34 of the 708 complaints about the 2001 Saturn LS are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,000 miles.
34
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT WAS WRONG, IT JUST STOPPED WITH NO WARNING, RIGHT BEFORE IT STOPPED IT MADE A NOISE UNFAMILIAR TO ME BUT IT SOUNDED AS IF THE BRAKES HAD FALLEN OFF OR SOMETHING. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED AT MY OWN COST. I FOUND A MECHANIC THAT WOULD COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. APPARENTLY MY TIMING CHAIN WAS TO LOOSE AND KEPT HITTING SOMETHING ELSE AND OVER TIME THE CHAIN BROKE AND WHAT IT WAS HITTING WAS DAMAGED SO I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH AND BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE DROPPED TO GET TO REPLACE, IT COST ME $1800.00 OUT MY POCKET ALSO THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ALSO. IF THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10578865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I BRAKE HARD TO AVOID AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK, THE CAR WOULD ROLL. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRAME HAD BUCKLED, CAUSING THE CV JOINT TO FALL OUT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GO OFF THE ROAD. ALL I DID WAS HIT THE BRAKES AND THE FRAMED COLLAPSED IN THE AREA OF RIGHT FRONT A-ARM.
NHTSA complaint #10547547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TIRES RUBBED AGAINST THE VEHICLE WHENEVER HE DROVE IN REVERSE AT A LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING SHARPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #10360114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MY 2001 L200 SATURN HAD A PROBLEM WITH DASH LIGHTS/AND GAUGES DIMMING AND AT TIMES I HAD NO INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS....IT ENDED UP BEING A MAIN MODULE WHICH COST ME $595. SEEMS LIKE READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE THEY HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS IS A SATURN PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS FOR FREE. I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, STRUTS FRONT/REAR...STABILIZER REAR BAR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE.....I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. I HAVE PUT MORE MONEY IN THIS THAN MY OTHER TWO SATURN'S WHICH I HAD ONLY NORMAL THINGS; TIRES, BRAKES, ETC. I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT THIS 3RD ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10329460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS USED 2001 SATURN IN 2001. I HAVE PUT 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, STEERING RACK, STABILIZER BAR, FRONT STRUTS, HAD A HEAD GASKET MAJOR PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER NEW SATURN'S WITH NO PROBLEMS...I AM ROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. ALSO MY DASH LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN SECURITY LIGHT FLASHED ON AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED ALSO MY TEMP GAUGE AND GAS GAUGE WOULD GO FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND THEN BACK QUICKLY. I HAD TO HAVE A MODULAR REPLACED. AGAIN, I AM SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THIS I HAD TWO INLINE FUEL FILTERS AS THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING...SPEED WENT DOWN AND DOWN AND NOTHING. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #10320056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, A STREAM OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRST TIME WAS TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE MOST RECENT WAS ON JUNE 5, 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED AND THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERCHANGEABLY. THE PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,979. UPDATED 09/05/07.
NHTSA complaint #10192517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2001 SATURN 200L KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN ENGINE, STEERING SHOOK VIGOROUSLY WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER ASSUMER THE PROBLEM WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF BUT IT DIDN'T. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WA TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEEL BALANCING. THE ADJUSTMENT WERE MADE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TOT HE CONSUMER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. SEVERAL MONTHS WENT BY AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. SOMEONE SUGGESTED TOT HE CONSUMER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER . ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO NOT START. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE TIE ROD EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS THE NOISE THE CONSUMER HEARD WHEN SHE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ON DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. NONE OF THESE FAILURES WERE COVERED BY THE VEHICLE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED YHE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10171209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I PURCHASED THIS 2001 SATURN LS 4 CYLINDER SEDAN OFF-LEASE CAR FROM MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER IN JULY OF 2004 WITH APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE PURCHASE THAT IT RECEIVED A NEW RACK AND PINION, NEW FRONT BRAKES AND NEW FRONT TIRES AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NOW HAD THREE RACK AND PINIONS FAIL AND THE FOURTH ON HAS JUST BEEN INSTALLED. THE CAR HAS 76,000 MILES ON AT THIS TIME AND THE 55,000 MILES I HAVE PUT ON IT IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY HIGHWAY MILES. I AM NOW THINKING ABOUT CONTACTING GM CORPORATE DIRECTLY. THIS IS GETTING COSTLY AND RIDICULOUS!
NHTSA complaint #10158091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
DEFECT IN STEERING/ BROUGHT TO DEALER/ REPLACED GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND FRONT TORSION BAR LINKS.
NHTSA complaint #10136379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
NOISE FROM STEERING/ BROUGHT TO SATURN/ REPLACED STEERING GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10136377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I HAVE HAD CONSTANT VIBRATION THRU THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY SATURN DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND IS STILL AN ISSUE. THIS MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO HANDLE OR MANUVER ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10124194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING LEAK...CAUSES WHINING WHEN TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #10124195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
UPPER PORTION OF STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY UNDER SLIGHT PRESSURE JUST ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER SUFFERED ANY COLLISION DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10120156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
THE RACK GEAR ON POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION STEERING BECOMES FAULTY AND MAKES FOR A BIG POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND ALSO MAKES FOR HARD STEERING. NO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE, HOWEVER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
NHTSA complaint #10118459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE RACK GEAR ON POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION STEERING BECOMES FAULTY AND MAKES FOR A BIG POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND ALSO MAKES FOR HARD STEERING. NO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE, HOWEVER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
NHTSA complaint #10118459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
THE RACK GEAR ON POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION STEERING BECOMES FAULTY AND MAKES FOR A BIG POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND ALSO MAKES FOR HARD STEERING. NO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE, HOWEVER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
NHTSA complaint #10118459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK GEAR ON POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION STEERING BECOMES FAULTY AND MAKES FOR A BIG POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND ALSO MAKES FOR HARD STEERING. NO INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE, HOWEVER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
NHTSA complaint #10118459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AT HIGH SPEEDS (I.E. FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65-75) BECOMES VERY INOPERABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. LEAKS PREVENT FURTHER USE OF POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10116404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AT HIGH SPEEDS (I.E. FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65-75) BECOMES VERY INOPERABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. LEAKS PREVENT FURTHER USE OF POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10116404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AT HIGH SPEEDS (I.E. FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65-75) BECOMES VERY INOPERABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. LEAKS PREVENT FURTHER USE OF POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10116404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD END- DRIVERS SIDE. LSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH LEFT BRAKE LIGHT- REPLACED BULB AND KEEPS GOING OUT IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP NOW ENGINE AND COIL PACK BLOWN-- ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON TO ALERT OF IMPENDING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10116432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
FAILURE OF THE STEERING IMMEDIATE SHAFT. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE. THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE U-JOINT WAS BOUND UP, STUCK OR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10099756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MORE STEERING/ SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. STEERING STILL HAD VIBRATION AND NOISE PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER DEALER PERFORMED REAR SUSPENSION MODIFICATION, REPLACED REAR STRUTS, FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS, ALL FOUR TIRES, REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (REDESIGNED), PRELOAD SPRING *(REDESIGNED) AND TIE RODS. THIS TIME DIAGNOSED AS FAILED FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND FAILED FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING/ HUB ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10088810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE UNDER WARRENTY MY SATURN L200 HAD "GROWLILNG NOISE:"WHILE STEERING, SATURN FIXED POWER STEERING. APPROX 18MO LATER GROWLING NOISE RETURNED AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE, NOT COVERED, COST $1400. CAR HAD ONLY 50000MILES ON AT THE TIME OF STEERING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10086339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
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.
STEERING
STEERING IS IN CONTINUOUS NEED OF ALIGHTMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10058196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. 'SOUNDS' LIKE IT COMES FROM TIRE AREA. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATES THAT STRUT IS LEAKING & CAR REQUIRES NEW RACK & PINION STEERING AT 41K MILES. PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10051426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.