2002 SATURN LS Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 60,000

2002 SATURN L300 V6 EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND ENGINE PROBLEMS THE OIL DRAINED INTO THE RADIATOR AND THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REWORKED ALL HOSES SENSORS AND RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED THE VALVES AND LOTS OF OTHER HEAD WORK HAD TO BE DONE. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN 18,000MILES AND 60,000 MILE TIRES LAST ABOUT 12-18,000 MILES BEFORE BEING TOLD THEY ARE HAZARDOUS AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE NEW OIL SENSOR REPLACED WITH THE ENGINE REBUILD NOW IS LEAKING AGAIN AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. REAR BRAKE LAMPS BLOW OUT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN BURNED THE WIRING AND PLASTIC FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

I PURCHASED MY 2002 SATURN L300 BACK ON 9/30/2002. CAR, AT TIME OF PURCHASE, WAS BRAND NEW. SINCE ITS PURCHASE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER. RECENTLY I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START SO SATURN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR COLUMBUS, GA LOCATION TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED BATTERY HAD DIED AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. THE NEW BATTERY REPRESENTS THE 3RD BATTERY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SINCE I PURCHASED IT (VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 55,000 MILES ON IT). I ASKED, WHILE THEY HAD IT IN THE SHOP, TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AS THEY WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. MY WIFE WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP YESTERDAY 8/29/06 AND WAS ADVISED ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE 4TH SET OF TIRES THIS CAR HAS HAD SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BACK IN LATE 2002. AT TIME OF PURCHASE I ADDED A 5 YEAR 60,000 MILE B-T-B WARRANTY WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE. SATURN, FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS BOTH TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CORP HEADQUARTERS HAS DECIDED THAT THE CAR IN FACT DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AND THAT MY PREGNANT WIFE (WITH 1 YEAR OLD IN BACK SEAT) MUST BE DRIVING IT POORLY. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR DOWN SO QUICKLY HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *NM

Mileage: 55,125

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BEARING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE BEARING OVERHEATED CAUSING THE SQUEAL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE BEARING SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK

Mileage: 40,000

THE REAR OF MY SATURN LW200 WAGON IS MAKING MY TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. IT'S CAUSING THE INSIDE TREAD EDGE TO WEAR OUT BEFORE THE REST. SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE ME 235 TO DO AN ALIGNMENT AND PUT IN A SPACER KIT WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A FACTORY DEFECT FROM THE BEGINNING. SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR THIS AND MY TIRES. *JB

Mileage: 130,000

2002 SATURN L100 MADE CLANKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *TS ***NO 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. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HER HEAD A ROARING IN THE FRONT END. DRIVE SHIFT CAUSED CONSUMER TO WRECK 2002 SATURN. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIRES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED CORRECTING THE REAR CAM AND SETTING THE FRONT AND REAR TOE. A COLLAPSED MOTOR MOUNT CAUSED ROUGH IDLE. THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. LEFT REAR HUB BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Mileage: 23,614

DT: THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES ,AND THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIRES. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK TO THE RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND JOINTS WHICH HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND AXLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW ROTORS AND MORE TIRES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE A ROARING SOUND LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE AS NOTED BY THE CONTACT. *AK UPDATE 1/11/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 28,000

2002 SATURN L200 WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS FLICKER AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON EXPRESSWAY AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERATIVE. *MR SATURN SUGGESTED THAT THE FLICKERING WAS NORMAL. IN VERY HOT/HUMID WEATHER, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN HOT AD THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD STOP RUNNING. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE STALLING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN ALIGNMENT, TOE AND CAMBER PROBLEM. *SC

Mileage: 19,443

THE TIRES ON MY 2002 L300 HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO CUPPING CAUSED BY AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED. THE CUPPING OF THE TIRES CREATES AN UNEVEN RIDE AND THE TIRES ARE VERY NOISY. WHEN THE TIRES ARE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL THE TIRES BEGIN CUPPING AND THE PROCESS STARTS OVER. NOW THAT I HAVE PASSED THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE TIRES WILL NO LONGER BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY TIRES WILL NEED REPLACING ONCE AGAIN BEFORE THE END OF 2005 SO THAT MY CAR WILL PASS A REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION.

I HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE SHOP TO GET A NEW ONE, THE TECHNICIAN HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR TIRES DUE TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH REAR TIRES. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET AN ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT SHOP FOUND OUT ABOUT A SERVIVE BULLETIN #00-T-72A ISSUED IN JULY 2002 REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. BOTH THE REAR TIRES LEAN IN AT THE TOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER TO GET IT FIXED, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. I WANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RECALL AND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND WHY A SERVICE BULLETIN IS NOT CONSIDERED A "DEFECT" IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES CAUSED, BUT IF THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT DURING MY OUT OF TOWN TRIP THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN OR EVEN WORSE. THE INSIDE OF BOTH THE REAR TIRES WAS SO WORN THAT BOTH WERE SHOWING THE STEEL BELTS. THANK YOU, LOUISE A. LEADER

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TURNING DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH VIBRATED. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

VEHICLE'S ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, MAKING IT HARD TO MANEUVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SATURN FOR REPAIRS, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BACK TIRES WERE WORN OUT, AS A RESULT OF AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON IT'S FOURTH SET OF TIRES. *NM

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UP. THE DEALER INDICATED THE NEED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND INSTALL A REAR ALIGNMENT KIT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY ALIGNMENT. *PH *NM

Mileage: 25,000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UP. THE DEALER INDICATED THE NEED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND INSTALL A REAR ALIGNMENT KIT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY ALIGNMENT. *PH *NM

Mileage: 25,000

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE ONLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE SUSPENSION LINK WAS REPLACED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SKIPPED WHEN BEING ROLLED DOWN. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB HAD BURNED OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ACROSS THE WINDOW HALF WAY BEFORE IT SQUIRTED ANY SPRAY AND THEN SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

Mileage: 6,068

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE DEALER HAS REPLACED 5 SETS OF TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY CONSTANTLY CUPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, INSTALLED A SHIM KIT AND ADJUSTED THE FRONT TOE, BUT NONE OF THOSE REPAIRS STOPPED THE TIRES FROM CUPPING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED THAT THEY RE-PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE REQUEST BUT OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 75,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER IS CONVINCED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL RE-OCCUR. *AK *SCC *NLM

Mileage: 39,061

THE TIRES ON MY 2002 SATURN LW300 WORE OUT AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT 22,000 MILES. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP DESCRIBING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEED AND EXCESSIVELY WORN TIRES. ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS I DESCRIBED MET THE SYMPTOMS IN EXISTING TSBS FOR MY VEHICLE, THE SATURN DEALER IGNORED THESE AND UNTIL I DID RESEARCH TO FIND THE TSBS, WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. FROM MY RESEARCH, THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES IS FAR FROM AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE, AND THEREFORE SAFETY, OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS "CUPPING" ON MY REAR TIRES MAKING THEM OUT OF ROUND.WHILE THERE IS A TSB OUT FOR THIS INCIDENT, CERTAIN SATURN DEALERS ARE CHOOSING TO IGNORE THIS EVEN WHEN CUSTOMERS REPORT THE PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TSBS. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO SATURN AND IS RELATED TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SUSPENSION AND SATURN'S SELECTION FOR TIRES (FIRESTONE AFFINITY HPS), THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND AVERT FUTURE SAFETY ISSUES RELATING TO LOW TIRE TRACTION. FURTHERMORE, THE FACT THAT THIS TIRE WEAR OCCURS AT SUCH AN EARLY PERIOD IN THE CAR'S LIFE THAT MANY CONSUMERS WILL NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE WORN OUT TIRES UNTIL THEY HAVE A FAILURE LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY CASE BUT TREAD LIFE IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD NORMALLY BE CHECKING ON A CAR WITH 22,000 MILES BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON FOR TIRES ON A NEW CAR TO WEAR OUT AT 22,000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 22,000

VEHICLE VIBRATES SIGNIFICANTLY AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, STABILITY, SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT ARE SEVERELY IMPAIRED. SEAT PAD AND COVER COME LOOSE REPEATEDLY.*JB