Saturn Saturn L Series 2000
Model Saturn L Series made in 2000 by Saturn got 7 consumer complains there is 1 investigation as well as 2 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system, electronic stability control and engine and engine cooling. Technical service bulletines regarding equipment adaptive, tires. The car had one investigation (engine and engine cooling).
Model 2000
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE | |||||
| SB-00-03-10-006C | 01/01/2008 | 10032850 | General motors: information on tire radial force variation. vehicle must be driven before measuring tires on equipment hunter gsp9700 toensure removal of any flatspotting. models include all gm passenger cars and light trucks, as well as | 06/02/2010 | |
| TIRES | |||||
| SB-00-03-10-006C | 01/01/2008 | 10032850 | General motors: information on tire radial force variation. vehicle must be driven before measuring tires on equipment hunter gsp9700 toensure removal of any flatspotting. models include all gm passenger cars and light trucks, as well as | 06/02/2010 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ||||||
| DP08002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 06/18/2008 | 10/16/2008 | TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL | ||
| On june 6, 2006, odi opened an investigation of timing chain failure resulting in engine stall while driving with no restart in approximately 20,514 model year (my) 2001 saturn l-series vehicles equipped with 2.2l engines (l61) built from november 2000 through february 2001 (ea06-009).the vehicles built during those months exhibited higher failure rates than similarly equipped vehicles built before and after.gm introduced a new timing chain design in production in may 2002.odi closed its investigation after gm initiated a safety recall on november 7, 2007 (recall 07v-519). on may 22, 2008, the north carolina consumers council (nccc) submitted a defect petition to odi requesting the expansion of recall 07v-519 to include all my 1999 through 2003 saturn l-series vehicles with 2.2l engines using the same timing chain design as the recalled population.the petition states that the nccc continues to receive complaints from consumers that have had a timing chain fail in vehicles built outside the production range covered by the recall.the petition also notes that odi has continued to receive complaints.since the closing of ea06-009 odi has received 80 new complaints from consumers who had a timing chain fail in a my 2000 through 2002 saturn l-series with the 2.2l engine that were not covered by recall 07v-519 and were built prior to the timing belt change in may 2002.the complaints describe the same failure mode as the recalled population where the timing chain can break suddenly and without warning, resulting in engine damage and loss of motive power.the defect petition has been granted. a preliminary evaluation (pe08-061) has been opened. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 10/17/2009 | 1 | ||
| For the last month or so fluid from the ac condenser line has been flowing into the passenger side of the vehicle when the ac is on. as much as a half inch of liquid has poured onto the floorboard. about a week ago, the brights on the vehicle have been coming on automatically while the car is on and while the car was turned off and the key removed, draining the battery. the battery now needs to be replaced, but the there has been a sulfur like smell coming from the engine. the engine has been stalling as well. i believe the issue for the brights is the ignition control switch. saturn has told me that these recalls are now closed. my saturn case number is 71-777062859. *tr | |||
| 09/05/2008 | 82 | 1 | |
| I have a 2000 saturn it caught fire twice from the cigarette lighter. *tr | |||
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL | |||
| 10/17/2009 | 1 | ||
| For the last month or so fluid from the ac condenser line has been flowing into the passenger side of the vehicle when the ac is on. as much as a half inch of liquid has poured onto the floorboard. about a week ago, the brights on the vehicle have been coming on automatically while the car is on and while the car was turned off and the key removed, draining the battery. the battery now needs to be replaced, but the there has been a sulfur like smell coming from the engine. the engine has been stalling as well. i believe the issue for the brights is the ignition control switch. saturn has told me that these recalls are now closed. my saturn case number is 71-777062859. *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 07/09/2008 | 80 | 1 | |
| No-warning timing chain failure on 2000 saturn with 4cyl 2.2 liter engine. this saturn has vin number: vin and is outside the previous recall range. the car as 80,000 miles on it. the timing chain failed without warning driving on a divided lane highway at constant 55 mph speed in rockton illinois in good weather. extensive damage to the engine immediately resulted requiring new head and other major parts. reference ongoing investigation number nhtsa dp08002. i have 2 small children. this no-warning failure could have happened in sub zero weather in the country near my home in winter. this failure means no heat in the car from the engine. this could have resulted in injury and death. i urge you to require recall of all cars with this engine defect and to confirm the repair fixes the original problem. *tr | |||
| 04/16/2006 | 100000 | 1 | |
| While traveling at a speed of 60 miles per hour i my engine suddenly stalled with no prior warning of a problem, i was just about ran off the overpass i was crossing by a vehicle behind me. i was able to safely pull to the side of the road only to discover that my vehicle would no longer start. after taking my vehicle to a mechanic i was told that the timing chain had broken and he would not even attempt to make repairs and i would have to take it to the dealership. upon calling the dealership i was told they had heard of this before and in order to fix it i would have to pay ~$1200 just to repair the timing chain and the chances of finding more damage inside the engine due to this happening at a high speed was very high, their best estimate was ~$2500 or higher to repair the vehicle. this was on easter of last year, i still have not been able to come up with the money to have this fixed, i have spent the year researching this problem only to find that multiple investigations have been opened, recalls issued in other countries, however we still have no resolve for us here in the u.s. somebody really needs to make saturn responsible for what is costing honest consumers in repairs on vehicles that should not be breaking when they are. and for them to strongly suggest getting the additional parts to get oil to the timing chain is about as much of a guilty plea as i have ever heard. bottom line is they know there is a defect in the design, the nhtsa knows there is a defect in the design, the consumers who have been affected know there is a defect in the design, the only thing that is unknown is who has the guts to stand up and accept responsibility, or to make somebody accept responsibility. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 10/17/2009 | 1 | ||
| For the last month or so fluid from the ac condenser line has been flowing into the passenger side of the vehicle when the ac is on. as much as a half inch of liquid has poured onto the floorboard. about a week ago, the brights on the vehicle have been coming on automatically while the car is on and while the car was turned off and the key removed, draining the battery. the battery now needs to be replaced, but the there has been a sulfur like smell coming from the engine. the engine has been stalling as well. i believe the issue for the brights is the ignition control switch. saturn has told me that these recalls are now closed. my saturn case number is 71-777062859. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 02/05/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| Dealership review of car during oil maintenance indicated deterioration of cradle assembly - repair cost $1153 - wife complained of noise in front end - reviewed with test drive and car drove straight but dipped right at braking and dipped left at acceleration - visual inspection showed complete rust out of cradle at front connection of lower control arm of front wheel - insufficient metal remained for even minimal support - bracket could be moved by hand. further inspection showed cause to be location of exhaust system parallel to and too close to cradle causing continuous heating of cradle accelerating the deterioration of the steel cradle. exhaust location and cradle exist in factory assembled location. this must be a concern with any auto of this type l series with 6 cylinder- 24 valve - 4 door - year 2000 ) suggest immediate attention as this is a ticking time bomb ready to explode - this is a manufacturing defect with the placement of the exhaust with out installation of a heat shield to protect frame and cradle. *tr | |||