2001 Saturn LS: grinding or squealing brakes

6 of the 582 complaints about the 2001 Saturn LS describe grinding or squealing brakes.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 80,324
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 2 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Grinding or squealing brakes by model year

2002
4
2001
6
2000
4

What owners say

Filed Apr 24, 2009 · Engine · 92,000 miles · MD

2001 saturn l300 3.0l v6 grinding noise engine stalled. Took to mechanic said timing chain broke and seized engine. Whole engine needs replaced. Noticed 4 cylinders have recall but not the v6.

Filed Jan 20, 2008 · Engine · 94,000 miles · MD

Driving home from work one night and car starting making a grinding noise and just stalled on me. Fortunately I was able to coast off the main highway to a parking lot. Had the car towed to put it on a computer diagnostic machine and was told the timing chain broke and has since ruined my whole engine. Now my car sits in my yard with no good motor or timing chain and I still owe $4000 and paying $300 a month to pay for a car I cannot drive as I do not have the money for a new engine or even a used one.

Filed Dec 21, 2006 · Engine · 80,324 miles · MO

With my saturn l-200 there was an occasional grinding noise when started, when I took it in to the dealer it would not make the noise because it had been running. I was on my way to a company meeting in kc, and the car all of a sudden would not accelerate when I stepped on the gas, it just stayed at a constant idle. I of course pulled off to the side of the road, and tried to restart it, and had no success. I had it towed to a shop. That is when I found out that the timing belt broke, and that it had done damage to the motor. The mechanic told me that it would cost between 2,000 - 7,000 dollar range to replace the motor. Not happy!

Filed Jan 3, 2006 · Brakes · 48,700 miles · NY

Noticed a burning rubber smell from the rt rear of the vehicle and then from the left rear tire of the vehicle. Hubcap very warm after a short travel distance, back brakes made a grinding sound. Went to use parking brake, could not lift up brake. Parking brake inoperable. Took to get repaired, was told that the parking brake cable was bound up, due to corrosion, causing the connection cables to bind up both rear brakes, unable to be released, which caused the brake shoes to melt on both rear wheels, causing the pad to rub against the rotor and, metal to metal, heat up and cause burning smell. Need to have new back rotors, brakes shoes, brake pads, parking brake fixed, new cables, and spring clips replaced. All parts need to be new as the rotors are damaged due to brake hangup. Back rotors have had to be replace 3 times on this vehicle so far.

Filed Dec 31, 2003 · Steering · 36,000 miles · CT

Grinding noise when turning left or right. 'sounds' like it comes from tire area. Independent mechanic states that strut is leaking & car requires new rack & pinion steering at 41k miles. Problem is continuous.

Filed Sep 11, 2002 · Transmission · CA

On june 11, 2001 I purchased a new (2001) saturn l-200 4-door sedan at saturn of cerritos, 18400 studebaker road, cerritos, ca 90703. The following problems have occurred: on 6-16-02, I was traveling north on the 405 freeway to woodland hills, ca. The clutch began to fail. I was able to 'limp' to my destination and thereafter had my car towed to saturn of the valley, 15421 roscoe blvd. Sepulveda, ca 91343 818‑895‑3800, where they inspected the problem and thereafter replaced the master clutch cylinder on 6-17-02. Thereafter, on 7-14-02, again on the 405 fwy., the clutch completely failed again. I pumped the clutch many, many times and the clutch began to perform normally. The car performed normally until (for the 3rd time) on8-3-02, upon exiting the fwy., the clutch failed again. After pumping the clutch several times it began to perform normally again. (note: my car was serviced on 8-2-02 at saturn of cerritos and no problems were found.) then on 8-25-02, while exiting a freeway, I tried to downshift gears, however it was impossible since my clutch was not working at all! I had to grind the gears, after pumping the clutch repeatedly, it regained 'life', until 9-6-02,friday, on my home from work while on the freeway, I pushed the clutch in and there was absolutely zero clutch, I was forced to drive home in 3rd gear, I made it, from there I arranged to have the car towed to saturn of cerritos where it currently is. They told me they only make 1 out of every 500 l-200's with a 5peed manual transmission, I will appreciate hearing from you with regard to this unusual and frustrating situation. Thank you, [xxx]. *ak parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).