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Engine & cooling

Saturn LS Engine problems by year

150 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Saturn LS's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20010001
2000150050

Engine recalls

Latest LS engine complaints

2000 Saturn LSSuspensionSeats & seat beltsEngine & cooling

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. *Tr

Filed Incident Suspension · Seat belts · EngineNHTSA 11329340
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Ref: 07v519 I am filling this complaint concerning my 2000 saturn ls1 2.2L engine. While driving on a southern california freeway in july 2008 my timing chain broke. This caused us to try and get to the side of the freeway from the left side of the freeway, a very nerve-racking situation. After talking to the dealership and several independent repair shops I elected to replace the engine instead of fixing the timing chain and the other damage that was caused in the broken timing chain. The repair was completed by claremont auto center in pomona ca on 14/july/2008. If necessary I should be able to get a copy of the repair bill.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10898357
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn ls. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle randomly stalled without warning. The contact had to coast the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that that there was an internal failure where the timing belt prematurely fractured into the motor and fractured the valves. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10889243
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl * the contact owns a 2000 saturn ls. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle shook, the engine roared as the rpms decreased. The dealer reprogrammed the body control module, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again and the timing chain, tensioner, and guides were replaced. The failure appeared to be remedied, but recurred a year later. The dealer stated that the timing chain could not be properly adjusted and was striking the guides, which produced the roaring sound in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10619262
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

I took my car in for a tune up and found out the timing belt tensioner had gone bad destroying my motor. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10606050
2000 Saturn LSElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Just read the recall on gm cars due to faulty ignition. My daughter owned a 2000 saturn ls until july 2012 (when she traded it in) and on 2 different occasions, it also stopped running as she was driving. Luckily it did not result in an accident. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10565955
2000 Saturn LSElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saturn ls2. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The intake sensor, speed sensor and various other components were replaced. In addition, the turn signals also began to malfunction. The contact stated that when the key was removed from the ignition, it was abnormally hot to the touch. The vehicle had not been further repaired. The failure and current mileage was 62,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10482334
2000 Saturn LSSteeringBrakesEngine & cooling1 injury

I had just gone to the gas station to fill up my 2000 saturn lw2 when I was about two blocks from the gas station. I was right around the corner from my house, and had just turned right onto a street with a hill. Suddenly, my car started sputtering so I immediately tried to pull over. I wasn't completely out of the street when I suddenly lost all power brakes and power steering going down the hill at 25 miles per hour. I couldn't stop the car so I put it in park, which stopped it instantly, causing my neck to...

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jerk, which has been sore from whiplash for the past four days so far. I had the car towed to the mechanic who found bits of my timing belt all through the motor, which blew the entire engine. After hearing that it would be over $3,000 for a used engine installed, we've been trying to determine our next move, financially. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10481318
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn l-series wagon. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnosis. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would need a new timing chain and a new engine, as there was a lot of internal damage. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 143,000. Updated 11/07/12*lj the repairs were completed, in one week, by the consumer's husband. Updated 11/07/2012 *js

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10469369
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

I arrived at my destination, turned off the engine, ran inside for no more than 5 mins and when I came back out the engine was unable to turn over and made horrible noises when attempting to start. I called a tow truck to come pick it up to bring it back to their shop to check it out. When I arrive at the shop today they tell me that the timing chain has broken and bent the valves. The whole engine now needs to be replaced. They tell me it is $3600 minimum to replace and this is with a used engine for $2400+...

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just for his used engine. All in all, I'm very glad the vehicle wasn't moving when this happened but still very frustrated since this does not seem to be an uncommon thing with the saturn l-series. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10463599
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Engine began having a slow knocking noise, prior to that I would hear a noise of the chain slapping, which I was explained to by saturn that this was normal in my vehicle. Drove the vehicle home then while I was parking, heard a loud bang and when I got out - there was oil gushing from underneath. Parked the car and have not repaired it since... Was just doing research now to replace the engine and found that finally there was another round of recalls regarding the engine. I have asked my saturn dealer before about this (while they were still in business) and was told that only specific years were covered... *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10456076
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn ls. While driving approximately 35 mph the contact heard a ticking noise in the engine. The noise was heard while driving various speeds. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the noise was coming from the timing belt located in the engine. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10447362
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn l series. The contact stated that in the attempt to start the vehicle, the warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not start. The dealer diagnosed that the there was no compression taking place, causing the vehicle to stall. The manufacturer was notified, but the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling), did not include the vin. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 50,000. Updated 02/03/12*lj the consumer has since traded the vehicle. Updated 02/10/12

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10437449
2000 Saturn LSEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns 2000 saturn l-series sedan. While driving approximately 25 mph the vehicle began to decelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the timing chain fractured causing damage to the head of the engine. The technician stated the timing chain had to be replaced and depending on the severity of the damage the head on the engine also had to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Nhtsa recall campaign number: 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling) may be related to the failure but it do not include 2000 models. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000 updated 04/19/12*lj upadted 04/27/12

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10425559

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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