40 of the
1,885 complaints filed about the Saturn LS
are about the body and structure —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
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.
NOTHING, THANK GOD HAD HAPPENED YET, BUT IT WILL IN A MATTER OF TIME, HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE NO IDEA. THE PROBLEM IS THE MOTOR CRADLE OR FRAME IS RUSTING OUT, THE FRONT WHERE THE MOTOR SETS HAD WHOLES RUSTED IN IT, THE WHOLE THING IS RUSTING AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11019886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION AROUND ALL OF THE WHEEL WELLS AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10794345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING A 98 TOYOTA TACOMA ON A 45 MPH HIGHWAY WHEN A PEDESTRIAN IN THE ROAD CAUSED ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO SUDDENLY STOP. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND WENT INTO THE MEDIAN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP MY VEHICLE IN THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK THE 2000 SATURN COUPE DRIVERS SIDE FENDER TO DRIVERS SIDE FENDER. UPON IMPACT THE BODY OF THE SATURN BURST INTO 12 TO 14 INCH SHARDS OF WHATEVER THE BODY IS MADE OF, (PERHAPS FIBERGLASS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR). ONE SUCH SHARD SHATTERED THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND IMPALED ME THROUGH MY LEFT SHOULDER AND LODGED ITSELF PROTRUDING SLIGHTLY FROM MY BACK. THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE BLEEDING SO I WAS AIRLIFTED TO ORMC FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY, AND AM LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED. THE SURGEON STATED THAT ANOTHER INCH WOULD HAVE MEANT ME BLEEDING OUT IN THE ROAD. THAT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE SHOT DEADLY PROJECTILES UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10659263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN I WENT TO GET NEW TIRES FOR THIS CAR I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY FRAME AND SHOULD GO RIGHT TO A DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY AUTHORIZED IT FOR ME TO GO TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, AT THE DEALERS CONVENIENCE AND MY EXPENSE FOR A REVIEW OF THE PROBLEM. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT BUT IN THE MEAN TIME THE FRONT WHEELS STATED TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. I WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR, SO I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN THE ADVICE TO LEAVE THIS CAR PARKED. DO NOT DRIVE IT AT ALL. CONTACTING SATURN AT THIS POINT THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. NEVER HAVE I HEARD OF A FRAME SUPPORTING THE ENGINE, AND FRONT WHEELS EVER RUSTING THROUGH ON A CAR BEFORE. THEY SAID IT WAS MY CHOICE TO HAVE IT FIXED, THEREFORE THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO LOOK INTO THIS ANY LONGER. I BELIEVE I HAD NO CHOICE OTHER THAN TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT THERE AND THEN. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE DONE BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY.
NHTSA complaint #10577610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND STEERING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I TRAILERED THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS, VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW SUBFRAME AND I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND TO TRY FINDING ONE IN A SALVAGE YARD. I CONTACTED A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A FEW AND IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO PULL ONE. I GOT THE CALL TODAY SAYING THEY WERE SORRY BUT ALL OF THE FRONT SUBFRAMES ON THE SATURN L SERIES THEY HAVE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE NOT USABLE. I CONTACTED OTHER YARDS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO FIND A SALVAGE YARD DOWN SOUTH THAT HAD A USABLE SUBFRAME. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND NUMEROUS FORUM POSTS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC AND I'M FINDING IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD? FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT HAPPENS ON ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE L SERIES. THE IRONY IS THE REST OF THE CAR IS VERY CLEAN, NO RUST ON THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS NO CLEAR EXPLANATION WHY THE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE CORROSION PERFORATION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WITH NO OTHER RUST/CORROSION ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD HAVE HAD A BAD OUTCOME. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10567105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LSERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN INDEPENDENTLY STEERING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 165,000. UPDATED 10/25/12 *CN UPDATED 11/08/12 ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/15/2012
NHTSA complaint #10478624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS1. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10473954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LW1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT REAR FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,063.
NHTSA complaint #10453576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO ENTER THE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND MADE A NOISE. I THOUGHT IT MAY BE A BEARING OR BRAKE PROBLEM BUT I HAD NOT HAD ANY ISSUES BEFORE THAT SO I WENT ON SINCE IT SEAMED TO BE DRIVING OK. WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE I WENT TO GO INTO THE LEFT LANE AND REALIZED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. I SLOWED DOWN AND GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD THERE THE K FRAME HAD LESS THAN 1/2" BEFORE BREAKING COMPLETELY AND COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAS TO DO WITH STEERING. I HAVE REGULAR MAINT ON THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. THE UNDERSIDE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. I HAD THE FRAME REPLACED. I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. I'M SURE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO.
NHTSA complaint #10452336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE PULLED WHEN BRAKING. SYMPTOMS STARTED ON A MONDAY AS A LIGHT PULL. MORE NOTICEABLE ABOVE 50 MPH, AND NOT NOTICEABLE BELOW 35. BY THURSDAY MORNING, PULL WAS SEVERE ABOVE 50MPH. STAYED TILL AFTER 6:00 AT NIGHT TO AVOID TRAFFIC. RIDE HOME WAS "ENTERTAINING" AS STEERING WHEEL DID NOT ALWAYS GO BACK TO "CENTER" WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT I NEEDED A STEERING RACK UNTIL I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY. MY INSPECTION SHOWED THAT FRONT SUBFRAME (A.K.A. ENGINE CRADLE) FAILED WHERE THE "PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR BUSHING WAS ATTACHED". A SIZABLE PIECE OF FRAME RIPPED OUT, WITH BUSHING STILL ATTACHED TO LOWER CONTROL ARM. RUSTED PERFORATIONS IN SUBFRAME VISIBLE APPROXIMATELY 6" BEHIND WHERE FRAME FAILED. TWO SETS OF RIMS (SUMMER AND WINTER) WITH NO "DINGS" TESTIFIES THAT VEHICLE NEVER EVEN HIT A CURB IN 170,000 MILES. 4 CYLINDER, SO NO EXHAUST NEARBY TO "WEAKEN STEEL". BAD CHOICE OF CORROSION PROTECTION IN A CRITICAL PART OF THE FRAME, AND/OR UNDERSIZING OF STEEL THICKNESS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR CORROSION IS MY ESTIMATE OF "FAILURE MODE". CONTACTED DEALER AND NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE. WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, VERY DISAPPOINTED IT FAILED THIS WAY. LAST VEHICLE I JUNKED WAS A 17 YEAR OLD 1973 OLDS. EVERYTHING BUT THE SUBFRAME INDICATED I'D GET ANOTHER 5 YEARS OUT OF THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10435973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING WAS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY WHICH MADE THE CAR UNSTABLE AND SCARY TO DRIVE SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME ALL THAT HELD THE SUBFRAME TOGETHER WAS SOME RUSTY PARTS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD CRASH IF IT HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. I KNOW I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT THEY SALT THE ROADS BUT THERE IS NO REASON A 9 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD HAVE A SUBFRAME THAT HAS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10434120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INITIAL INDICATION WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE AT 50-65 MPH, BUT NO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. SUSPECTED WHEEL WEIGHT FELL OFF. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, BEGAN TO NOTICE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT. NOW THOUGHT CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. LAST DAY, STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE AT 10 O-CLOCK POSITION FOR CAR TO STAY STRAIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED OUT AND SPLITTING WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT ATTACHMENT OCCURS. MECHANIC CONFIRMED PROBLEM. MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 112,500. PLAN TO TAKE CAR OFF ROAD AND DONATE TO CHARITY.
NHTSA complaint #10392371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
4 CYLINDER SHOT, ENGINE SHOT.THIS 2000 LS2 V-6 HAD THE WHOLE 100,000 MILE MAINTENANCE DONE, TIMING CHAIN BLA BLA BLA.ELECTRIC WINDOWS,4 WAYS HAZARDS, TURN SIGNALS,ENGINE,A/C-HEATER,BLOWER MOTOR,HANDLES BROKE-INTERIOR ONLY,CAR RAN GOOD WHEN IT RAN BUT WHEN IT STOPPED IT ALWAYS COSTS MONEY.
NHTSA complaint #10339368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 SATURN L-100 SEDAN. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF TOTAL FAILURE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE LOWER CONTROL ARM CONNECTS. FAILURE HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT SO THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR CRASH. FAILURE TOOK OUT RIGHT INNER CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT. WHEEL WELL LINER AND FENDER ALSO DAMAGED. FRONT SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PART. NEW CV JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10262933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.