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Saturn • Aura • Vue --- • Engine problems • Transmission problems • Airbags • Ignition interlock • Oozing goo • Miscellaneous woes • The Shamrock Saturn --- Recalls/News • Penske Scraps Plan to Buy Saturn; Brand Likely to Die • Penske Hopes to Drive Saturn Off GM's Lot • Saturn Climbing the Roadway to Heaven • Saturn Aura Gets a 5,000-Mile Road Test • NHTSA Probes Timing Chain Again • NHTSA Recalls Saturn L Series • NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Failures • Saturn Astra Named Safest Car Under $25,000 • Saturn Outlook Gets Top Marks from Consumer Reports • Saturn Targets Toyota, Honda for Side-by-Side Tests • Saturn Sky Prices Go Sky High • Saturn VUE Recalled • L-Series Cars Recalled

Saturn is a popular car in a low-key sort of way and has a reputation for delivering fairly good value for the money. However, before you rush right out to buy one, be aware that it is also prone to some very expensive, annoying and even dangerous shortcomings, painfully enumerated by our long-suffering readers.

Lisa of Toms River, NJ August 28, 2009

The timing belt on my 2002 L200 broke with no warning. This car only has 55,000 miles on it. Saturn did have a recall on the 2001 model and there are hundreds of consumers complaint on the web. The local dealer in Michiana, IN said he could not help and to call Saturn direct. I called on August 24th and they did open a file. After waiting 4 days, they say they cannot offer any assistance. There is currently a NHTSA investigation DP08002. Their preliminary evaluation PE08-061 has been opened. I feel that Saturn is aware of this defect and should fix the car.

thurman of richmond hts , OH August 25, 2009

I have a 2000 saturn L series. in march 2005 took the car to dealer for a oil and antifreeze change. drove the car home 19 miles. never started again. towed back too the dealer and was told timing chain was loose. rockers was broke & bent and cost 2,900 dollars to repaire. I had to put a engine in it,

Carrie of Arizona City, AZ August 25, 2009

The electric window motor in my passenger side window stopped working in my 2004 ION Saturn. I had the electric window motor replaced once before in 2008 (approximately 1 year 2 weeks prior). On Saturday, August 1, 2009 I called the Saturn Dealership in Tempe AZ to schedule an appointment to take my Saturn in to them, explaining that my passenger side window wouldn't close and that I thought the window motor had died. The receptionist was unable to locate a Saturn representative to take my call, she tried two times. I then left a voice mail explaining my problem requesting a call back at their earliest convenience. I did not receive a call back from the Saturn Tempe Dealership.

I called the Saturn Dealership in Tempe on August 5, 2009 and spoke with Service Consultant John Germinaro. I explained the issue to John expressing that I felt that the electric window motor should not have gone stopped working after jus 1 year. John agreed that the electric window motor should last more than 1 year, I then made an appointment for Tuesday, August 11, 2009 to take my Saturn for "diagnostic" and possible repair repair".

On August 11, 2009 I took my Ion to the Saturn dealership, they ran a diagnostic (did not charge me). Once the diagnostic was complete John explained to me that normally since I was only two weeks over the warranty they would've replaced the window motor, but due to the amount of mileage on my car since I had the electric window motor replaced he was unable to replace the electric window motor per GM rules. I asked for an explanation on while mileage was a consideration when the replacement part was for an electric window, that if it was an engine part I could understand the mileage “issue”. John went on to explain that the mileage was a GM “rule” that due to that as a Saturn Independent dealer he was unable to replace the electric window motor, he gave me the number for Saturn (GM) customer assistance. John was extremely courteous and helpful the entire time.

I called Saturn Customer Assistance as soon as I arrived home from the dealership. I spoke with Elizabeth Rozinski giving her all the requested information, she opened service ticket on my behalf. I explained to Elizabeth that I had the electric window motor replaced a little over a year ago and that I didn’t understand how the electric window motor could have stopped working in just over a year, that all three of my other windows seemed to be fine, I also explained to Elizabeth that I didn’t understand how “mileage” came into play since this is a window motor? Elizabeth was very courteous explaining that she would need to contact the Saturn of Tempe dealership to obtain information from their records and would return my call.

On Thursday, August 13, 2009, Elizabeth contacted me, she stated that she had spoken with the Saturn of Tempe dealership, that per the diagnostics the dealer had performed that the electric window motor I had purchased the year before was defective, that it had not stopped working due to over use or anything that I had done, that there was nothing that I could have done to prevent the motor from stopping working.

Due to the amount of mileage accrued on the vehicle though, she needed to escalate the service ticket to a higher level management for consideration of replacement, than an Annelle Jochaman would respond back to me. On Tuesday, August 17, 2009 I spoke with Annelle Jochaman regarding my open service ticket 71-749031650, for the electric motor in my passenger side window, Annelle stated that due to the “mileage” GM was unable to replace the electric window motor though would give me a 15% discount toward the repair.

I explained to Annelle that since the dealership stated per their diagnostic that the electric window motor I had purchased the year before was defective, I felt that GM should replace the electric window motor. I had paid over 500 the year prior to replace the electric window motor, how could GM use a warranty to justify not replacing a defective part that they sold the Tempe Saturn Dealership who in turn sold the part to me and I paid full price for it. She again stipulated that due to the mileage of the vehicle there was nothing more that she could do, I then asked Annelle to send me to a supervisor. Annelle proceeded to put me on hold, I held for approximately 15 minutes, I then disconnected and tried to call Annelle back, Annelle at that point refused to take my call.

On August 18, 2009 I again called the Saturn Customer Assistant number and requested a supervisor for Annelle J, I was put on hold three times before giving up. Today, August 24, 2009, a Brian A, District Manager from GM finally returned my requested call from a supervisor. Brian told me that he was the “final decision maker” on my Service Ticket

Brian told me: (1) that yes the Saturn Dealership had told Elizabeth R (Saturn Customer Assistance) on August 13, 2009, that per the diagnostics run that the replacement electric window motor installed in my Saturn in 2008 was defective. That he (Brian) had spoken with the Saturn of Tempe Dealership and that the Service Consultant was retracting the statement he made to Elizabeth. I do not understand how the Saturn Dealership the “retract” the statement of the computer diagnostic which was that the part was defective?

(2) Brian stated that due to the extreme temperature of the state that I reside in that the electric window motors installed in Saturn vehicles regularly stop functioning. If that is the case how can GM justify selling any vehicles with electric windows, since no matter where you live there are going to be extreme temperatures be they hot or cold?

find the statement about the “extreme temperature” of where I reside incredulous, since none of the other three electric window motors in my Saturn have stopped working, I have been living in AZ for 3 years, in addition to I lived in NJ at the time I purchased my Saturn where the temperatures fluctuate from 100+ in the summer to -25° in the winter, so GM would have been able to use the same argument if this happened while I resided in NJ?

I asked Brian for the name of his supervisor since I want to continue the escalation of this issue with GM management, Brian informed me that he is the “final say” in this matter that my only alternative is to send a letter directly to GM in Detroit. My feeling is that this would be an exercise in futility since if GM can pressure their independent dealers to “retract” original diagnostic findings on vehicles, then any letters that I send will be ignored. I am going to try to late a phone number for the Saturn Customer Assistance Center in Detroit, I wanted to post my experience for any other Saturn/GM vehicle owners who may be having the same issues.

kristen of New YOrk , NY August 24, 2009

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and with Saturn. I have been a loyal Saturn customer since 1997. I owned a SL2 for 13 years. ON July 3rd despite the current transition I remained loyal and bought a 2009 Aura. On August 15th my Aura broke down on my way to my summer vacation. The car lost speed on the New Jersey Turnpike and I was almost in an accident with my whole two children in the car. We managed to get the car to the dealer where we bought the car Harlem of Saturn.

Which it turned out was not a Saturn dealership anymore. We were left on a Saturday in Harlem already 300 lose because we had not made it to our vacation. Saturn Customer Service absolutely not helpful and refused to do anything more than call roadside assistance and have the car towed to Paramus NJ. We live in NYC and this was not a convenient location for us. Because it was Saturday customer service said there was nothing more they could do no one could look at our car until Monday and we should rent a car ourselves and put the money out ourselves.

We ere dealing that day with a woman named Princess. Clearly as we have paid out for our vacation, our funds for renting cars was limited. We cancelled our whole vacation. On Monday morning service was unable to quickly identify the issue and it took until late in the day for them to decide what was wrong with the car. This alone is outrageous for a brand new car. They requested a part from GM to be sent by Fedex. The part arrived Tuesday it was not the correct part and they were still unable to repair the car!!! They still have not sent the dealership the car.

Meanwhile, we were treated horribly by Saturn Customer Service being tossed from person to person no one able to assist us with either a replacement car, a rental car or to expedite the repair of our brand new car! As of today Today August 24th Saturn of Paramus has not been able to repair the car. We have lost almost 1000 dollars. Customer service has been unable to supply us with a replacement car of any kind or any financial retribution

Stacy of Clinton, IA July 24, 2009

Timing chain in 2001 Lseries car broke and bent 2 intake valves. The vehicle has less than 62,000 miles. Other 2001 Saturn L series cars are under recall but not mine. I had to get a differnt car because at the time I could not afford to fix the car.

Gina of Fort walton Beach, FL July 22, 2009

July 19th, driving turning onto Miracle Strip pkwy from Perry ave, my Saturn 2002 L200 lost power right in the middle of the street during heavy traffic almost causing a rear end collision with my vehicle, luckly the car behind has enough distance between us, they had enough time to brake to prevent colliding into my rear end. The cause...timing chain in the engine broke. There are several complaints filed with the NHTSA for the same cause, There has been a recall for this issue with 2002 L200, but not on every Saturn from that year and model.

Something is wrong with this picture. The timing chain is not something that should break unless there is a manufacturer defect, but my vin was excluded from that recall. Every complaint on this issue the first 5 characters of the vin was 1G8JU same as mine. Luckily there were no injuries or fatalities in the complaints, does it take a fatality for Saturn to be forced to do a full recall?? It seems Saturn consumers are getting a bad deal with this issue.

Please help us, please help me, there was another recall on this vehivle concerning the fuel pump again my vin was excluded and it cost me 800 to get that fixed and now they're wanting over 1,000 to fix this timing chain issue. When will Saturn be forced to face up to their responsibilities. Thank you for your attention to this matter...

Linda of Clinton, NC July 17, 2009

I purchased a 2006 Saturn Ion that now has power steering problems that I am told can only be resolved by replacing the entire steering column which will cost approximately 900. My concern is that a part that is that costly to repair should not have gone bad in 3 years unless the part was defected.

KEVIN of YAPHANK, NY July 10, 2009

Timing chain went on my 2000 LS1 with only 73000 miles. Destroyed engine

Anton of Fridley, MN June 24, 2009

I have hated this car since the first time it yelled at me for unlocking it with its own key (instead of pressing a button on the key fob). Fortunately it is not mine; it belongs to my father. He has been in a nursing home for a couple of months with a broken hip, and I decided to take the ION out for "exercise".

It wouldn't start. It displayed all the symptoms of a dead battery - wouldn't turn over, no lights, no horn. The gearshift won't move (whether or not I put my foot on the brake). The buttons on the key fob don't seem to work - in particular the one that opens the power lock of the trunk, where I believe the battery is located (it's certainly not under the hood).

In common with many of the complaints here, the ION won't let go of the key. The key turns back and forth from "stop" to "accessory" to "start", etc., but will not come out of the ignition. Pity. If it did I could use it to open the trunk where, as I've mentioned, I believe the battery is located. There doesn't seem to be a trunk release inside the car itself to go with the hood release that is.

Tut tut. I have the impression that all these difficulties could be solved by recharging the battery, as the basic design apparently involves making everything possible rely on it (for instance, I see a solenoid has been mentioned in connection with the key-in-the-ignition problems. Without power the solenoid won't work). However, making the centerpiece of one's design inaccessible in the event of a problem with it is not a sound engineering decision, IMHO.

Please note I'm not complaining about Saturns in general. I myself have an SW2, currently with 245K miles on it, that has been the most trouble-free vehicle I've ever owned. Pity Saturn refuses to make them any more.

Tomasz of Columbus, OH June 22, 2009

I bought the 04 Ion from a dealer with 32k on it 3 years ago. I thought that was w good deal, but since I have bought it I have been always having some problems with it. Generally speaking is a piece of junk. First problem I had was that car's engine RPM were too high. Solution-clean the throttle body every 6 month on average, secondly wipers motor arm under the hood got broken.

Next thing is back up light switch needed to be replaced, next passenger door seal comes off the door like if nobody applied any glue in there, and now the key in the ignition switch does not want to turn. Takes me sometimes 20 attempts for the key to turn. Thank God I do not have any trouble with turning it off. I will never buy Saturn again

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