12 of the
631 complaints about the 2002 Saturn LS are about the
tires — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
25,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A KUMHO MOHAVE TIRE R/S 195/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DOT INFORMATION WAS NOT LISTED ON THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10596731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2002 SATURN L200 LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB THE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OF THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10170127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,000 milesCheraw, CO
TIRES
CONSUMER TIRES MAKE NOISE AT 33898 MILES. *TS UPDATED 11/7/2005 - THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 15968 MILES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRE ROTATED REGULARLY. AT 30545 MILE THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE TIRES HAD BEGUN CUPPING DUE TO LACK OF ROTATION. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T NOTICE ANY CUPPING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF THE NEW TIRES SO HE COULD PURCHASED ANOTHER BRAND. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AND INSTALL THE SAME BRAND TIRES AS THE ORIGINAL. *NM UPDATED 11/02/05.
NHTSA complaint #10142134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesRichmond, TXCrash
TIRES
DT: THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES ,AND THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIRES. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK TO THE RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND JOINTS WHICH HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND AXLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW ROTORS AND MORE TIRES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE A ROARING SOUND LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE AS NOTED BY THE CONTACT. *AK UPDATE 1/11/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10140308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,199 milesHighland, CA
TIRES
MY SATURN LW300 HAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO CUPPING ON 11/20/03 OR 21,875 MILES. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS PUT OUT FOR THE SHIM KIT. ON 12/31/04 OR 37,199 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND QUESTIONED THE WEAR AND TEAR OF MY SECOND SET OF TIRES. I HAD ONLY HAD THIS SET OF TIRES ON FOR 15,000 MILES. THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT DEALER PRICE. I REFUSED THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE TIRES ON MY "TIRE EATING VEHICLE" ONLY SEEM TO LAST FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I AM NOW NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TIRES AGAIN AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD SET IN 42,000 MILES. THAT'S ONLY AN AVERAGE OF 14,000 MILES. MY TIRES ARE NOW DOWN TO THE "UNSAFE" AREA OF THE TIRES AND I MUST REPLACE THEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. AFTER CONTACTING THE SATURN CORPORATION THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED NEW ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION AND WOULD ONLY PAY FOR ONE SET OF TIRES. IF THE SHIM KIT WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY I WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACING THE TIRES FOR THE THIRD TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10138053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesSpring Hill, FL
TIRES
DT: CONTACT WAS IN A MOTOR HOME AND IT WAS TOWING SATURN VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL, FENDER, WHEEL WELL, AND PUSHED OUT THE BUMPER. ALSO CAUSED TIE ROD DAMAGE. IN ADDITION,THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HUB AND HUB CAP. WOULD NEED A NEW WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CALLED AAA, AND THEY PUT ON A SPARE TIRE. DROVE TO A WALMART IN FLORIDA WHERE THE TIRE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE, TOOK PICTURES, AND SENT TIRE OFF TO GOODYEAR. WALMART REPLACED TIRE BUT GOODYEAR REFUSED TO PAY FOR OTHER DAMAGES. GOODYEAR CONTACTED CONSUMER, AND SAID LACK OF AIR IN THE TIRE WAS THE CAUSE OF TIRE BLOWOUT. THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR DAMAGES. GOODYEAR, DOUGLAS TOURING, SIZE P195/65R15 . *AK
NHTSA complaint #10132080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Lenox, IL
TIRES
2002 SATURN L300 TIRES BEGAN TO CUP.
NHTSA complaint #10130173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesScott AIR Force Base, IL
TIRES
TIRES CONTINUE TO CUP. SATURN REPLACED TIRES SEVERAL TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAN ONLY GET APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES ON SET OF TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10118367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baker, LA
TIRES
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. I JUST THOUGHT THAT I MAY NEED AN ALIGNMENT AND DID NOT THINK MUCH ELSE ABOUT IT. ABOUT 10 TO 20 MINUTES LATER MY TIRE BLEW OUT. THERE IS A LARGE GASH ALMOST ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM THE METAL ALMOST ALL OVER THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10074732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesMechanicsburg, PA
TIRES
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UP. THE DEALER INDICATED THE NEED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND INSTALL A REAR ALIGNMENT KIT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY ALIGNMENT. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10048071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sandia Park, NM
TIRES
THE VEHICLE MADE A ROARING SOUND WHILE DRIVING A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT ALL FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BADLY CUPPED AND REPLACED THEM. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A SHIM KIT. TIRE SIZE P205/65R15 F AFFINITY AND DOT # W2 URAS FB 05-02.
NHTSA complaint #568166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,800 milesSandia Park, NM
TIRES
ORIGINAL TIRES ON SATURN L300 2002, DOT W2URASFB 05/02 P20565R15 F AFFINITY, WHILE DRIVING A ROARING SOUND COULD BE HEARD, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALE RWHO STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRE WERE BADLY CUPPED. MR *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8021415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.