80 of the
1,885 complaints filed about the Saturn LS
are about the fuel system —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
The contact owns a 2001 Saturn L200. The contact stated while driving, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with the fuel pump needing to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired however, the contact removed the fuel tank. The contact was relating the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that a tow truck would pick up the vehicle and transport it to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000. THE CONUMER STATED THE PASSENGERS HAD HEADACHES, STOMACH ACHES, COUGHING AND BREATHING ISSUES WHILE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #11418062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN LS200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND CARPET. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CABLE DAHMER CHEVROLET OF INDEPENDENCE LOCATED AT (1834 S NOLAND RD, INDEPENDENCE, MO 64055), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,000.
NHTSA complaint #11317852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE SATURN L SERIES WHEN FILLED WITH GASOLINE WILL STALL CAUSING IMMINENT HARM TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ANY OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD AT NIGHT IS SO DIM THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE DRIVER. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES INVOLVING THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11011455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS FUMES ARE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS A SMALL CRACK. GASS APPEARS TO BE VAPORIZING. THERE IS NO LEAKAGE OF LIQID GAS THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED. GAS VAPOR PERMEATES THAT INTERIOR TO VARYING DEGREE BUT IS USUALLY EVIDENT ON THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR. I CANT RULL OUT THAT THE LEAK MAY ORIGINATE FROM A RUPTURED LINE, FITTING, OR FAILED FILTER. AVAILABILITY OF NEW OEM FUEL TANKS IS A PROBLEM PROBABLY RELATED TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF THE SATURN LINE BY GM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER ACCOUNTS OF SATURN GAS LEAKS ON INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS. GIVEN THE POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING PROPERTY LOSS AND HUMAN INJURY AND DEATH, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT (S) AND INITIATE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OF ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE REPORTS BY CONSUMERS OF GAS ODORS/LEAKS FROM THE SATURN L SERIES, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE AND INITIATE A RECALL. THIS IS A PROBLEM OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE FAST TRACKED AND RELIEF SHOULD BE GRANTED TO SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF REPAIRING/REPLACING UNSAFE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10914287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. ...UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/15/16
NHTSA complaint #10808426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SATURN VUE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL SATURNS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/FJHVMOI4358
NHTSA complaint #10785833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 11/28/2017
NHTSA complaint #10734728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SMELL OF GASOLINE R/S REAR HAD FILLER NECK AND CAP REPLACED; STILL ABLE SMELL GAS; CRAWLED UNDER CAR AND NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS ON SIDE OF TANK PASSENGER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10614665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR DRIVES LIKE ITS COUGHING AND SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF ON ME, AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK SOMETIME, I HAVE HAD PEOPLE HONK TO TELL ME MY LIGHTS NOT WORKING THEN THEY WILL POP ON WHEN THEY GET READY.
NHTSA complaint #10588704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL, TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A HOLE WHERE FUEL WAS LEAKING SO I THOUGHT I MAYBE WAS WASTING GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAR, BUT I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONGER GAS SMELL SO I WAS CONCERNED AND I TOOK TO A NEW MECHANIC THAT PULLED THE CAR A PART AND FOUND THAT THE WELDED SEEM OF THE FUEL TANK HAD A CRACK ALL THE WAY DOWN THE WELD, SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND I NEEDED IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT WAS MY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK SO I HAD TO REPLACE AT MY OWN COST, $800.00.
NHTSA complaint #10578859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL, TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A HOLE WHERE FUEL WAS LEAKING SO I THOUGHT I MAYBE WAS WASTING GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAR, BUT I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONGER GAS SMELL SO I WAS CONCERNED AND I TOOK TO A NEW MECHANIC THAT PULLED THE CAR A PART AND FOUND THAT THE WELDED SEEM OF THE FUEL TANK HAD A CRACK ALL THE WAY DOWN THE WELD, SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND I NEEDED IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT WAS MY TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK SO I HAD TO REPLACE AT MY OWN COST, $800.00.
NHTSA complaint #10578859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I STARTED TO NOTICE THE SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM MY CAR, BUT I COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE LEAK WAS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE IDENTIFIED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, PRESSURE LINE, RETURN LINE, AND SENDING UNIT ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO AND THE ENTIRE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. PARTS ALONE COST $793.53 WHILE THE LABOR WAS $382.00 FOR A TOTAL AFTER TAX AND SHOP SUPPLIES OF $1257.28. IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING TO ME HOW THIS CAR NEEDED TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE BUT I DID NOT WANT TO RISK A CAR FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THERE IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE THAT ALSO MENTIONS THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10565018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE: 2002 SATURN L100 WITH 80,800 MILES. DATE: DECEMBER 2013 TO JANUARY 2014 PROBLEM: FOR AT LEAST A MONTH I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR AND SIDE AREAS OF VEHICLE AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT AND STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, NO SIGNS OF LEAKING FUEL APPEARED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE CARS' FUEL SYSTEM, I SUSPECTED THE LEAK WAS OCCURRING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AROUND FUEL PUMP OR FUEL LINES. SOLUTION: TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE FUEL TANK REMOVED TO FIND PROBLEM OF LEAKING FUEL. AFTER IT WAS REMOVED, THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE FUEL PUMP NIPPLE RETURN LINE WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN RESULTING IN LEAKING FUEL DOWN ONTO THE TOP OF THE TANK, CAUSING THE RESULTING FUEL SMELL. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND LABOR WAS $511.64. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY DUE TO A FIRE OR OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OR REIMBURSE AFFECTED OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10561099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AND TOOK MY 2002 SATURN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LIKELY THE ISSUE. WITHOUT DROPPING THE TANK HE WAS NOT 100% SURE. REPAIR WAS MADE TO A NIPPLE NEAR THE FUEL TANK TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL WENT AWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AND AT THAT TIME RETURNED. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND HE DROPPED THE FUEL TANK TO CONFIRM THE FUEL PUMP WAS DAMAGED. REPAIR WAS MADE AT A SIGNIFICANT COST TO OWNER. (FYI - IN 2010, 2 DAYS AFTER REPAIRING THE FUEL PUMP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPAIRED, AND APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED. NOW, IN 2013 MY TIMING BELT HAS BROKEN AND I WAS INFORMED MY ENGINE IS GARBAGE. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH GM AS THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR TIMING BELTS ON SATURN L200'S, BUT THEY 'CLAIM' MY VIN IS NOT A PART OF THAT RECALL.)
NHTSA complaint #10496074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 SATURN L200. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE. *TGW ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE, THE DEALER FOUND THE SUPPLY LINE AT THE FRONT OF THE FUEL FILTER LEAKING FUEL. THE FILTER AND SUPPLY LINE WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, LATER THAT EVENING, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO SMELL THE SAME STRONG ODOR OF GAS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT FURTHER REPAIR WAS NEEDED AND IT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL COST OF $ 900. THE TECHNICIAN DROPPED THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND FUEL AROUND THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL WAS COMING OUT OF THE PORES OF THE PLASTIC AT THE TOP PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10491301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL CAP AND FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A MECHANIC TWICE WHO STATED THE EMISSION CONTROL MODULE SEAL ON THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE EMISSION CONTROL MODULE SEAL WAS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED, THERE WERE GAS STREAKS FOUND WHERE THE GAS LEAKED OUT AROUND THE EMISSION SEAL AND ON TOP OF THE TANK. GAS HAD RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. UPDATED 1/7/2013
NHTSA complaint #10486421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING A FUEL PUMP GAS LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS DID SHOW A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP THAT WAS CAUSING A LEAK. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
NHTSA complaint #10482330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.