2000 Saturn Saturn L Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Saturn Saturn L Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine342.9%
- Electrical228.6%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Driver assistance114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO FLUID FROM THE AC CONDENSER LINE HAS BEEN FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AC IS ON. AS MUCH AS A HALF INCH OF LIQUID HAS POURED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE BRIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE THERE HAS BEEN A SULFUR LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE FOR THE BRIGHTS IS THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THAT THESE RECALLS ARE NOW CLOSED. MY SATURN CASE NUMBER IS 71-777062859. *TR
NO-WARNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON 2000 SATURN WITH 4CYL 2.2 LITER ENGINE. THIS SATURN HAS VIN NUMBER: VIN AND IS OUTSIDE THE PREVIOUS RECALL RANGE. THE CAR AS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING ON A DIVIDED LANE HIGHWAY AT CONSTANT 55 MPH SPEED IN ROCKTON ILLINOIS IN GOOD WEATHER. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RESULTED REQUIRING NEW HEAD AND OTHER MAJOR PARTS. REFERENCE ONGOING INVESTIGATION NUMBER NHTSA DP08002. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS NO-WARNING FAILURE COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN SUB ZERO WEATHER IN THE COUNTRY NEAR MY HOME IN WINTER. THIS FAILURE MEANS NO HEAT IN THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY AND DEATH. I URGE YOU TO REQUIRE RECALL OF ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE DEFECT AND TO CONFIRM THE REPAIR FIXES THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO FLUID FROM THE AC CONDENSER LINE HAS BEEN FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AC IS ON. AS MUCH AS A HALF INCH OF LIQUID HAS POURED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE BRIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE THERE HAS BEEN A SULFUR LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE FOR THE BRIGHTS IS THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THAT THESE RECALLS ARE NOW CLOSED. MY SATURN CASE NUMBER IS 71-777062859. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 SATURN IT CAUGHT FIRE TWICE FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEALERSHIP REVIEW OF CAR DURING OIL MAINTENANCE INDICATED DETERIORATION OF CRADLE ASSEMBLY - REPAIR COST $1153 - WIFE COMPLAINED OF NOISE IN FRONT END - REVIEWED WITH TEST DRIVE AND CAR DROVE STRAIGHT BUT DIPPED RIGHT AT BRAKING AND DIPPED LEFT AT ACCELERATION - VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED COMPLETE RUST OUT OF CRADLE AT FRONT CONNECTION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT WHEEL - INSUFFICIENT METAL REMAINED FOR EVEN MINIMAL SUPPORT - BRACKET COULD BE MOVED BY HAND. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED CAUSE TO BE LOCATION OF EXHAUST SYSTEM PARALLEL TO AND TOO CLOSE TO CRADLE CAUSING CONTINUOUS HEATING OF CRADLE ACCELERATING THE DETERIORATION OF THE STEEL CRADLE. EXHAUST LOCATION AND CRADLE EXIST IN FACTORY ASSEMBLED LOCATION. THIS MUST BE A CONCERN WITH ANY AUTO OF THIS TYPE L SERIES WITH 6 CYLINDER- 24 VALVE - 4 DOOR - YEAR 2000 ) SUGGEST IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS THIS IS A TICKING TIME BOMB READY TO EXPLODE - THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE EXHAUST WITH OUT INSTALLATION OF A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT FRAME AND CRADLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO FLUID FROM THE AC CONDENSER LINE HAS BEEN FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AC IS ON. AS MUCH AS A HALF INCH OF LIQUID HAS POURED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE BRIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE THERE HAS BEEN A SULFUR LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE FOR THE BRIGHTS IS THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THAT THESE RECALLS ARE NOW CLOSED. MY SATURN CASE NUMBER IS 71-777062859. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .