general problems of the 2000 Saturn LS

While driving down the interstate my timing chain snapped. Car lost power and put me and my family at risk of an accident.

While driving on the freeway with my 5 year old daughter during the morning commute, transitioning from one hwy 24 to I-80 in the emeryvillle / berkeley area in California, our Saturn 2000 lw wagon suddenly lost power. I was able to pull over to the shoulder but could not restart the car. I was towed to my mechanic, who diagnosed the problem as a broken timing chain and told me the engine would have to be replaced. I understand this is a frequent problem with this engine and that other years of this model have been recalled for this reason.

I own a 2000 Saturn Ls2. There have been 2 recalls on the "l" series vehicles. Although my model is considered the Ls series, I have experienced the exact same symptoms with my vehicle as described with the l series recall. The most recent was the replacement of all four of the oxygen sensors in my vehicle which I believe to be the same problem as described with the l series vehicle and attributed to the Saturn part known as the ignition control module. Over a period of about 2 months I noticed: 1. A deterioration in idle quality 2. A reduction in overall engine power 3. The engine was hard to start these are exactly the same problems experienced with the icm recall on the "l" series. I had to replace, at my own expense, all 4 of the oxygen sensors for this vehicle. After contacting Saturn, they insisted, based on my VIN #, that my car was not included in this recall. It seems rather coincidental that I have experienced the exact same symptoms as 2 recalls on the same model year car from the same manufacturer. It is my belief that the recalls should be extended to cover the Ls series vehicles as well.

Repeated failure of the starting of my car, 2000 Saturn Ls2. Passlock security system is the problem. For no reason at all, the security feature triggers and DE-activates the fuel pump for 10 minutes. Has been happening for the past two years, multiple times a month. My car has been "dead" in the driveway now for two days as the security feature will not DE-activate. Only way to fix is for a dealership to repair, but not a guaranteed fix. Cost anywhere from $300 to $500 to fix. Numerous blog sites contain same complaint from lots of gm owners. If anyone is put into an emergency situation and the passlock security feature fails, that person is stuck for 10 minutes or more. There is no fix to be found. . Read more...

The heat shield between the exhaust pipe and the gas tank fell off of my 2000 Saturn l-series. It appears to be from galvanic corrosion(metal fasteners used to secure a aluminim heat shield).

The vehicle has been at the dealer for several weeks (not consecutively) for warranty work totaling $2500. The glove compartment has been brought to their attention 5 times and has not been remedied. (tiresize: p205/65r15).

Engine check light would come on. Vehicle may or may not be able to start. Computer will not recalibrate itself. This causes motor to misfire. Mechanic would reset computer, but did not have a fixed remedy. Computer was defective.

While driving 55 mph or more vehicle would vibrate. Vehicle taken to dealer, consumer was informed that the rear control arm bushing needed to be replaced. Consumer states while driving highway speeds, vehicle vibrates, dealer inspected and found all four tires were out of balance, twice at 17748 and 24575 miles. At 40 mph vehicle pops and jerks into gear, whooshing and grinding noise when braking, hearing a clicking noise when accelerating and dealer found power steering pump bad, auto lock not working properly.

Consumer states that the antenna mount is loose, the front driver door lock is slow, when ascending a hill with the cruise control activated, the transmission kicks down a gear and over revs, the passenger front door lock is noisy, dealer found the front door lock was rubbing against the door panel.

Bumper feet on glove box would not stay secured, glove box door rattles, glove box light stays on at all times, pillars that hold shoulder harness, vibrate and rattle.

While driving engine check light came on ,vehicle will shift hard into gear, and jerk forward. Contacted dealler. Had vehicle serviced 3 times, however, problem still occurred. Dealership could not fix problem.