25 of the 708 complaints about the 2001 Saturn LS are about the braking system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.
25
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING DOWN IN CONGESTED MORNING TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. WITH ENGINE OFF, BRAKES HARD TO PUSH AND STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. IT JUST TURNED OVER. SHOP SAID TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED AND ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10860136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY DAUGHTER [XXX] WAS THE PASSENGER AND [XXX] WAS DRIVER. THE KIDS WENT FOR DRIVE AND WERE FOUND THE NEXT EARLY MORNING AROUND 6AM. THE CAR WAS SO BURNED AND DESTROYED THE KIDS COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED, AND ALL WHO WERE THERE QUESTIONED THE STRAIGHT TIRE TRACKS WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION OR OVER CORRECTION IN THE STEERING OF TIRE TRACKS, NO BRAKING IN THE COUNTY ROAD TRACKS, AND WITH FRACTURE AND DAMAGE OF THE SKULL AREA WE LATER WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! THE TRACKS WERE APPROX 150 YRDS LONG AND WENT AT AN ANGLE OF PERFECTION GRADUALLY POINTING TOWARDS A RAVINE THAT WOULD END BOTH OF THE KIDS LIVES. WE SENT A FORENSIC SPECIALIST TO LOOK AT CAR 2 MONTHS LATER AND WAS TOLD TO SAVE OUR MONEY ON FULL REPORT BECAUSE THE SPECIALIST SAID THE CAR WAS SO DESTROYED HE COULDN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS AS TO A CASE AGAINST GM. WITH NEW EVIDENCE ON GM THERE IS NO DOUBT TO ANYONE AT CRASH SITE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED! THE IGNITION SWITCH TESTIMONIALS WE HAVE SEEN AND READ BY SURVIVORS SPELL OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 01CAR SATURN THAT DAY THAT CLAIMED MY DAUGHTER [XXX] LIFE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10606044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RECALL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE, MOST OF THESE ISSUES ARE SAFETY RELATED. THIS AUTO IS MY SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORT. I HAVE A 2 MONTH OLD GRANDSON WHO LIVES WITH ME, AND I HAVE NO CLUE IF ANY OF THESE RECALL ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED, ASIDE FROM THE "BRAKE LAMPS ADAPTER" WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS EXCEPT FOR THE ROOFLINE ANTI-COLLISION LAMPS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET A HARD COPY OF RECALL ITEMS AS BEING FIXED, HAVE BEEN MET WITH NO RESPONSE. I SPOKE TO A GM REP, WHO TOLD ME THE ISSUES WERE OVER 10 YEARS AND TO FILE A SUIT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. I HAVE NO MONEY TO DO THE WORK ORDERED BY THE FED, VIA NHTSA. THE TAILLAMPS ARE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR (AS THE INSERT WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE) THE AIRBAGS, HAVE EITHER TWO TIMES THE "GENERANT" OR NO GENERANT AT ALL. I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL IGNITION COIL, OUT OF POCKET $165.00. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW GM CAN BE ALLOWED TO SKIRT/IGNORE RECALL ISSUES, AND THIS ONGOING BS, IS TAKING AWAY TIME THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT. GOD HELP SOMEONE AT GM, IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY GRANDSON IS IN ANY WAY HURT, AS A RESULT OF GM'S "[XXX]" ATTITUDE. I AM A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN (USARMY 101ST ABN DVN) AND MY PATIENCE IS FAST WANING! I WRITE TO YOU IN HOPES OF GETTING THESE ISSUES RESOLVED, OR AM I WASTING MY TIME, AS I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE. A WRITTEN RESPONSE WOULD BE OF SOME COMFORT, AS I'LL KNOW THAT SOMEONE BOTHERED TO READ MY RUNNING DIATRIBE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 9/25/2014
NHTSA complaint #10579159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, TAIL LAMPS HAD OVER HEATING ISSUE, NHTSA ISSUED RECALL ON 2 JUNE 2005, SATURN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, SAYING AUTO IS TO OLD. DATE FOR FIXING ISSUE IS 10 YEARS FROM DATE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. WAS TOLD BY A SATURN "CUSTOMER CARE REP." THAT ADAPTERS WERE INSTALLED IN FEB 2009. AUTO WASN'T REGISTERED IN 2009, AND NO ADAPTERS HAVE EVER BEEN INSTALLED. I AM A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN LIVING ON A VERY MEAGER MONTHLY INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THESE LAMPS. I AM DRIVING THIS AUTO WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, ASIDE FROM ANTI-COLLISION LAMP AT TOP OF REAR WINDSHIELD. I HOPE THIS LETTER HAS MORE IMPACT THAN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AS OF TODAY. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
NHTSA complaint #10563367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2001 SATURN L200 4 CYLINDER SEDAN. IT HAS JUST OVER 70K MILES ON IT. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON OR BEFORE SCHEDULE. ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, THE LIGHTS STARTED DOING WEIRD THINGS. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THAT ISSUE WAS RESOLVED (A RECALL). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 3 TIMES. ON 3/30/06 I WAS IN RUSH HOUR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY PASSING A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. MY CAR JUST DIED (NO LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING THE ENGINE STOPPED, JUST NO POWER). THANK GOD I GOT TO THE RIGHT LAND. I SAT THERE FOR AN HOUR AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR TOWED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. I HAVE SPEND $200 JUST TO FIND THAT OUT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT OTHER DAMAGE HAS RESULTED. SATURN IS ACTING IGNORANT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT TELL ME ANYTHING UNLESS I HAVE IT AT A SATURN DEALERSHIP. (ANOTHER TOW CHARGE AND DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE). I SAW THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND WANTED TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AFTER THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THAT SATURN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10154517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL FROM THE RT REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN FROM THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE. HUBCAP VERY WARM AFTER A SHORT TRAVEL DISTANCE, BACK BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND. WENT TO USE PARKING BRAKE, COULD NOT LIFT UP BRAKE. PARKING BRAKE INOPERABLE. TOOK TO GET REPAIRED, WAS TOLD THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS BOUND UP, DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING THE CONNECTION CABLES TO BIND UP BOTH REAR BRAKES, UNABLE TO BE RELEASED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE SHOES TO MELT ON BOTH REAR WHEELS, CAUSING THE PAD TO RUB AGAINST THE ROTOR AND, METAL TO METAL, HEAT UP AND CAUSE BURNING SMELL. NEED TO HAVE NEW BACK ROTORS, BRAKES SHOES, BRAKE PADS, PARKING BRAKE FIXED, NEW CABLES, AND SPRING CLIPS REPLACED. ALL PARTS NEED TO BE NEW AS THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED DUE TO BRAKE HANGUP. BACK ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACE 3 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE SO FAR.
NHTSA complaint #10146815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
REAR BRAKES FAILED AND ENTIRE UNITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER REAR DISK BRAKES INOPERABLE
NHTSA complaint #10124232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPHAND UPON TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE WOULD ALWAYS OVER POWER THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. ALSO, PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, AND MAKE CORRECTIONS WHERE NEEDED.
NHTSA complaint #10107054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
REAR DRUM BRAKES LOCKED UP AFTER REVERSING FROM GARAGE ON A COLD MORNING-- BRAKES DID NOT DISENGAGE AND BURNED AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILESMPH. DEALER DETERMINED EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES HAD CORRODED AND DID NOT RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #10104189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICE A BURNING RUBBERY SMELL. STOP THE CAR AND CHECK ALL TIRES, THE LEFT DRIVER REAR IS EXTREMELY HOT AND SMELLY, THE OTHERS ARE NOT. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW BRAKE CALLIPER AS IT WAS DISINIGRATING AND THE SMELL WAS FROM THE BRAKE PADS GETTING SO HOT, THEY WERE MELTING. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS CHANGED DO TO THE FACT THE CALIPER BINDING LOCKED ONTO BRAKE SLIDER AND WOULD NOT FREE UP. HAD I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT LOCKED UP, IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN SO HOT, IT WOULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE WHEEL WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10096276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
CONSTANT BRAKE DUST, UNUSUAL WEAR ON ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, AFTER JUST UNDER 40000.ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED MUST BE REPLACED, DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES WEAR PROBLEM ON L SERIES BUT GM WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE TO COST AT THIS POINT. REAR TIRE WEAR DEALER DOES ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND DID REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND SHIM KIT FOR CHPPED UP REAR TIRES BUT HAS NOT DONE ACROSS BOARD RECALL ?
NHTSA complaint #10078802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
MY CAR IS 2001 L 200 AND I HAVE HAD NUMERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH EMER. BRAKE AND STEERING. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUAT MOUNT, AND BRAKE ROTERS. I HAVE ONLY 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE HIGH REPAIR BILLS. WITH NO HELP FROM SATURN AS OF YET. I STILL AM TRYING.
NHTSA complaint #10062622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
MY CAR IS 2001 L 200 AND I HAVE HAD NUMERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH EMER. BRAKE AND STEERING. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUAT MOUNT, AND BRAKE ROTERS. I HAVE ONLY 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE HIGH REPAIR BILLS. WITH NO HELP FROM SATURN AS OF YET. I STILL AM TRYING.
NHTSA complaint #10062622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM WITH BRAKES AND WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10061361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES, I GOT A STATE INSPECTION OF MY CAR. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WORN, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. IN ADDITION TO BEING WORN DOWN, THE BRAKE PAD SEEMS TO HAVE NOT FIT PROPERLY AND A "LIP" REMAINED ON THE ROTORS SUCH THAT EVEN IF THE WEAR HAD NOT BEEN SO SEVERE, THE ROTORS WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE NEW BRAKE PADS WOULD WORK WITH THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10060095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AT 45/50 MPH THREE FUNCTIONS FAILED TO OPERATE SIMULTANEOUSLY; ACCELERATOR/BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10040706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY CAR HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS IN NEED OF FRONT BRAKES. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE BRAKES & THE ROTORS WEAR DOWN TOGETHER. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ROTORS EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10030300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
MY CAR HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS IN NEED OF FRONT BRAKES. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE BRAKES & THE ROTORS WEAR DOWN TOGETHER. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ROTORS EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10030300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY CAR HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS IN NEED OF FRONT BRAKES. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE BRAKES & THE ROTORS WEAR DOWN TOGETHER. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ROTORS EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10030300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BOTH FRONT WHEEL ROTORS TOTALLY SHOT BEYOND RE-SURFACING AT 27.565 MILES ON 2001 SATURN L300 AUTO. BACK BRAKES STILL AT 80%. INFERIOR ROTORS WITH TOO SOFT METAL-A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO ALL OWNERS...AT THIS MILEAGE IT IS ABSURD-ROTORS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100,000+ MILES..MFG REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT-I HAD TO PAY... *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING BATERY AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND PULLED OUT ON ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN PREMATURELY, THE LEFT SIDE BRAKE BULB WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8018564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING ROTORS WILL WARP, CAUSING FRONT END TO VIBRATE END WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD ROTORS REPLACED 3TIMES; HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #8012848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT SATURN DEALERS ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP TURNED THE ROTORS AND THEN A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER REPLACED THEM. I RETURNED TO THE FIRST DEALER A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND AGAIN TURNED THE ROTORS. THE ROTORS ARE AGAIN STARTING TO WARP. I GET THE SAME PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPING. WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET, THE REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP SUDDENLY, WHILE MAKING A MODERATE STOP. WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK UP, IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #762661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN SNOW OR ICE BRAKES LOCKS UP, AND SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO ZERO. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8006916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
POSSIBLE CHECK VALVE STICKING ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ASSIST WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.