Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 07/06/2011 | 79024 | ||
| Timing chain broke. complete loss of power and destruction of engine. no noise or warning beforehand. traveling in center lane of three lane interstate highway during afternoon rush hour traffic. lucky to make it to shoulder without accident. could have easily been injured or killed if stopped on roadway. after reading about the investigation, i'm appalled that no information has been sent by gm suggesting a replacement of the chain tensioner and oiler. i could have done this myself. instead, i spent $2000 for an engine. | |||
| 03/11/2011 | 75210 | ||
| 1. timing chain break/failure at 30 mph on a saturn 2002 l-200. 2. vehicle's engine stops running immediately. possible serious/lethal in heavy traffic. 3. major damage to the engine. bent valves etc. engine head damaged. 4. engine repair estimates $2500-$2800. engine repaired by owner for $1700. 5. gm design defect. contacted gm customer service representative and he stated timing chain failure is normal wear and tear.even though the saturn 2001 l200 was under a recall for timing chain failures. gm did not correct the problem in the 2002 l200's and no recall was made. in my opinion gm did not stand behind this product. | |||
| 12/24/2008 | 166637 | ||
| Saturn l200, 2002, i purchased feb. 6, 2007. summer i noticed the air conditioning not working. i took in back to the saturn dealership where i bought it. they fixed the air condtioning, but in winter the heating was not working. new blower motor installed dec 5, 2008. tthe car did not heat up, did not have time to re-examine the heating system and i had to wait four more days for an appointment time with them. when i arrived on my appointment time early in the morning they said, long ride to dealership so now car is warm, can you leave it, because we do not have time to look at it. i asked them why is there no time to re-examine the heating system when i had an appoinment. we have no time, no curtesy car. i drove my car home.they also did not book me for another appoinment. though i asked for one. they said, they were booked up. i was driving north heading for the link. i noticed the window fogging a little and turned on the defogger. the window in the front completly fogged over and did the drivers windown and the passenger window beside the drivers window fog over. i could not see ahead of me and gently applied the brakes not knowing a snow plow was parked in the lane in front of me. i hit it. my car airbags went off. the whole engine was crunched, hood up, and a car fire was starting. i phoned 911 police n fire men came. i went to hospital in ambulance. my car was towed to police impound. insurance not paid enough. dealership told me it was my driving. hired mechanic $200 he found same complaint. hired x-police to represent me $630. charges dropped. insurance keeping accident at my fault. insurance cost too much now. no car, walking. loss of work without car. loss of time waiting for bus. can't take my dog on bus, stress leaving him all day. car rental company used day of accident faulty my son almost drove it over a side of mountain dec. 24, 08. i missed christmas gatherings, mass, pain, and work. back and neck pain, hands pain. | |||
| 03/16/2010 | 126000 | ||
| Timing chain broke on my 2002 l200 saturn at highway speed. lost power and steering. was near an exit, but was unable to clear the highway. | |||
| 07/10/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| 2002 saturn l 200 had complete engine failure while on route 197 and car stopped in middle of road and wouldn't restart. car has about 60k miles on it. fortunately my daughter was able to get the car off the road. problem was found to be timing chain failure with destruction of the engine. saturn reviewed our maintenance record, deemed it excellent and said it would cost me only $3500 to get a rebuilt engine put in. they refused to acknowledge any problem with timing chain. i am reluctantly going forward with repair because i can't afford a new car now, but i think this problem could lead to more serious consequences for other drivers and timing chain problem in all l200 should prompt recall. *tr | |||