We drove the car to eat. When we came back out the car would not start. We had it towed to the mechanic and he told us the timing chain jumped a couple of teeth. It also bent some or all the values. The same makes and models have had recalls for this issue. Our car was not under recall for some reason. What if I was driving 70 MPH and this happened we could of been in a huge wreck.
2001 Saturn LS engine complaints
Page 2 of 12: complaints 11 to 40 of 339, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Good afternoon, I am a the original saturn owner who never received recall information regarding my 2001 saturn l series. I have experienced various problems that directly correlate to the recall listed below: recall 07v519000-pertaining to engine and engine cooling potential number of units affected: 20,514 summary: 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. The recall listed above has effected our vehicle on two different occasions; the first of which was fixed out of our own pocket for $4,614.29 on 9/18/12. I have receipts to prove these repairs. Also, this recall effected our vehicle a second time on 12/4/2014. Unfortunately, due to our current circumstances we are unable to fix this vehicle out of our own pocket again. We love this car, and hope you can be of assistance. Thank you in advance.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn ls. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, a banging noise emitted from the engine before the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and examined by an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the timing chain had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v519000 (engine). The failure mileage was 170,000.
Timing chain broken, stalled while driving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn ls. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle overheated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.
June 20, 2014 started engine on my 2001 l200 saturn then backed it up 20ft and shut engine off. All attempts to restart engine failed. Had it towed to a mechanic who diagnosed a broken timing chain. Mechanic recommended replace engine at a cost of $2600.
I recently purchased a 2001 saturn l-200 series with only 75k original miles. Best running vehicle I had come across in along time. I had the car a little under a year and the timing chain stretched at 78k. This was a horrific incident being that I had my children in the car when it stalled in the middle of the road and would not restart. I found out that there was a recall on my specific vehicle but not my VIN and saturn would not cover the expenses. It was crazy that saturn would send out a recall on the whole saturn l- series but only repair certain vehicles in the series based on VIN's.
I have 2 children and im a part time single mom. I love my car. Never had any problems. One day after work. It simply wouldn't start. The timing chain defaulted on me. Now I am car less and in danger of losing employment. I have recently discovered that there had been a previous recall on this specific vehicle and part. However there's nothing I can do. Had I known this I would have never purchased the vehicle.
While driving home my car just stopped in the middle of the road. I had no idea what happened or what was wrong, it just stopped with no warning, right before it stopped it made a noise unfamiliar to me but it sounded as if the brakes had fallen off or something. I had to get my car towed at my own cost. I found a mechanic that would come out and take a look at it because I had it towed to my house. Apparently my timing chain was to loose and kept hitting something else and over time the chain broke and what it was hitting was damaged so I had to replace both and because the engine had to be dropped to get to replace, it cost me $1800.00 out my pocket also they informed me that the rack and pinion will have to be done also. If this is a recall issue I would like to be reimbursed for the cost. Thanks.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn ls200. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 132,000.
I have had multiple problems with this car, I have had issues with the catalytic converter, a fire in the resonator and 4 or 5 times where the car just stops running and I'm not able to get it to start again for a while. The car has accelerated when my foot was not even on the peddle making me go 65 in 30 with no control over the vehicle. I have also had times where the gas peddle was stuck and I was unable to slow down even when slamming on the brakes. At stop lights the wheels keep spinning when my foot is on the brake and the car moves into the intersection.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l100. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and then stalled. The vehicle did not restart. The vehicle was towed to the contacts house where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the timing chain, head and valve needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,183.
Engine started with rattling sound, engine was shut off. Attempted to restart engine, would crank but not fire.
I was driving the vehicle down the freeway at 65 MPH when the battery light came on and shut off. Within the next minute the coolant light came on and shut off and then the car seized right there on the freeway. The car would not start so we had to have it towed. Once the shop looked at it they diagnosed that the tensioner had broke and the serpentine belt had melted. We are now looking at having to replace the entire engine.
Upon starting the vehicle the engine stopped and was unable to be restarted due to broken timing chain which bent the valves in the engine.
Vehicle was covered by saturn recall 07v519000, entire valve assembly and timing chain replaced by gm shop at approximately 45,000 miles after timing chain failure with bent valves, failure also was at expressway speed of 55 MPH. Same type of failure again occurred on highway at speed of approximately 65 MPH. Vehicle was towed to independent repair shop who stated problem was valve failure. Total vehicle mileage is approximately 95,000 miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l series. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The contact was informed that the timing chain would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 127,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn ls. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated the timing tension needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage 95,402.
I was driving my car (2001 saturn l200) going approximately 5 MPH when the engine of my car stalled and could not be restarted. After having the car towed to a dealership it was determined that the timing chain failed causing catastrophic damage to my engine.
Vehicle 2001 saturn l200 , was being driven at approx 10mph thru residential neighborhood approx 100 yards from residence, approaching stop sign. Gm was contacted about recall was told vehicle was not part of recall, by 5 units. Vehicle sat for 6 months. I examined engine found timing chain to be broken. 4 bent valves, cyl 2 both intake & cyl 4 both exhaust valves. Cyl 2 & 4 pistons had heavy impact marks, cyl 1 piston had light impact marks, from the valves hitting them. Parts replaced updated timing chain kit, balance shaft chain, tensioner & gears water pump & thermostat cylinder head gasket upper kit cylinder head bolt set timing cover gasket kit drive belt tensioner & drive belt spark plugs 4 cost to repair aprox: $2700 parts & labor examination of the parts removed show's the oiler for the timing chain to be of significantly smaller size than the updated chain oiler in the new updated timing chain kit. Chain was excessively worn and broke at a link, chain tensioner was in pieces. Their is no doubt in my mind that the engine in this vehicle should have been in the recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l200 (n/a). The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning while ascending an incline. The contact inspected the vehicle and performed a diagnostic and found that the timing chain tensioner had separated from the cam shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 51,000. Updated 06/18/13*lj the consumer stated there is a recall but, is being denied a repair under the recall. Updated 06/20/2013
A strange noise sounded when I cranked the car to return home from the lake wales medical center (located about 15 miles from my home) after the car idled for a few minutes I was able to drive it home. When I drove it to the repair shop the noise got much louder. The repairman diagnosed the problem as noise from ting area due to tensioner pulley bearings; timing had jumped causing internal valve damage. Head work required: removed and replaced all 12 intake valves, ck'd and resurfaced both heads, installed timing belt kit, headset with bolts, camshaft seals, etc.
The timing chain is loose and slapping the engine. There had been noise intermittently coming from the engine for the last few months. Upon repair, the mechanic replaced the alternator and tension rod pulley system. That made the problem worse and then they found that it was not the cause of the noise. The timing chain behind the motor is loose and slapping the engine creating the noise. The mechanic found the recall on the timing chain when trying to order it. Local gm dealer says my car is not covered under the recall. It is a 2001 saturn l series.
The vehicle failed to start. Upon being inspected by an in dependent garage, it was determined to be a timing chain failure. Should this be covered under 07v‑519?
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l200. The contact stated that while making a left turn, the vehicle stalled and all the warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn ls. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver heard a pop and the vehicle powered off without any warning. The contact merged to the emergency lane and attempted to restart the vehicle and it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where the mechanic stated the timing chain needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign recall number: 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 53,116 updated 04/30/13*lj the consumer stated the vehicle had to be towed twice. The timing chain and tensioner broke. Also, four intake valves were bent, and two exhaust valves were bent.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l2. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop and attempting a right turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic for inspection. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic where it was determined that the timing chain failed. The mechanic advised that there was a recall for the vehicle under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling), but the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The failure and the current mileage was 146,000.
Under cruise control at speed, hill prompted a downshift and engine immediately stalled. Would not restart.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l-200. The contact was driving 70 MPH when the timing chain fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the timing chain and advised him of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saturn l200. The contact started the ignition and within a few moments, the engine unexpectedly stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto shop for diagnosis. There was a recall related to the defect under the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v519000 (engine and engine cooling); however the contact's in was ineligible for repairs under the recall campaign. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.... Updated 03-28-13 *bf the consumer stated the timing chain broke. The head and chain both had to be replaced. 04/02/2013
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