2002 Saturn LS Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. WHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LEAKAGE SEEMED TO COME FROM THE TUBE, BUT WAS NOT COMPLETELY SURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11073072

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A KUMHO MOHAVE TIRE R/S 195/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DOT INFORMATION WAS NOT LISTED ON THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10596731

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

THE STEERING WAS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY WHICH MADE THE CAR UNSTABLE AND SCARY TO DRIVE SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME ALL THAT HELD THE SUBFRAME TOGETHER WAS SOME RUSTY PARTS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD CRASH IF IT HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. I KNOW I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT THEY SALT THE ROADS BUT THERE IS NO REASON A 9 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE A SUBFRAME THAT HAS FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434120

Incident

Nov 3, 2011

Mileage

109,200 mi

INITIAL INDICATION WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE AT 50-65 MPH, BUT NO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. SUSPECTED WHEEL WEIGHT FELL OFF. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, BEGAN TO NOTICE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT. NOW THOUGHT CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LAST DAY, STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE AT 10 O-CLOCK POSITION FOR CAR TO STAY STRAIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED OUT AND SPLITTING WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT ATTACHMENT OCCURS. MECHANIC CONFIRMED PROBLEM. MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 112,500. PLAN TO TAKE CAR OFF ROAD AND DONATE TO CHARITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392371

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

112,500 mi

2002 SATURN L-100 SEDAN. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM CONNECTS. FAILURE HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT SO THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR CRASH. FAILURE TOOK OUT RIGHT INNER CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT. WHEEL WELL LINER AND FENDER ALSO DAMAGED. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PART. NEW CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262933

Incident

Mar 21, 2009

Mileage

49,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED, THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHTS DIMMING. THE TECHNICIANS AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP ARE NOTHING BUT RUDE. THEY DONT FIX THE PROBLEMS YOU BRING THE CAR IN FOR AND YOU END UP HAVING TO TAKE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY OR EVEN SOMETIMES THAT SAME EVENING FOR A REPAIR THAT WASNT DONE PROPERLY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD CAR BUT IT HAS BEEN CONSTANT TROUBLE AND IS CONSTANTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ID

10126779

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

1. UNKNOWN, 2.CREAKING, GROANING FROM CRADLE AREA 3. DEALER LUBED CRADLE BUSHINGS, ON 4 SEPERATE OCCASIONS, RECURRING PROBLEM, SAFTEY CONCERNS ABOUT CRADLE MOVEMENT OR FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10098113

Incident

Feb 28, 2002

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SKIP AROUND ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN IN USE. THE DEALER HAS SERVICED THE WIPERS SEVERAL TIMES BUT CAN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM THE WEATHERSTRIP ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS DISCOLORED. THE LF SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER KNOB WAS MISSING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASH RATTLED AROUND THE VENT AREA WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING NOISE AGAINST PRIMARY WEATHERSTRIP. THE WINDSHIELD WASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE HOLE WAS PLUGGED. TECHNICIAN REMOVED AND CLEANED THE WASHERS. THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE NOISE IN THE MORNING DURING THE FIRST COUPLE OF STOPS. THE CONSUMER INITIATED A LEMON LAW CLAIM WITH THE BBB REGARDING THE DEALERS INABILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONSUMER'S CLAIM WAS DENIED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074230

Incident

Dec 28, 2002

WHILE BACKING UP, THE ENTIRE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FELL OFF, DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED GOING FORWARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE OCCURRED. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT PLACE OF PURCHASE DISCOVERED AN INDENTATION ON A FIBERGLASS CROSS MEMBER. THEY CLAIMED THAT CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT WHILE BACKING, EITHER AT TIME OF INCIDENT OR EARLIER, CAUSED SUFFICIENT DAMAGE TO FRONT END TO EVENTUALLY RESULT IN TOTAL FRONT END FAILURE. IN MY OPINION, AND EVEN ASSUMING CONTACT WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, DAMAGE WAS SO MINOR THAT ON ANY SAFELY BUILT VEHICLE, IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GONE UNNOTICED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038645

Incident

Sep 7, 2003

Mileage

13,600 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH A PIECE OF FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE RIM BROKE OFF, WHICH CAUSED 2 TIRE BLOW OUTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK. ALSO BOTH FRONT DOOR INSIDE HANDLES DO NO GO BACK INTO PLACE AFTER BEING USED, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, THE MOLDING ON DRIVER REAR DOOR WAS CHIPPED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8015203

Incident

Jul 25, 2002