78 of the 1,885 complaints filed about the Saturn LS are about the suspension — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
78
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
SUSPENSION
THE WHOLE SUBFRAME ON MY 2000 SATURN LS IS ROTTED SO BAD THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING AND PUTTING IT UP ON A LIFT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THAT NOT STARTING PROBLEM IS A BAD RESONATOR, BUT IN THE PROCESS THE SUBFRAME WAS FOUND TO BE SERIOUSLY ROTTED AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11329340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
REPLACED WATER PUMP, TIMING CHAIN AND PULLEYS AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. APP. 10K MILES LATER, TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH SUSPENSION, FUEL SENSORS, OIL FILTER CASING.
NHTSA complaint #10721624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TOOK CAR TO HAVE STRUTS REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY TO MAKE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE,ALWAYS CHECKED THE BODY AND FRAME YEARLY FOR RUST ON CHASSIS AND UNI BODY SO THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM S. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE USA.. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUB FRAME IS IT RUSTS FROM THE INSIDE OUT SO IT MAKES INSPECTION EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE.
NHTSA complaint #10694030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
I GET VERY POOR MILEAGE ON MY TIRES AND I INEVITABLE GET CUPPING IN MY REAR TIRES. THIS CAUSES A SOUND IN MY CAR THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE TIRE IS FLAT WHEN I AM DRIVING WHEN IN FACT IT IS DUE TO CUPPING. I READ ON ALLDATADIY THAT A SPACER NEEDS TO BE PLACED BETWEEN THE REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT AND THE VEHICLE BODY DURING ALIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TIRES ARE EXPENSIVE AND IT CAUSES ME TO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR TOO FAR.
NHTSA complaint #10565011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SUBFRAME ON SATURN TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY ONLY THING HOLDING PASSENGER WHEEL ON WAS STRUT BRACKET.
NHTSA complaint #10508417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
LOW BANG NOISE IN PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END. WORSE TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. SOUNDED LIKE MAJOR BREAK, BUT NOTHING COULD BE SEEN VISUALLY. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. HAD TO REPLACE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS ON BOTH FRONT AND RIGHT STRUTS. PASSENGER SIDE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY, AND DRIVER SIDE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS CRACKED. UPPER STRUT MOUNTS BOTH MADE OF A PLASTIC BASED MATERIAL. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE SHOCK COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH, AND HIT HOOD OF CAR IF WE HAD NOT SERVICED IT IMMEDIATELY. REPLACEMENT PART MADE OF SAME MATERIAL. HAD TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND I AM NOW CONCERNED THE CAR COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10460365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH. MECHANIC STATED WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10437241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10402559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2002 SATURN L300 V6 EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND ENGINE PROBLEMS THE OIL DRAINED INTO THE RADIATOR AND THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REWORKED ALL HOSES SENSORS AND RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED THE VALVES AND LOTS OF OTHER HEAD WORK HAD TO BE DONE. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN 18,000MILES AND 60,000 MILE TIRES LAST ABOUT 12-18,000 MILES BEFORE BEING TOLD THEY ARE HAZARDOUS AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE NEW OIL SENSOR REPLACED WITH THE ENGINE REBUILD NOW IS LEAKING AGAIN AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. REAR BRAKE LAMPS BLOW OUT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN BURNED THE WIRING AND PLASTIC FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10335134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2001 L200 SATURN, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES FROM END OF SPRING. THIS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10323669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 2001 SATURN L SERIES WITH 53,450 MILES SPRING HAD BROKEN AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10224252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT LEFT SPRING IN MCPHERSON STUT SUSPENSION. SPRING SNAPPED AT BOTTOM. MECHANIC SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS ON ANOTHER SATURN. REPAIR COST IS $972.00. CLEAN BREAK WITH RUST. MECHANIC SUGGESTED MANUFACTURING FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10196681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
CUSTOMER HAS SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS SATURN INCLUDING IGNITION AND TIRE REPLACEMENT**CC THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE SHIFT LIGHT INDICATOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WENT OUT WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. THE AC WAS NOT COOLING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. THE TIRES HAD SEVER CUPPING FOLLOWING FOUR CROSS ROTATIONS DUE TO A BAD REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT UNLOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10192151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.