2001 Saturn LS Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE KEY REMOVED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IT ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS DESTROYED. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AS WELL. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CRASH AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST HIM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) (00V344000) BUT THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10371848

Incident

Dec 9, 2010

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LW300 SERIES. THE TRANS AXLE SHIFT CABLE CABLE SLIPPED OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND THE TRANS AXLE LEVER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK THE TRANS AXLE CAUSED IT TO REMAIN IN NEUTRAL MODE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE HER FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF; HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO INDICATE THAT IT WAS IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL #00V344000, POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) AND THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS $560. A COMPLAINT WAS ALSO FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,101.

NHTSA ID

10282854

Incident

Aug 17, 2009

Mileage

54,101 mi

I OWN AN 2001 SATURN L-33, WITH 38,280 MILES. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE SERVICE LIGHT (NOT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARSHLY. ON 04-30- 2009, I HAD STARTED THE CAR, WHICH HAD NO BEEN USED THAT DAY, I WAS SITTING SOMEWHAT SIDEWAYS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TALKING TO MY FATHER, WHEN THE AUTO WHEN THE AUTO WENT INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF, AND DRAGGED ME ACROSS THE STREET, HITTING A BLOCK WALL. I GOT UP AND INTO THE AUTO, AND NOTICED THE SHIFT LEVER WAS STILL IN "PARK". I FOUND A WEBSIGHT "THE SATURN FORUM" WHEREIN OTHER SATURN L-300 OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON ETC. AS FAR AS I KNOW, SATURN HAS NOT SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN, OR RE-CALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE DUE TO "PINCHED" WIRING GOING TO THE "TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. I AM HESITANT IN TAKING THE AUTO TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AS I WAS INJURED, AND I MIGHT RE-TAIN LEGAL COUNCIL IN THIS MATTER. I THINK SATURN SHOULD BE NOTIFYING PEOPLE OF THE POSSIBLE HAZARD INVOLVED IN THIS AUTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272555

Incident

Apr 30, 2009

Mileage

38,105 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L200. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EASILY REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO VEHICLES AND CAUSED $2,320 IN DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A SAFETY DEFECT. THE SATURN DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN OLD STEERING COLUMN AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE KEY HAS BEEN USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED HE LEFT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, IN THOUGH HE HAD REMOVED THE KEY. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10213288

Incident

Nov 26, 2007

Mileage

66,900 mi

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON U.S. 301 AT 9:00 A.M. ON OUR WAY HOME IN OUR 2001 SATURN (L100) COUPE. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAD STARTED WHILE DRIVING HOME. WHILE GOING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR QUICKLY LOST POWER AND FORCED US TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE SHAKEN BY THE THOUGHT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN IF WE WERE IN AN AREA WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO FLAG DOWN A PASSING TOW TRUCK TO HELP US OUT. THE ROAD SERVICE UNIT DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FAMILY AT HOME. THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN APART AND EXAMINED. THE FIRST EXAMINATION DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPLAIN THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I SAID YES, ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I THOUGHT WITH THE LOW MILES (58,767) ON THE CAR, THE WORK WOULD BE WORTH WHILE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A DAMAGED HEAD AND BENT VALVES. WHAT LOOKED LIKE A $1000.00 TIMING CHANGE REPLACEMENT QUICKLY WENT TO SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE! I CALLED THE SATURN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT WARRANTIES THAT WENT WITH THE CAR AND WHAT HELP THEY COULD PROVIDE. THEY EXPLAIN THAT THEY COULDN'T CONSIDER A WARRANTY WITHOUT FIRST EXAMING THE CAR IN THEIR OWN SHOP AND HAVING ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS PROVIDED TO THEM. WITH THE ADDITIONAL TOWING FEES, EXAMINATION FEES FROM THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND NO GURANTEES FROM THE SATURN DEALER; I DECIDE TO ALLOW THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO THE WORK. THE FOLLOWING PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO THE 'PREMATURE" FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN: HEAD, HEAD GASKET, VALVE GASKET, FRONT COVER GASKET, TIMING CHAIN KIT, VALVES, BELT, SPARK PLUGS, WIRE SET, FILTER, OIL, AND ANTIFREEZE. THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $ 2,480.80. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW.

NHTSA ID

10192850

Incident

Jan 14, 2007

Mileage

58,767 mi

ON MARCH 17, 2006, MY WIFE AND I RETURNED HOME FROM SUPPER AROUND 8:45 PM. AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM, I HEARD A CRASH OUTSIDE. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT OUR SATURN HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORS YARD ACROSS THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION INSIDE THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK, YET THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD ALLOWED ME TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE. NO CAR SHOULD ALLOW A KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE CAR BEING IN PARK. AS YET, THE FAILURE HASN'T BEEN CORRECTED SINCE THE CAR IS STILL AT THE BODY SHOP.*JB

NHTSA ID

10153978

Incident

Mar 17, 2006

Mileage

71,500 mi

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

NHTSA ID

10007120

Incident

Feb 9, 2003

ON JUNE 11, 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW (2001) SATURN L-200 4-DOOR SEDAN AT SATURN OF CERRITOS, 18400 STUDEBAKER ROAD, CERRITOS, CA 90703. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED: ON 6-16-02, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON THE 405 FREEWAY TO WOODLAND HILLS, CA. THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO FAIL. I WAS ABLE TO 'LIMP' TO MY DESTINATION AND THEREAFTER HAD MY CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY, 15421 ROSCOE BLVD. SEPULVEDA, CA 91343 818-895-3800, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND THEREAFTER REPLACED THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER ON 6-17-02. THEREAFTER, ON 7-14-02, AGAIN ON THE 405 FWY., THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED AGAIN. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH MANY, MANY TIMES AND THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY UNTIL (FOR THE 3RD TIME) ON8-3-02, UPON EXITING THE FWY., THE CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN. AFTER PUMPING THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES IT BEGAN TO PERFORM NORMALLY AGAIN. (NOTE: MY CAR WAS SERVICED ON 8-2-02 AT SATURN OF CERRITOS AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.) THEN ON 8-25-02, WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY, I TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT GEARS, HOWEVER IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE MY CLUTCH WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL! I HAD TO GRIND THE GEARS, AFTER PUMPING THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY, IT REGAINED 'LIFE', UNTIL 9-6-02,FRIDAY, ON MY HOME FROM WORK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO CLUTCH, I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE HOME IN 3RD GEAR, I MADE IT, FROM THERE I ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF CERRITOS WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS. THEY TOLD ME THEY ONLY MAKE 1 OUT OF EVERY 500 L-200'S WITH A 5PEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WILL APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU WITH REGARD TO THIS UNUSUAL AND FRUSTRATING SITUATION. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

767051

Incident

Sep 6, 2002

TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED BY DEALER AT 234 MILES. AT THIS TIME TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. AFFINITY AP, P205/65R15.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016691

Incident

May 1, 2001

CLUTCH / ENGINE VIBRATIONS FELT IN CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

756440

Incident

Nov 5, 2001

UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

899603

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

WHILE ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION IS HARSH OR FAILS TO SHIFT IMMEDIATELY, RESULTING IN CAR SURGING FORWARD. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEALS AND PROBLEM DIMINISHED SOME. PROBLEM THEN CAME BACK TO PRE-REPAIR STATE- TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

753328