2000 Saturn LS Brakes Problems

I am listing this vehicle identification number to fulfill your request on the safety complaint form, however I believe what I am about to share is an issue that applies to all vehicles on the road today, regardless of their source of motive power, if they have a hydraulic-brake system. I believe the current federal specifications for brake lines are too susceptible to corrosion, and although the materials brake lines are made of on most vehicles, probably meet Federal standards. Federal standards for this and other vehicle parts should evolve more frequently, sensitive to modernization and field experience. Corrosion-resistant brake lines are available and Federal statutes should be upgraded to specify they be constructed of more durable material and also be positioned in vehicles to increase their ease of replacement. Replacement of just the rusted sections of my rear brake lines cost me approximately $3000, and most of that cost was driven by brake line inaccessibility. Brake lines are typically one of the first components installed during vehicle assembly and several layers of components are then placed over them. Given the difficulty of replacement they should be one of the most durable components in the vehicle and calculated to last an appropriate multiple of the vehicle’s service life that is economically feasible.

NHTSA ID

11593168

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

CAR LEAKING OIL - NOW ENGINE TROUBLE

NHTSA ID

11072426

Incident

Jan 31, 2018

Mileage

106,000 mi

MY CAR DRIVES LIKE ITS COUGHING AND SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF ON ME, AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK SOMETIME, I HAVE HAD PEOPLE HONK TO TELL ME MY LIGHTS NOT WORKING THEN THEY WILL POP ON WHEN THEY GET READY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588704

Incident

Mar 27, 2014

Mileage

138,000 mi

I HAD JUST GONE TO THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY 2000 SATURN LW2 WHEN I WAS ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM THE GAS STATION. I WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOUSE, AND HAD JUST TURNED RIGHT ONTO A STREET WITH A HILL. SUDDENLY, MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING SO I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO PULL OVER. I WASN'T COMPLETELY OUT OF THE STREET WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING GOING DOWN THE HILL AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR SO I PUT IT IN PARK, WHICH STOPPED IT INSTANTLY, CAUSING MY NECK TO JERK, WHICH HAS BEEN SORE FROM WHIPLASH FOR THE PAST FOUR DAYS SO FAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO FOUND BITS OF MY TIMING BELT ALL THROUGH THE MOTOR, WHICH BLEW THE ENTIRE ENGINE. AFTER HEARING THAT IT WOULD BE OVER $3,000 FOR A USED ENGINE INSTALLED, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DETERMINE OUR NEXT MOVE, FINANCIALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481318

Incident

Oct 17, 2012

Mileage

102,012 mi

RIGHT REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED. RESULT: NO PARKING BRAKE (NO HAND BRAKE). LOCAL MECHANICS ADVISED US THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. IT CANNOT BE FIXED. SATURN IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. GM NO LONGER SELLS THIS CABLE. NONE OF THE AFTERMARKET COMPANIES MAKE A CABLE THAT FITS THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436900

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE REAR BRAKES SLIDE OFF THE WHEEL CYLINDER CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO GO TO THE FLOOR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SATURN 2000 LS1 THE WHEEL CYLINDERS HAS A FLAT SURFACE WHICH THE BRAKES SET ON AND AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES SLIP OFF THE WHEEL CYLINDER WHICH THEN IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. ON THE SATURN 2000 SL1 THE WHEEL CYLINDER HAS SLOTS ON THE WHEEL CYLINDER WHICH HOLDS THE BRAKES IN PLACE,THEY NEED TO HAVE THE WHEEL CYLINDERS REPLACED FOR ONES WITH SLOTS. IT IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAPPENDS ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS HAVING TO TAKE APART AND FIX ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPEN YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368276

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES ON THE SATURN 2000 LS. I HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THIS CAR FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS, EXCEPT NOW THIS PROBLEM HAS COME UP AND IT CONTINUES, I BELIEVE NOT BY WEAR AND TEAR, BUT MY FAULTY DESIGN. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT A BRACKET ON THE REAR BRAKES COMES OFF THE GEAR AND NO LONGER ADJUSTS THE BRAKES AS YOU DRIVE. THE BRACKET HAS A SPRING PULLING DOWNWARD ON IT AND NOTHING ON THE END OF THAT BRACKET TO HOLD IT IN PLACE ON THE GEAR. THUS, EVERY 3-4 WEEKS NOW, MY FATHER MUST PULL THE TIRES OFF AND ADJUST THEM BY HAND. THE POINT OF THE SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKE SYSTEM IS THAT THEY DO JUST THAT: SELF-ADJUST. THEY SHOULD NOT BE GRADUALLY COMING OFF AND ENDANGERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THUS MY DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO JUST BRAKES FOR BRAKE REPAIRS (REPLACING SHOES, PADS, CALIPERS, ETC.) AND EVEN FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALL THEY CAN DO IS ADJUST IT A LITTLE TIGHTER THAN MY DAD CAN. THEY AGREE THAT THE SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES ARE A FAULTY DESIGN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP THE BRACKET ON THE GEAR SO THAT IT CAN DO ITS JOB OF ADJUSTING. THIS CANNOT JUST BE FROM WEAR AND TEAR ON MY CAR AND I KNOW OTHERS SHOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT TOO. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT THE DRIVERS OF THESE SATURN 2000 LS CARS AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PAST FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY BRAKES TO GET HOME ON IN WET, CURVY MOUNTAIN ROADS OF NORTH GEORGIA. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PRODUCT SO THAT OTHERS CAN GET THIS FIXED. TO FIX IT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING TO HOLD THE BRACKET TO THE GEAR SO THAT THE SPRING DOES NOT PULL IT DOWN OFF THE GEAR AND THE BRAKES CAN CONTINUE TO SELF-ADJUST! *TR

NHTSA ID

10279167

Incident

Jul 31, 2009

Mileage

149,700 mi

RECENTLY MY INFANT DAUGHTER JUST BARELY AVOIDED BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT ON THE 2000 LS1 SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED AND FELL WHILE DRIVING. WE HAD CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD FIND NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD HAVE FALLEN. HIS SOLUTION WAS TO HAVE US ORDER A NEW PART AND PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE PART AND LABOR TO INSTALL IT. A CHECK WITH THE NHTSA INFORMED US THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2000 L-SERIES SEDANS. THE NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US THAT THIS WAS DUE TO ELECTRONICS WHICH MAY SHIFT OVER TIME. FURTHERMORE, IT APPEARED THAT THIS I WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN ,AND REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY .WOULD DO NOTHING TO PREVENT FURTHER DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. SATURN OFFERED TO PAY $55 TOWARD THE COST OF REPLACING THE PART. A REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE ANY RECALLS OR TAKE ANY ACTIONS UNTIL FORCED TO DO SO BY NHTSA. THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY NUMBERS REGARDING THE SIZE OF THE CLASS, SUCH AS NUMBER OF REGISTERED OWNERS OF 2000 L-SERIES SEDANS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10191327

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

105,650 mi

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE PLASTIC WELDS HOLDING THE REAR HOUSING TO THE TAILLIGHT REFLECTOR MELT AND THE REAR HOUSING SHORTS OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT..*NM

NHTSA ID

10154332

Incident

Mar 26, 2006

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER REGARDING SATURN TAIL LIGHT BRACKET HOUSING- BULB REPAIR. WHEN CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CONSUMER WAS TOLD REPAIR WORK WAS ALREADY DONE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

NHTSA ID

10146421

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY FAIL. ONLY ONE LIGHT WILL COME ON & THE ONE THAT IS ON IS BRIGHTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. MULTIPLE LIGHT REPLACEMENTS DO NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP HAS NOTED THAT THE POWER CIRCUIT IS RUN THROUGH THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ITSELF & THAT IT ISN'T ALWAYS SEATED RESULTING IN FAILED CIRCUIT. IN DRIVING I SEE MULTIPLE SATURNS WITH THIS ISSUE. SECONDARILY THE HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT IF 1 BULB BLOWS IT SHORTS OUT THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145078

Incident

Dec 13, 2005

Mileage

99,500 mi

EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL. BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY FAIL TO WORK. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. WE WERE ABLE TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS SLIGHTY TO GET THEM TO WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THEY WOULD GO OFF AND ON. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL DRIVING AT 10:30 P.M. AND BEING TOLD WE HAVE NO REAR LIGHTS. HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS A FEW TIMES AND ALSO HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 + TIMES ON THIS ISSUE. THE LAST TIME THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE LIGHT SOCKETS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139458

Incident

Aug 23, 2005

Mileage

96,045 mi

DT: 2000 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137239

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

MY PROBLEM IS WITH SATURN NOT HONORING RECALL NUMBER 05V245000. GM RECALL NO. 05052 MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY ON MY 2000 SATURN LW STATION WAGON. ALL THE LIGHTS WORK UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEN ONE SIDE GOES OUT, (BRAKE AND RUNNING LIGHT). THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, A. I ATTEMPTED THE REPAIR MYSELF BY REPLACING BULBS AND SWITCHING THE BULB SOCKETS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING IN 2001 THEY REPLACED SEVERAL BULBS AND A SOCKET. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE BRAKE LIGHT AGAIN WENT OUT THIS TIME WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD DIM. I AGAIN ATTEMPTED THE REPAIR BY SWITCHING THE BULB SOCKETS. ON OR ABOUT 03/2005 WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND THE PLASTIC BULB SOCKET ON ONE SIDE WAS MELTED. I PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND NEW BULB SOCKETS AND MADE THE REPAIR ONLY TO HEAR ABOUT THE RECALL A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED A FEW WEEKS LATER SO I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL THAT WAS TO START IN SEPTEMBER. I CALLED MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER, SATURN OF PEMBROKE PINES, ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137228

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

Mileage

1,000 mi

2000 SATURN LW-1 TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE VEHICLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, THE VALVES AND GASKETS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133450

Incident

Jun 13, 2005

Mileage

73,500 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DO NOT WORK. THE WINDOWS, THE HORN, AND BRAKES LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS, BUT THE WINDOW, HORN, SPEAKER, DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL, AND THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AT ONE TIME. THE CONSUMER INDICATES WHEN SHE ROLLED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN AND BACK UP THAT WAS WHEN EVERY THING QUIT WORKING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT EACH COMPONENT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10135873

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

61,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER DONE A SAFETY CHECK ON VEHICLE AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE 30 PERCENT LEFT, AND FRONT ROTORS BELOW SPECS. CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE FRONT BRAKE JOB DONE BECAUSE DEALER WANTED ABOUT $300 TO DO WORK. HE COULD DO IT FOR MUCH LESS. CONSUMER'S CONCERN WAS THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 30 PERCENT PADS LEFT AND ONLY 46412 MILES ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALWAYS TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND THIS IS WAS DONE REGULARLY. BRAKES WERE NOTICED BY DEALER ON JULY 14, 2005. DEALER WAS SATURN OF HOUSTON NORTH WEST 290, IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10128781

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

Mileage

46,412 mi

THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS REAPEATEDLY FAIL TO WORK CORRECTLY. THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT HAS FAILED TO RECALL THE ASSEMBLIES. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THE LAMP SOCKETS ARE STARTING TO OVERHEAT AND MELT. I'VE REPLACED THE SOCKETS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116843

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

TAILLIGHTS CONTINUE TO WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, THEY HAVE BEEN FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

10115996

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

TAIL/BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2000 SATURN LW2 INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN MARCH 2000. THEY HAVE ALWAYS WORKED WHEN THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER, SO THE DEALER DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114726

Incident

Mar 5, 2005

MY 2000 SATURN LS2 CONTINUALLY SUFFERS FROM FAILING BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, I REMOVE THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND CLEAN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. SATURN REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS FAULTY DESIGN WITHOUT CHARGING ME FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT SATURN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPAIR THIS SAFETY DESIGN ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114492

Incident

Mar 22, 2005

BRAKE LIGHTS OFTEN GO OUT WHEN THE BULB IS GOOD. I HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE HOUSING ON ONE LIGHT, AND THE BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. YOU DON'T KNOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING UNTIL SOMEBODY TELLS YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113916

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE SPRING CONTACTS FOR THE LAMP SOCKET, WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT WHEN I PUT THE BRAKE ON WHILE DRIVING THAT THE LAMPS WILL WORK. I'VE RESEARCH OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. NUMBERS 10033374, 10102575, 562085, 10040856 THERE IS MORE, BUT THE POINT IS THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY DESIGN IS NOT WORKING. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. A RECALL OF THE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY WITH A RELIABLE DESIGN SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109874

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR. ALSO, FRONT OF VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE CAUSE OF THESE THINGS WERE UNDETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110907

Incident

Feb 1, 2004

CONSTANTLY HAVING PEOPLE TELL ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. I'VE REPLACED BULBS AND GET THEM WORKING FOR AWHILE AND NOW I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS A BAD DESIGN. THE BULB HOLDER CONTACTS THAT LIGHT UP THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I GET IT WORKING FOR AWHILE AND THEN SOMEONE TELLS ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR - HEATER/AC BLOWER QUIT WORKING AND TRUCK RELEASE SWITCH ON DASH BOARD QUIT WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10106324

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

Mileage

12,000 mi