2000 SATURN LS Suspension Problems

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

Mileage: 170,000

TOOK CAR TO HAVE STRUTS REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY TO MAKE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE,ALWAYS CHECKED THE BODY AND FRAME YEARLY FOR RUST ON CHASSIS AND UNI BODY SO THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM S. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE USA.. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUB FRAME IS IT RUSTS FROM THE INSIDE OUT SO IT MAKES INSPECTION EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE. *TR

Mileage: 153,000

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND STEERING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I TRAILERED THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT SUBFRAME/ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE SPOTS, VERY DANGEROUS!!! I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET A NEW SUBFRAME AND I WAS ADVISED THE SUBFRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND TO TRY FINDING ONE IN A SALVAGE YARD. I CONTACTED A SALVAGE YARD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A FEW AND IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO PULL ONE. I GOT THE CALL TODAY SAYING THEY WERE SORRY BUT ALL OF THE FRONT SUBFRAMES ON THE SATURN L SERIES THEY HAVE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE NOT USABLE. I CONTACTED OTHER YARDS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO FIND A SALVAGE YARD DOWN SOUTH THAT HAD A USABLE SUBFRAME. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND NUMEROUS FORUM POSTS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC AND I'M FINDING IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD SAFETY HAZARD? FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT HAPPENS ON ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE L SERIES. THE IRONY IS THE REST OF THE CAR IS VERY CLEAN, NO RUST ON THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS NO CLEAR EXPLANATION WHY THE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE CORROSION PERFORATION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WITH NO OTHER RUST/CORROSION ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD HAVE HAD A BAD OUTCOME. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 80,150

SUBFRAME ON SATURN TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY ONLY THING HOLDING PASSENGER WHEEL ON WAS STRUT BRACKET. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

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. *KB

Mileage: 130,000

THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH. MECHANIC STATED WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. *TR

Mileage: 117,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

CUSTOMER HAS SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS SATURN INCLUDING IGNITION AND TIRE REPLACEMENT**CC THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE SHIFT LIGHT INDICATOR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WENT OUT WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. THE AC WAS NOT COOLING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. THE TIRES HAD SEVER CUPPING FOLLOWING FOUR CROSS ROTATIONS DUE TO A BAD REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *JB

CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR. ALSO, FRONT OF VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE CAUSE OF THESE THINGS WERE UNDETERMINED. *AK

HAVE OWNED THE CAR, 2000 LS1, SINCE IT HAD ABOUT 8K MILES. HAVE HAD TO BUY 3 SETS OF TIRES SO FAR DUE TO IRREGULAR WEAR. BEEN TO SATURN DEALERSHIP AND OTHER GARAGES SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS BEFORE FINALLY LEARNING FROM SATURN THIS PAST SUMMER THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT SATURN HAD PUT TOGETHER A SHIM KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SOLUTION WOULD COST OVER $500, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COUNT THE FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY. ALSO HAVING BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEMS. BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN PARKING LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. HAVE REPLACED BULBS SEVERAL TIMES, PARTICULARLY THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. MECHANIC CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE SOCKET'S CONTACT POINTS, BUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. WIPERS DON'T GET WINDSHIELD CLEAN, EVEN WHEN BRAND NEW. AUTO UNLOCK STOPPED WORKING. *JB

CAR VIBRATES AT 55 - 70 ALWAYS. IT WEARS TIRES OUT.SEVERAL NEW SETS OF TIRES WORN OUT. IT HAS HAD SEVERAL FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, TIRE BALANCES. NOTHING WORKS. UR LOCAL SATURN DEALER RECOGNIZES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE REAR SHIMMS INSTALLED AND THAT A LOCAL AUTO STORE CAN DO IT AT A PRICE OF 250.00 PER AXLE! AND MAYBE THAT WILLL FIX IT!*AK

THE REAR END WAS WEARING OUT WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE OVER 20 MPH. ALSO, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TECH FOUND THAT THE TIRES HAD UNEVEN WEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE, THE REAR CARGO COVER WAS CRACKED AT THE CLIP, THERE WAS A THUMPING SOUND THAT HAD COME FROM THE TIRES AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS ALSO CUPPING ON THE TIRES THAT CAUSED THE EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 42,500

I HAVE A 2000 LS1 SATURN. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN OTHER THAN FOR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG. OCTOBER 2002- MY HYDRAULICS WENT OUT OF MY CLUTCH CAUSING ME TO BE STALLED WITHOUT A CAR. A FEW MONTHS AGO IT WAS RECALLED DUE TO SOMETHING GONE WRONG IN THE REAR AXLE. SO SATURN REPLACED IT. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2003, I TOOK IT IN AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS HEARING A RUBBING NOISE WHEN I MADE SHARP LEFT TURNS. TURNS OUT I NEED A $1400 NEW STEERING RACK BECAUSE THERE IS AN INTERNAL LEAK FROM MY POWER STEERING FLUID. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36,800 MILES ON IT. BUT OF COURSE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT 800 MILES AGO. I DON'T THINK A FAIRLY NEW CAR SHOULD BE HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS. *LA

Mileage: 36,800

FRONT END VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FEELS UNSAFE FO DRIVE. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR REPAIR 7/16/01. AGAIN ON 6/23/03. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. REQUESTING GM SATURN LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PROBLEM, PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO DEALERSHIPS, AND INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF VEHICLE OWNERS. RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

Mileage: 27,319

WHILE DRIVING, BOTH REAR WHEEL SIDEWALLS WORE OUT. REPLACED TIRES 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED/REPAIRED AND REPLACED TIRES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ON FOUR OCCASIONS, HOWEVER VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, SATURN HAS IDENTIFIED A MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THE WAY THE REAR SUSPENSION IS MOUNTED TO THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE, THIS CAUSES THE REAR TIRES TO ERODE, VIBRATION IS FELT MOSTLY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

2000 L2W MODEL. CONSUMER STATES HEARS A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING MORE SO AT AROUND 30 - 35 MPH. ALSO THERE IS FRONT END VIBRATION. DEALER FOUND TIRES WERE CHOPPED. DEALER REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND PERFORMED COMPLETE FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *TT

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 37,929 MILES BECAUSE THE INSIDE EDGES WERE WORN BELOW SPECIFICATION AND THE BRAKE SHOES WOULD NOT SEAT PROPERLY ON THE ROTOR. THE EDGES COULD NOT BE TURNED OR RESURFACED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF METAL GRINDING INTO THE ROTOR. ALSO, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR UNEVEN WEAR. THE REAR BRAKE RETAINER SPRING BROKE. THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW IS INOPERABLE. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE CONSOLE. CONSUMER ALSO CLAIMS THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001. THERE IS STILL VIBRATION AND PLAY BEING FELT IN THE STEERING. THERE WAS A BENT HUB WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VIBRATION. *JG

CONSUMER RETURNED FIVE TIMES TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CORRECTED FOR VIBRATION AND PLAY. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARANTY, HOWEVER THERE IS VIBRATION AND PLAY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN WORKING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BENT HUB. THIS REPLACEMENT STOPPED THE VIBRATION. THERE IS STILL CONTINUOUS PLAY. THE TIRES WERE FEATHERED AND CUPPED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND REAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AS WERE THE FOUR TIRES. *JG

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE REAR END OF VEHICLE SHAKES AND THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. THE TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED TIRES TWICE, ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE. DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. NLM

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. *AK 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. *YD

WHILE ACCELERATING A CLICKING NOISE WOULD APPEAR FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE IN DASH BOARD. FOAM TAPE BETWEEN CLUTSTER AND BEZEL INSTALLED. THERE IS A CLICKING AND/OR SCREECHING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND THERE IS VIBRATION COMING UP THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ALONG WITH REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *TT

WHILE ACCELERATING A CLICKING NOISE WOULD APPEAR FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE IN DASH BOARD. FOAM TAPE BETWEEN CLUTSTER AND BEZEL INSTALLED. THERE IS A CLICKING AND/OR SCREECHING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND THERE IS VIBRATION COMING UP THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ALONG WITH REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *TT

MISALLIGNMENT CAUSED TIRES TO CUP AND FRONTEND TO SHIMMY. BOTH GOT INCREASINGLY WORSE. WAS REPORTED TO SATURN. WAS TOLD BY A SALESMAN THERE THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR(SAME YEAR AND MODEL). WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT SATURN WAS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT LATER FROM SERVICE CENTER THAT IT WAS NOT ALLIGNED RIGHT IN FACTORY. DO NOT KNOW WHO IS IS TELLING THE TRUTH. FELT CAR OWNERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARNED OF THE PROBLEM...HONESTLY AND UP FRONT. CONTACTED SATURN ONLINE.*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. *YH

1) CAR SHAKING PROBLEM: DEALER REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARMS (RIGHT AND LEFT) AS WELL AS POWE STEERING PUMP TO REMEDY PROBLEM. CAR CONTINUES TO SHAKE AT MOST SPEEDS. CONTACTED THE MANUAFCTURER, WHO REPLIED THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. 2) SPEEDOMETER: REPORTED PROBLEM 4 TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, AND DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER MAKING A "WHINING" SOUND AT MOST SPEEDS.*AK

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ALIGNMENT CAUSES PREMATURE WEARING OF TIRES. *AK DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR TOE AND CAMBER, FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, ADJUSTED RIGHT FRONT CAMBER, ADJUSTED REAR TOE ON BOTH SIDES, ADJUSTED FRONT TOE, PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE FIRESTONE TIRES, SIZE P205/65R15. *SLC

VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60-70 MPH MOSTLY TRANSMITTED THROUGH STEERING WHEEL

FRONT-END VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RE-BALANCING AND REPLACING TIRES HAS HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM.