16 of the
631 complaints about the 2002 Saturn LS are about the
braking system — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
53,000 miles.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 30 MPH ON CITY STREET, ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. COASTED VEHICLE TO A SIDE STREET & STOPPED. HAD CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. WE WERE QUOTED $1700 BILL TO REPAIR DUE TO BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. RESEARCHED RECALLS AND FOUND THAT NHTSA HAD A RECALL #07V519000 FOR 2001 SATURN L100. THIS SEEMS GROSSLY SHORTSIGHTED ON THE PART OF NHTSA, AS THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF DUPLICATE COMPLAINTS. THIS PROMPTED THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CONSUMERS COUNCIL TO ISSUE A DEFECT PETITION FOR 2000-2003 SATURN L SERIES WITH THE 2.2L ENGINE WITH THE NHTSA. IT IS SURPRISING HOW LITTLE EFFORT THE NHTSA HAS MADE IN LIGHT OF THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11257582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 117,000 milesGlendale, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 complaint #11073072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 168,000 milesBaltimore, MDFire
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS ENGINE POWER BEGAN TO REDUCE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKES, FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10482888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesColorado Springs, CO
PARKING BRAKE
MY SATURN (MANUAL 5 SP) HAS OVER 202,000 MILES AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES ARE FROZEN/BROKEN. I CANNOT CURRENTLY FIND ANY REPLACEMENT/AFTER MARKET.
NHTSA complaint #10450113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesColorado Springs, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY SATURN (MANUAL 5 SP) HAS OVER 202,000 MILES AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES ARE FROZEN/BROKEN. I CANNOT CURRENTLY FIND ANY REPLACEMENT/AFTER MARKET.
NHTSA complaint #10450113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesJoliet, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 SATURN 200L SUDDENLY GAVE OUT. THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AFTER PUMPING THEM SEVERAL TIMES, THEY CAME UP A LITTLE. I THOUGHT THE BRAKES NEEDED CHANGING, SO I HAD THAT DONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. I GO TO STOP AND SUDDENLY THERE ARE NO BRAKES. THEY ALWAYS WORK OK AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND I SEE ON MYCARSTATS.COM THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10347883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesHutchinson, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1) EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: THE CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH 15K AND NOW HAS 56K. REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NOTHING TO SIGNAL A PROBLEM. 2) THE FAILURE: DRIVING 55-60 MPH BREAK PETAL PRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. WE DROVE TO A NEAR BY MECHANIC WHICH WASN'T OPEN. TURNED THE CAR OFF, STILL NOT BREAKS. DROVE 15 MILES BACK TO TOWN USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. PULLED THE CAR UP TO A MECHANIC. TURNED CAR OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, BRAKES WORKED FINE. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PADS, NOTHING THAT WOULD LEAD HIM TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP. 3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: SATURN SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BREAK SYSTEM. THEY SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE WE DID NOT CHANGE THE FLUIDS AT 42K. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE US ANYTHING IN WRITING SAYING THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FAIL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10236140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,100 milesKutztown, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH., THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND, FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL MANY TIMES, THE BRAKES RESPONDED AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10163971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,614 milesRichmond, TXCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HER HEAD A ROARING IN THE FRONT END. DRIVE SHIFT CAUSED CONSUMER TO WRECK 2002 SATURN. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIRES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED CORRECTING THE REAR CAM AND SETTING THE FRONT AND REAR TOE. A COLLAPSED MOTOR MOUNT CAUSED ROUGH IDLE. THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. LEFT REAR HUB BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10143226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesFarmingdale, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200 THAT HAD COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH , AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES ABOUT 4 TIMES BEFORE HAD ANY BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE 40 MILES EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS INCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALER EXAMINED THE BRAKE PADS/ROTORS/ CALIPERS, BUT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ONLY CLUE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO,THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH RINGING IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE REAR WHEELS, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING AND THE NOISE STOPPED FOR A FEW DAYS. THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURE. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED. THEY CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL AND THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10133870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesWales Center, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, PEDAL FADED"AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED PRESSURE CAME BACK . HOWEVER, FADING WAS STILL NOTICEABLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND ENGINE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. THIS DID NOT APPEAR TO HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON 2 DIFFERENT OCASSIONS , AND TODAY WILL BE THE THIRD TIME. DEALER HAS NOTED IN THE PAST THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THIS OCCURRED, NO CODES IN COMPUTER, NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND NO EVIDENCE. THE BRAKES SIMPLY DID NOT EXIST AT TIMES. *OSUMER INSISTED NOTE WERE MADE OF A SIMILAR COMPLAINT THAT HE WISHED TO HAVE NOTED IN HIS COMPLAINT AS WELL. THE EXISTING ODI#10095767.
NHTSA complaint #10129185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesLavergne, TN
PARKING BRAKE
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 complaint #10126779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesNEW Hartford, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A YEAR 2002 SATURN MODEL L200 WITH 47000 MILES ON IT. ON FIVE OCCASIONS, WHEN I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE, I HAVE NO BRAKE PRESSURE, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IF I PUMP THE BRAKES I CAN THEN BUILD UP PRESSURE, BUT THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT IS USUALLY AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (55 MPH) FOR BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MINUTES. THERE ARE NO WARNING OR BRAKE FAIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND NO CODE IS STORED IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER. THEN THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES, OR AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND SHUTTING IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE, AS BY THE TIME I GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE PROBLEM IS GONE. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TWICE TO NO AVAIL. THERE ARE NO FLUID LEAKS. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS IN FINE CONDITION BUT CLEARLY THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AS OF THE LAST OCCURENCE THE DEALER HAS RUN OUT OF IDEAS AND HAS TOLD ME THEY HAVE A CALL INTO THE SATURN FACTORY TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO NEXT, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER IN SEVERAL DAYS. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES THE INSTALLATION OF A COMPLETELY NEW BRAKE SYSTEM, AS LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THIS, BUT SATURN NEEDS TO TAKE AN INVOLVEMENT NOW AND FIX THIS!
NHTSA complaint #10095767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pompano Beach, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
NHTSA complaint #10074230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesCharlotte, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE ROTORS ON MY 2002 SATURN L200 ARE SO THIN THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR ONLY HAS 40K MILES. I PAID OVER $1400 FOR A GM MAJOR GUARD PROTECTION AND JUST DISCOVERED THAT ROTORS ARE NOT COVERED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE ROTOR PROBLEM IS A GM DEFECT AND THAT GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE DEFECT FOR YEARS. GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR INCLUDE IT AS A COVERED PART IN THEIR GM PROTECTION PLANS.
NHTSA complaint #10056865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellefonte, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASSION WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 10-15 MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8000851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.