Steering Problems of Saturn LS

Vehicle was in motion at 30 mph on city street, engine completely stopped working with loss of power steering and power brakes. Coasted vehicle to a side street & stopped. Had car towed to a mechanic. We were quoted $1700 bill to repair due to broken timing chain. Researched recalls and found that NHTSA had a recall #07v519000 for 2001 Saturn l100. This seems grossly shortsighted on the part of NHTSA, as there have been dozens of duplicate complaints. This prompted the state of north carolina consumers council to issue a defect petition for 2000-2003 Saturn l series with the 2. 2l engine with the NHTSA. It is surprising how little effort the NHTSA has made in light of the scope of this problem.

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The contact owns a 2000 Saturn Ls. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact noticed an abnormal noise from both the front passenger and driver sides of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was corrosion around all of the wheel wells and the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 150,000.

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The contact owns a 2002 Saturn Saturn Ls. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the steering wheel began smoking, the headlights flickered, and the check engine light illuminated. In addition, the engine was smoking and stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 186,000.

I brake hard to avoid an animal in the road. When I stepped on the gas the car would not move. When I put it in park, the car would roll. Upon inspection, the frame had buckled, causing the cv joint to fall out. I did not hit anything or go off the road. All I did was hit the brakes and the framed collapsed in the area of right front a-arm.

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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 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.

This happened very suddenly. I applied the brake to enter the ramp to the highway and the car pulled to the left and made a noise. I thought it may be a bearing or brake problem but I had not had any issues before that so I went on since it seamed to be driving ok. While I was on the interstate I went to go into the left lane and realized there was a serious problem with the steering. I slowed down and got off the highway to the shop. I was told there the k frame had less than 1/2" before breaking completely and could have been a serious accident since it has to do with steering. I have regular maint on the car and there was no indication that this might happen. The underside is in very good shape. I had the frame replaced. I feel it was a defect in the frame. I'm sure im not the only one this has happened too.

The contact owns a 2000 Saturn Ls series. The contact stated that when turning the key to turn on the vehicle, the steering wheel would seize. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact made an appointment for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 44,000 and the current mileage was 44,200.

Vehicle pulled when braking. Symptoms started on a Monday as a light pull. More noticeable above 50 mph, and not noticeable below 35. By Thursday morning, pull was severe above 50mph. Stayed till after 6:00 at night to avoid traffic. Ride home was "entertaining" as steering wheel did not always go back to "center" when going straight. I thought I needed a steering rack until I inspected the vehicle on Saturday. My inspection showed that front subframe (a. K. A. Engine cradle) failed where the "passenger side lower control arm rear bushing was attached". A sizable piece of frame ripped out, with bushing still attached to lower control arm. Rusted perforations in subframe visible approximately 6" behind where frame failed. Two sets of rims (summer and winter) with no "dings" testifies that vehicle never even hit a curb in 170,000 miles. 4 cylinder, so no exhaust nearby to "weaken steel". Bad choice of corrosion protection in a critical part of the frame, and/or undersizing of steel thickness to accommodate for corrosion is my estimate of "failure mode". Contacted dealer and no replacement parts available. Well maintained vehicle, very disappointed it failed this way. Last vehicle I junked was a 17 year old 1973 olds. Everything but the subframe indicated I'd get another 5 years out of this vehicle.

The contact owns a 2001 Saturn l300. The contact stated that tires rubbed against the vehicle whenever he drove in reverse at a low speed while turning sharply. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop but the failure could not be determined. The current mileage was approximately 118,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

I have had nothing but problems since I purchased this used 2001 Saturn in 2001. I have put 2 catalytic converters, steering rack, stabilizer bar, front struts, had a head gasket major problem. I have owned two other new Saturn's with no problems. . . I am roughly disappointed in this car. Also my dash lights dimmed when security light flashed on and when that happened also my temp gauge and gas gauge would go from right to left and then back quickly. I had to have a modular replaced. Again, I am sooooo disappointed with this car. Within the first year of owning this I had two inline fuel filters as the car just stopped while driving. . . Speed went down and down and nothing. Has anyone else had so many problems.

Driving down in congested morning traffic on highway when engine shut off. With engine off, brakes hard to push and steering very difficult. Vehicle coasted to stop. Engine would not restart. It just turned over. Shop said timing chain snapped and engine had to be replaced.

My 2001 l200 Saturn had a problem with dash lights/and gauges dimming and at times I had no interior dash lights. . . . It ended up being a main module which cost me $595. Seems like reading all the other complaints similar to mine they have been numerous problems. I think this is a Saturn problem and they should have taken care of this for free. I have replaced the steering box, struts front/rear. . . Stabilizer rear bar, catalytic converter twice. . . . . I am very disappointed in this car. I have put more money in this than my other two Saturn's which I had only normal things; tires, brakes, etc. I wish I had never bought this 3rd one.

The contact owns a 2002 Saturn l200. While driving 15 mph the contact heard a pop and the vehicle suddenly came to a rolling stop. The vehicle would not restart and the steering wheel locked. The vehicle was towed and the mechanic diagnosed the failure as needing a new timing chain. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The current and failure mileages were 43,000.

My daughter [xxx] was the passenger and [xxx] was driver. The kids went for drive and were found the next early morning around 6am. The car was so burned and destroyed the kids could not be identified, and all who were there questioned the straight tire tracks without any correction or over correction in the steering of tire tracks, no braking in the county road tracks, and with fracture and damage of the skull area we later were told that the air bags never deployed! the tracks were approx 150 yrds long and went at an angle of perfection gradually pointing towards a ravine that would end both of the kids lives. We sent a forensic specialist to look at car 2 months later and was told to save our money on full report because the specialist said the car was so destroyed he couldn't make heads or tails as to a case against gm. With new evidence on gm there is no doubt to anyone at crash site as to what happened! the ignition switch testimonials we have seen and read by survivors spell out what happened in the 01car Saturn that day that claimed my daughter [xxx] life. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Defect in steering/ brought to dealer/ replaced gear assembly, and front torsion bar links.

Steering is in continuous need of alightments.

I have had constant vibration thru the steering wheel while driving at highway speeds. I have taken the car to my Saturn dealership 4 times to have it repaired and is still an issue. This makes the car difficult to handle or manuver on the highway.

2002 Saturn l100 made clanking noise when turning the wheel. ** answer required*** the consumer was told there was a leak in the power steering shaft and there was wear in the cradle bushings and eventually they would have to be replaced.

While driving at 45/50 mph three functions failed to operate simultaneously; accelerator/brakes and steering wheel. Also while driving at night headlights quit working without warning.