2000 SATURN SL Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE OF SATURN 2000 TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY MY SATURN STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PARK IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION GET TOWED ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT BROKE CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE TO JUNK MY CAR AND GET A NEW ONE. I AM VERY DISTRESSED TO FIND THE RECALL OF THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS VEHICLE AND SINCE IT WAS LAWFULLY REGISTERED TO ME AM WONDERING WHY I HAVE NO RECALL FROM YOU? *TR

Mileage: 103,000

WHEN I START MY CAR OR PARK IT AFTER DRIVING THE RPMS SHOOT UP EXTREMELY HIGH & THE ENGINE RACES. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD CLUNK DUE TO SHUTTING IT OFF WITH THE RPMS THAT HIGH. I HAVE HAD IT DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES & NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG. I HAD THE AIR IDLE SENSOR REPLACED THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT. THIS IS VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE.*TR

Mileage: 95,000

TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2000 SATURN L BROKE. I ONLY HAVE 83,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY WITH GM CARS, ESPECIALLY SATURNS. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

MY SATURN SL2000 IS 8 YEARS OLD. RECENT REPAIRS ARE FUEL CAP REPLACED DUE TO BROKEN CAP SEAL. REAR BUSHINGS, GASKET REPLACEMANT GASKET TOP REPLACEMENT AND NOW AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WONT WORK. ALL PROBLEMS DISCOVERED SINCE MAY 2008. REPAIRS PERFORMED ON ALL EXCEPT AIR CONDITION WHICH WAS DISCOVERED TODAY 6-25-08. 1000 DOLLARS APPROX. ALL 3MONTH MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR DEC, 1999. *TR

DRIVING MY 2000 SATURN SL2 70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY COMES ON, ENGINE STOPS RUNNING PULL OVER, LUCKILY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SAFELY. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS TIMING CHAIN OR BELT MAY HAVE BROKEN. DEALER CALLS BACK, SAYS I NEED A $7000.00 REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS COST ME OVER 5000.00 IN REPAIRS. SATURN HAS NOT OFFERED ANY SORT OF EXPLANATION. JUST A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE. I AM FURIOUS. *TR

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER WITH AN AS-IS NO WARRANTY BACK IN AUGUST 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD A LITTLE OVER 88,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND ALL MAJOR ITEMS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, THE CAR CAME DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2007, THE ENGINE WENT BANG. THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH AND THERE WAS NO KNOCKING HEARD PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 9-1-1 TO REPORT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN ON FIRE, BUT THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASKED ABOUT KNOCKING PRIOR AND I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NONE. IN FACT, A MECHANIC HAD JUST LOOKED AT IT THE DAY BEFORE. I RECALL THAT THE CHANGE OIL SOON LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT NEVER STEADY. THE OIL LIGHT ALSO KEPT FLICKERING BUT WAS NEVER STEADY. THE RPM'S INCREASED FROM 2500 TO 3000 AND RETURNED TO 2500. NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS REPORTED BY DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN EAST GRAND FORKS. THE AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID IT IS TOTALED. CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING A NEW OR USED ENGINE TO REPLACE. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

VEHICLE COOLANT LIGHT LOW INDICATOR CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION OIL WAS FOUND IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. CAR HAD UNDER 100000 MILES, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED. SATURN ISSUED COMPANY BULLETIN 99P01. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR A MINIMAL CHARGE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. WERE ONLY WILLING TO OFFER 25% OF THE APPROXIMATE $2200 REPAIR CHARGE. *AK

Mileage: 98,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN SL. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT CONTAINED NO OIL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SERVICED THREE WEEKS PRIOR. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3,400 AND A USED ENGINE WITHOUT WARRANTY WOULD COST $2,400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO SIGNS OF LEAKING, DRAINING, OR OIL BURNING WERE PRESENT, YET THE OIL IS EVAPORATING. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07

Mileage: 53,000

I PURCHASED A 2000 SATURN SL2 WHICH WAS USED, THEREFORE, I HAD A SHOP THOROUGHLY CHECK THAT ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE IN WORKING ORDER...I WAS TOLD THAT ALL WERE IN GREAT SHAPE..IE., THE ENGINE, STARTER, AND ANY VITAL PARTS. THE CAR RAN GREAT...WELL, FOR 5-6 MOS. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING,WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF...THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN...NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING! THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED BUT I JUST HEARD CLICKING WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION. WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE ENGINE IS SHOT, THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO OTHER THAN PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN IT...WITH A SMALL FEE OF 4000.00. BOTH OF US DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS AND BARELY 3,000 MILES THE ENGINE WENT FROM GREAT TO GONE! I HAVE READ SEVERAL DOCUMENTS FROM THIS SITE AND THERE ARE MANY PERSONS WITH 2000 SATURNS THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY TOO HAVE A CAR THAT STOPPED SUDDENLY AND THE STORIES SOUND VERY SIMILAR TO MINE...I'VE SEEN MANY OF HAVE SIMILAR VIN #S...I IDENTIFIED WITH THE DOCS REGARDING THE 2000-2003 SATURN L-SERIES ISSUES, ALTHOUGH, MINE IS OF THE S-SERIES (I GUESS, BECAUSE IT IS AN SL-2). THE LETTER DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE REFERRED TO (EA06-009), THE DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) OR THE ODI INVESTIGATION PE06-006 THAT WAS OPENED ON 1/24/06. I AM NOT SURE THAT THOSE DOCUMENT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BEING THAT I THOUGHT MY ENGINE WAS OF THE SIZE 1.9L, I-4, MP, DOHC. IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO VIEW THE DOCS MENTIONED, THEY ARE BASICALLY DESCRIBING THE SAME PROB. THAT I HAVE. WILL YOU PLEASE FIND OUT IF I AM INCORRECT WITH THE INFO. THAT I'VE VIEWED AND IF THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD FOR OVER 1 YR. OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ADVICE, OR KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO OR WITH WHOM I SHOULD SPEAK...PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH.*JB

Mileage: 90,000

WHEN CHECKING THE COLOR OF MY OIL, THE DIP STICK WAS FOUND 3 TIMES BONE DRY. NO OIL LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD COME ON AND FINALLY ONE TIME IT WAS TOO LATE. ON CHRISTMAS EVE MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO HEAT AND LACK OF OIL. I WOULD LOSE 5 QUARTS BEFORE MY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO BUY A USED ENGINE AND HAVE IT INSTALLED BY A FAMILY FRIEND DUE TO LACK OF MONEY TO FIX THIS UNEXPECTED PROBLEM ON MY 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT I AM STILL MAKING PAYEMNTS ON. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

A 2000 SL1 SATURN PASSENGER VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF THIS COMPLAINT. SATURNS ARE OFTEN RECOGNIZED AS BEING 200K MILE CARS - LOOK FOR THE WALL AT THE SERVICE CENTERS. - POLAROIDS OF 'HAPPY' SATURN CUSTOMERS. AFTER 94K MILES, MY SATURN HAD A PISTON FRAGMENT INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE MOTOR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I JUST PAID IT OFF 6 MONTHS AGO. SATURN REFUSED TO SUPPLY ANY EXPLANATION OR OFFER TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.*JB

Mileage: 94,000

2000 SATURN SL2 INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. *MR *SC

Mileage: 26,920

2000 SATURN SL-2 WITH 021500 MILES; ANTI-FREEZE LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM.THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT,CAUSING A BURDEN ONTO THE CONSUMER.*AK

Mileage: 21,476

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING. *AK WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC TOLD HER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A RISK PIN FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING SHE STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS, SHE HAD HER VEHICLE TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *JB

60,000 MILES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, IT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD A CRACK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE FOR FREE.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

60,000 MILES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, IT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD A CRACK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE FOR FREE.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION CASING HAD A BAD LEAK WIRING HARNESS FROM IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILIES LIFE AT RISK RATTLES REAL BAD IN REAR PORTION OF CAR HEATER QUIT WORKING

Mileage: 73,568

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 29,220

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60000 MILES AND WAS THREE YEARS OLD. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN ONE OF THE HEATER CORE HOSES BLEW. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. *AK *NLM *JB

Mileage: 60,000

I HAVE A 2000 SATURN SL1 (AUTO TRANS). THE OIL GALLEY PLUG COME OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND BROKE MY FLYWHEEL, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND THE TRANSMISSION. SATURN SAYS IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED, BUT THIS PLUG CAN NOT BE TOUCH WITHOUT TAKING THE WHOLE ENGINE OUT AND TAKING THE ENGINE APART. KNOW THIS NOW THE LAST ONE TO TOUCH THIS PLUG IS SATURN WHEN THEY WERE PUTTING THE ENGINE TOGETHER NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, NOW A PLUG THAT DOES NOTHING AND CAN NOT BE TOUCH OR A REASON TO BE SERVICED, HAS CAUSED $2200 OF DAMAGE. KNOWING ALL OF THIS, WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. IS THERE ANYWAY THAT YOU CAN HELP ME. CALL IF YOU CAN OR CAN'T HELP PLEASE!*AK

Mileage: 51,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHT COMPONENTS WERE OFF. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO STATED THE OIL PUMP FAILED. *AK *TS *JB

Mileage: 45,000

LEAKING EXHAUST FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS FOUND CODES: P0133 AND P0301 SLOW RESPONSE FROM 02 SENSOR AND MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 1 AND BAD CHECK VALVE. *JB

Mileage: 53,000

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO,VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT DUE TO GASKET FAILURE. *YH

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLES COMPUTER IS REGISTERING FALSE INFORMATION, THIS IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER-* TS

COOLANT LEAKED, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF WATER PUMP AND OIL COOLER COVER. PROBLEM STARTED PRIOR TO MANF. WARRENTY ENDING. HAVE LOW COOLENT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. MR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING CAHIN BROKE, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB

CONSUMER STATES SERPETINE BELT WAS CRACKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

ENGINE WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD BECOMES DISTORED. HOWEVER, WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED OIL PAN DUE TO OIL PAN LEAK. GLOVE BOX FELL OUT DUE TO THE LOCK BEING BROKE. SES LIGHT ON DUE TO TERMINAL DISLODGED ON 5 VOLT REFERENCE SPLICE PACK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ECM DUE TO STALLING AND FOUND BATTERY CABLE LOOSE AND FIXED PROBLEM, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *SLC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED OIL PAN DUE TO OIL PAN LEAK. GLOVE BOX FELL OUT DUE TO THE LOCK BEING BROKE. SES LIGHT ON DUE TO TERMINAL DISLODGED ON 5 VOLT REFERENCE SPLICE PACK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE ECM DUE TO STALLING AND FOUND BATTERY CABLE LOOSE AND FIXED PROBLEM, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. *SLC

THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND THE CONSUMER CANNOT ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NLM

OUR VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY SATURN CAMPAIGN 00-C-09, AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THIS RECALL IN THE NHTSA RECALL DATABASE. *AK