2001 Saturn LS: complaints, problems and recalls

OEM WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONSISTENTLY CHATTER AND HOP ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING STREAKS AND NUMEROUS UN-WIPED AREAS, EVEN WHEN NEW. REPLACING WITH AFTERMARKET WIPERS (BOSCH) IMMEDIATELY RECTIFIES THE CONCERN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003155 at NHTSA ↗

2001 SATURN L200 - STARTED HAVING INTERMITTEN "GROANS" OCCURRING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS (BEFORE 50,000 MILES), AND THEN OVER TIME HAD INTERMITTEN POWER STEERING FAILURES FOR SHORT PERIODS. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED TODAY. SYMPTOMS SOUNDED LIKE THE 1.5 MILLION RECALL GM HAD FOR THE BEARING IN THEIR POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY I READ ABOUT IN NOV.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005340 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT "CLANKING" NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. MR SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006201 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007120 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008195 at NHTSA ↗

AT 12000 MILES I TOOK MY L200 SATURN IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THE TIRES (2) WERE CHOPPY. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES AND DID THE ALIGNMENT AT NO CHARGE. I INQUIRED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL SATURN BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT WEIGHTED REAR END OF THE CAR. I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS OR IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM?? I NOTIFIED SATURN CO AND THEY FILED MY COMPLAINT UNDER REFERENCE # 1-4597347, AND STATED THE MAN MADE COMPONENTS MAY REQUIRE REPAIR OR …

Owner-reported narrative. 12,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008568 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2001 SATURN L300. AT 9000 MILES I NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE RIDE. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE DEALER TO INSPECT IT. THE DEALER SAID THE TIRES WERE CHOPPY AND HAD UNEVEN WERE. THEY ALSO STATED IT WAS A KNOW DEFECT. THEY REPLACED TWO TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. WELL I NOW HAVE 30000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I AM GOING TO REQUEST MY 5TH, YES FIFTH, SET OF TIRES TO BE REPLACED. ONLY THIS TIME AM I GOING TO REQUEST ANY TIRE AS LONG AS IT IS NOT THE FIRESTONE AFFINITY HP P205 65 R15. THIS IS MY FIRST GM CAR AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINT…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013622 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER REPLACEMENT REQUIRED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 42,764 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018334 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS A LOWER SIDE IMPACT SAFING SENSOR THRESHOLD THAN SPECIFIED. BECAUSE OF THIS REDUCED THRESHOLD, THERE COULD BE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAG WITH SEVERE SLAMMING OF THE DOOR.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2000-10-30 (October 30, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE CLIP MISSING OR IMPROPERLY SEATED. WITHOUT THE CLIP, THE CABLE CAN SLIP OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND THE TRANSAXLE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE ALONG WITH THE SHIFT LEVER. THE DRIVER MAY PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, BUT THE TRANSAXLE MAY BE IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE SHIFT CABLE RETAINER CLIP TO VERIFY PROPER INSTALLATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CLIP AND ADJUST THE CABLE TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Reported: 2001-02-01 (February 1, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

Reported: 2002-12-09 (December 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

Reported: 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 (L61) ENGINES, A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION IN IDLE QUALITY, REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE HARD TO START. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER SUCH AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FLASHING, AND MAY LEAD TO SECONDARY FAILURES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND EXHAUST RESONATOR.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL (1) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, (2) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS, OR (3) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, AND UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.

Reported: 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW TAIL LAMP REINFORCING SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.2L 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, LINKS IN THE ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN CAN SEPARATE.

Consequence: IF A TIMING CHAIN LINK SEPARATES WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.