2000 Saturn LS Other / unspecified Problems

I HAVE A 2000 SATURN LS 1 THAT I HAD BOUGHT IN JUNE 14 2012 @ THE US TRUCK & AUTO ON US. 31 SOUTH HERE IN TRAVERSE CITY MICHIGAN 49685. THE SALESPERSON'S NAME IS[XXX]. I WAS ON CRAIGS LIST LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE CAR AND I CAME UPON US TRUCK & AUTO AND WYANE WOULD NOT LET ME TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND THAT THE CAR IS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION UNTIL MARCH 14,2014 MY WHEEL CAME OFF AT A STOPLIGHT GETTING TO GO ON GREEN BUT DIDN'T MOVE FAR. AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR THE DOME LIGHT WASN'T WORKING AND A WIRE HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE DAYTIME HEAD LAMP AND BURNED OUT TAIL LIGHTS. SINCE I PURCHASED IT AT A CAR DEALERSHIP I TOOK THEY HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BUT LEARNED LATER THAT WAYNE DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE VEHICLES INSPECTED THAT HE PUTS ON HIS LOTS BUT SELLS LEMONS. HE WOULD RATHER SALE A LEMON OR A VEHICLE THAT WILL IN DANGER A PERSON THEN TO FOLLOW THE LAWS AND MAKE SURE THE VEHICLES ARE ROAD SAFE BEFORE HE SELLS THEM. I NEEDED A CAR BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS ISSUES WITH HER BACK AND LEGS PLUS WE LIVE 7 TO 8 MILES OUT OF TRAVERSE CITY, MI AND DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. MY FRIEND AND I LOVE THIS CAR THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE FAIRLY NEW. WE HAVE TRIED TO ASK FOR HELP GETTING THE CAR FIXED FROM CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BUT EVEN THEY BARELY HAVE THE MONEY TO HELP. THE BUSES HERE REFUSE TO WORK FOR US AND TAXIS ARE WAY TO MUCH MONEY TO TAKE US SHOPPING FOR FOOD OR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. PLEASE HELP US GET OUR CAR FIXED OR MAYBE EVEN A DIFFERENT 4 CYLINDER CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10598667

Incident

Mar 14, 2014

Mileage

253,625 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND STEERING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I TRAILERED THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS, VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW SUBFRAME AND I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND TO TRY FINDING ONE IN A SALVAGE YARD. I CONTACTED A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A FEW AND IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO PULL ONE. I GOT THE CALL TODAY SAYING THEY WERE SORRY BUT ALL OF THE FRONT SUBFRAMES ON THE SATURN L SERIES THEY HAVE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE NOT USABLE. I CONTACTED OTHER YARDS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO FIND A SALVAGE YARD DOWN SOUTH THAT HAD A USABLE SUBFRAME. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND NUMEROUS FORUM POSTS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC AND I'M FINDING IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD? FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT HAPPENS ON ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE L SERIES. THE IRONY IS THE REST OF THE CAR IS VERY CLEAN, NO RUST ON THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS NO CLEAR EXPLANATION WHY THE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE CORROSION PERFORATION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WITH NO OTHER RUST/CORROSION ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD HAVE HAD A BAD OUTCOME. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567105

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

80,150 mi

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED IN MY 2000 SATURN LS2 SEDAN. AS EXPECTED, I TOOK IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS I RECEIVED WAS QUITE INTERESTING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEFT BANK 02 SENSOR FAILURE (2 BANK SYSTEM) AND THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IF I DON'T REPLACE THE COMPUTER, I CAN CONTINUE TO EXPECT MAJOR COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE TO FAIL ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR BUT WANTS OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER! I REPORTED THE DEFECTS TO THE MANUFACTURER POINTING OUT THAT THIS IS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK FOR ME. I HAVE HAD EVERY SINGLE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM AND ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND REPAIRS DONE AT SATURN DEALERSHIPS SINCE THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, WITH ONE OR TWO EXCEPTIONS. WHENEVER I WOULD CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT PROBLEMS OR COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD IN THE LAST FEW RECENT YEARS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO ONE OF THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY CONCERNS WAS EVER MADE AND THE DRONES OR ROBOTS AT THE CALL CENTER KEPT REPEATING THE SAME MESSAGE ABOUT THE MILEAGE. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONCERNS AND THE MANUFACTURER'S HABIT OF IGNORING THE PROBLEMS DO NOT MAKE THEM GO AWAY. TOYOTA LEARNED THAT LESSON RECENTLY. SATURN OWNERS SHOULD NOT JUST BE THROWN OUT IN THE COLD BECAUSE GM HAS DECIDED THAT THEY ARE THE STEP CHILDREN OF THEIR PRODUCT LINE. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY IN "OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY" REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE THAN EVER SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE QUESTION OF THE DAY WOULD BE IF I GOT ALL RECOMMENDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WHY DOES THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY FALL APART? GM HAS EVIDENCE THAT I WAS A REGULAR AND DILIGENT CUSTOMER WHEN IT CAME TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. THEY NEED TO DO RIGHT BE US! *TR

NHTSA ID

10352900

Incident

Aug 21, 2010

Mileage

122,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITH NO WARNING. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN. I NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - AT A COST CLOSE TO WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. I SEE THAT THE 2001 CARS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL. WHY NOT THE 2000? *TR

NHTSA ID

10282021

Incident

Aug 27, 2009

Mileage

107,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 101 SOUTH WHEN ON AN INCLINE, MY MOTOR ON MY SATURN 2000 L SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAD IT HAULED TO MY SATURN DEALER, AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10129780

Incident

Jul 16, 2005

Mileage

69,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT APPROX. 35 MPH. I OWN A SATURN 2000 LS WITH A 3.0 V6 WITH 56,413 MI. MY SES LIGHT & BATTERY LGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING - ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME MY CAR DIED.MY CAR WOULD NOT START.ALL MY GAGES WERE NORMAL PRIOR TO THE CAR DYING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED.IT WAS TOWED TO PEP BOYS THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING SLIPPED AND THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS MELTED. THEY TOLD ME TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO FIX IT.THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD SATURN LS2 IN THE SHOP THIS WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SATURN OF ORCHARD PARK.SATURN HAD THE CAR FROM 06/28/05 UNTIL I PICKED IT UP ON 7/06/05.THE TECH TOLD ME THAT HE FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD LEAKED ONTO THE TIMING BELT - THE TIMING BELT SLIPPED CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TIMING - THIS CAUSED THE SEPENTINE BELT TO SNAP AND IT MELTED INTO THE PULLEYS. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION TO ME THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WATER PUMP. THERE WAS NO LEAKING OF FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME.THE ENGINE TEMP.GAUGE WAS NORMAL.I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED. IN THE END THE TECH REPLACED THE WATER PUMP (THIS IS THE SECOND WATER PUMP FOR THIS VEHICLE - THE FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED WHEN THE CAR HAD 19,958 MILES IN 2001). ALL PULLEY GROOVES WERE GROUND OUT. THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND BELTS WERE REPLACED. ENGINE STILL WOULD NOT START. ALL THE INTAKE AND SOME EXHAUST VALVES WERE DAMAGED. BOTH HEAD CYLINDER BANKS WERE REPLACED THE CAM AND TIMING WERE SET. THE CAR WAS ROAD TESTED. $ 4,313.05 LATER - I HAVE MY CAR BACK. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS REAR END COLLISION. SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME THING WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE - THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID

10127683

Incident

Jun 27, 2005

Mileage

56,412 mi

THIS 2000 SATURN LS1 WAS PURCHASED NEW 1/12/00. ON 3/20/01 AND 23655 MILES, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO CLUTCH PEDAL LOW TO THE FLOOR AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THEY REPLACED THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER. ON 5/28/02 AND 46235 MILES, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO SES LIGHT ON AND RUNNING ROUGH IN R, 1RST, AND 2ND GEAR. THEY REPLACED THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER. ON 11/29/04 AND 79906 MILES, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT HOLDING PRESSURE AND THE GEARS COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THEY REPLACED THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER. THE SAME PART IS FAILING EVERY 20 TO 30 THOUSAND MILES WITH NO EXPLANATION FROM THE SATURN SERVICE REPS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100817

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

Mileage

23,655 mi

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WEAR PAD INDICATORS FAILED.*MR THE INDICATORS FAILED TO PERFORM AS STATED ON PAGE 326 OF THE VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL. SPECIFICALLY THEY FAILED TO FIVE AN AUDIBLE WARNING SOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS HAD WORN OUT TO A DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVEL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10079703

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

2000 L-SERIES WAGON HAS CONTINUING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED 2/01 AND AGAIN ON 8/01 AT WHICH TIME THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS ALSO REPLACED. NOW ON 8/03 THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10033269

Incident

Feb 8, 2001

Mileage

9,011 mi

CONSUMER STATES A/C EXPERIENCED A FUNNY SMELL, DEALER FOUND COROBEAL INFESTATION IN EVAP VENTS, A/C MADE LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS A RUMBLING SOUND WHEN RECYCLE BUTTON IS ON AND THE FAN IS OFF, FAULTY VENTILATION IS CAUSING AIR TO COME FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566479

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

CONSUMER RETURNED FIVE TIMES TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CORRECTED FOR VIBRATION AND PLAY. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARANTY, HOWEVER THERE IS VIBRATION AND PLAY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BENT HUB. THIS REPLACEMENT STOPPED THE VIBRATION. THERE IS STILL CONTINUOUS PLAY. THE TIRES WERE FEATHERED AND CUPPED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND REAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AS WERE THE FOUR TIRES. *JG

NHTSA ID

8009549

Incident

Sep 15, 2001