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Saturn

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Saturn • Aura • Vue --- • Engine problems • Transmission problems • Airbags • Ignition interlock • Oozing goo • Miscellaneous woes • The Shamrock Saturn --- Recalls/News • Penske Scraps Plan to Buy Saturn; Brand Likely to Die • Penske Hopes to Drive Saturn Off GM's Lot • Saturn Climbing the Roadway to Heaven • Saturn Aura Gets a 5,000-Mile Road Test • NHTSA Probes Timing Chain Again • NHTSA Recalls Saturn L Series • NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Failures • Saturn Astra Named Safest Car Under $25,000 • Saturn Outlook Gets Top Marks from Consumer Reports • Saturn Targets Toyota, Honda for Side-by-Side Tests • Saturn Sky Prices Go Sky High • Saturn VUE Recalled • L-Series Cars Recalled

Saturn is a popular car in a low-key sort of way and has a reputation for delivering fairly good value for the money. However, before you rush right out to buy one, be aware that it is also prone to some very expensive, annoying and even dangerous shortcomings, painfully enumerated by our long-suffering readers.

Jeff of West Chester, PA November 6, 2009

I noticed a ticking coming from the timing chain area of the engine. My vehicle is a 2002 Saturn L100 with a delivery date of 11/28/2001. Saturn (corporate and the service center in West Chester, PA) told me that even though there was a recall for a problem with timing chain link separation (the service tech told me that I was lucky I brought it in because a link on the timing chain was about to break (I have the defective timing chain in my possession)), my vehicle was not on the recall list.

North Carolina petitioned to have all models covered in the recall but it was closed due to "further investigation of this matter would not be an efficient allocation of agency resources". The subject vehicles for this investigation were all 2000-2002 Saturn L-Series vehicles equipped with 2.2L L61 engines and built prior to May 2002 that were not included in recall 07V-519. My vehicle engine is a 2.2L L61 and I purchased it in November 2001.

Saturn said they would not assist me in anyway due to the mileage on the vehicle (91,475 miles) and because it was not on the recall list. I have collected 26 pages of documentation supporting situation and gave it to the service center to put in my file they hold. I was responsible for and paid 895.32 for the timing chain replacement parts/service that should have been covered.

Guengerich of Bradenton, FL November 2, 2009

The key got stuck in the on position on my daughters 2006 ion 3 and wouldn't shut off. I pulled the fuse to stop it then the next day took it to the dealer. Of course it was out of warranty but only 32,000 mi on it.(36 mo. expired) I even made her buy the extended warranty when she bought the car which cost 1,229.00 but guess what, it covers everything but the ignition key cylinder. cost to replace at dealer-519.00. This is a scam and another good reason I'll never buy a GM again (I currently own 4 and 3 out of 4, 2001-2006 have defects-2 with bad fuel sending units.) They can stick it along with the government who bailed them out and everyone I know is going to hear about this.They have no idea what quality and service means and they lie when they say they do.

Michael of Baldwin, MI October 27, 2009

This applies to General Motors in particular. I'm sure the following is the policy of other car mannufacturers. It is a policy which I see very little publicity given- anywhere. Some car companies HIDE epidemic major flaws in their cars, once the company discovers them and after a number of those flawed vehicles have been sold to the public.

One good example is the single overhead valve 1.9 liter engines in 1992 to 1997 Saturn cars. Saturn discovered, around 1995, that they had put over 100,000 of those engines,in their cars, onto the market. The engines had casting flaws in the cylinderhead - which caused the head to CRACK (anywhere from 5,000 miles to over 125,000 miles). The 100,000 figure was given to me over the phone by someone in customer service.

Upon discovering their epidemic COSTLY problem, the people at Saturn called a meeting and decided on the following course of action: "We will not announce this problem (send out a service notice) until June of 1999. That way we can get as many of those affected cars OVER the warranty period- thus we will not be responsible for covering those out-of-warranty cars."

In order to "look good"- Saturn extended the warranty on their cracked cylinder heads to 100,000 miles. A very large number of those heads cracked at over 100,000 miles. (ours was one of them)We suffered a 3750 loss. Our head cracked at 107,000 miles. Had Saturn announced the problem when they found out about it (1996)- A lot of owners might have had some recourse to getting those flawed heads replaced.

This problem of car manufacturers hiding flaws in their cars is not new. Saturn figured that this flaw was not a safety concern. They made that decision on their own. Therefore, they were not required to report it to the government. I would contend that the immediate loss of engine power due to the crack, would be a great safety concern while trying to pass a semi-truck on a two lane highway, not to mention other circumstances.

I hope your organization will look into this practice and give it a lot of publicity. Prospective buyers need to know about these epidemic flaws as soon as they become apparent. This might involve keeping in closer touch with auto repair shops, who see these epidemic problems sooner than the buying public. Also, keeping a watch on the internet for post from "victims".

Elizabeth of Detroit, MI October 26, 2009

I would like to know why my 2002 Saturn L-Series 4-dr. Vin#17440 (last 5#'s) wasn't recalled in 2008. Now my warranty expired and my timing chain has problems. Called Saturn customer service, they cannot help me. Car is no longer under warranty

KRISTIN of KENTON, TN October 24, 2009

Just starting college, i purchased a 2006 Saturn Ion. A month later i got out to run something in my house. when i got back in the car and put key in the ignition It wouldn' go in the key hole and the steering column locked up. Not only leaving me on a dark back road, roadside service never showed. I contacted the Saturn dealership in Jackson, TN and was told to have it towed to them. After they looked it over they decided it was a faulty ingnition switch.

Now here two years later, it happened again. This time it happened while the car was running. I contacted a saturn service employee and I was really disappointed in his lack of concern for the safety of his customers and not being able to help me. Not only am i female but was stranded on dark back road and really needed his help. Being that this is the second time this is happened, I feel that it should not be my responsibility to have to pay for this expensive repair.

I am a college student and can't afford this. I am a very good and careful driver and the only driver of this car. Its in excellent conditon, low mileage, and still looks brand new inside and out. I am mentioning this to let u know its not ragged out and bunch people driving it. I got online to see if maybe there was a recall on this. I did'nt find one but, much to my surprise i see hundreds of blog messages of people everywhere complaining of the exact same problems. How many complaints does it take before Saturn or GM looks into this?

I need your help in this matter. I can not afford this and feel i should not have to considering its second time and a common problem. Please direct me in the right direction as quickly as possible. I need my car for school and work. Since I was on way to work when it happened I lost wages, and was scared to death that it left me stranded on dark back road and they couldnt even so much as offer me free roadside assistance in the horrific situation I was in.

Greg of COCONUT CREEK, FL October 23, 2009

Like others that have reported it, I have a 2006 Saturn Ion2 that I bought in November 2005 that is now in the shop with a 510 repair bill for the ignition. The key is stuck in it and won't let the car shut off. It was also difficult to get the car to turn on. 510, hours and hours of wasted time and stranded dependents.

Allie of Argyle, WI October 15, 2009

We just found that our Saturn Ion 2 (2007) needs the electronic Power Steering replaced. This went out on me when I was driving on a curvy highway. It caused me to almost hit oncoming traffic. I had no warning at all. It just went that quick. Luckily I was able to fight the car to the side of the road. I had it looked at and was told that I have to pay almost 1000 to replace the steering column and part of the motor because it's electric and the computer needs repaired. Since the car is no longer under warranty due to the number of miles on it I'm required to pay all repairs. I have noticed complaints on many sites with the same issue with the Saturn. I feel this should be a defect!

Angel of Gainesville, FL October 15, 2009

They had a recall on the timing chains of several 2001 Saturn’s L200’s. According to GMs records the problem was supposed to be for cars with the VIN numbers between 1y504884 –to- 1y559453. Well, my Saturn’s VIN is 1y52----. I think my vehicle falls under that category, but “NO!!!” According to GM, “not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.”

Well, isn’t just a coincidence that my vehicle is one of those that was “not involved,” even though I’m having the exact same problem that they are recalling the timing chain for!!! They figured this out because GM has a vehicle summary that doesn’t include this recall for my car.

Now I would think that Saturn or GM would at least take the time to physically review the vehicle and make sure that there wasn’t a mistake in their system and the vehicle really is part of the recall, but no, they refuse to even look at it. They stick to the “fact” that my vehicle was not part of the recall on GM’s computer program (Global Connect). This is the reason people should not buy Saturn or GM vehicles. When it comes to basic things like even providing good and reasonable customer care, they just suck. How could I expect to have a good vehicle if I can’t get good customer service?

kevin of East Bethel , MN October 12, 2009

2002 saturn L200 driving home . timing chain broke. left us in the middle of the highway. at 10:30 at night. dealer ship in moundsview said didnt know of any problems with timing chains in these cars.this is a saturn dealership. we went on line , found alot of people having problems with this car. timing chains are a crucial part of vehicle, wish we had known about problem. towing 150.00 diagnostics 200.00 parts 350.00 still not fixed yet. 700.00 for temporary car.

terry of carleton place , ON October 10, 2009

My transmition went @ 99,176 kms oct-09-2009 . According to the gm vehicle inquiry shows that I am 2 weeks past the power train warranty

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