN IN...

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY VEHICLE DIED COMPLETELY, UPON HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED I WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALVES. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ONLY HAS 51,500 MILES, A TIMING "CHAIN" SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 51,500 MILES. SATURN HAS SO FAR REFUSED TO HELP IN ANYWAY TO COVER THE COSTS, BUT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE FOR AROUND 4000 DOLLARS

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED *AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S STEERING AND AIR BAG EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE ONLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE SUSPENSION LINK WAS REPLACED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SKIPPED WHEN BEING ROLLED DOWN. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB HAD BURNED OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ACROSS THE WINDOW HALF WAY BEFORE IT SQUIRTED ANY SPRAY AND THEN SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK