2000 Saturn Saturn L Series

FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO FLUID FROM THE AC CONDENSER LINE HAS BEEN FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AC IS ON. AS MUCH AS A HALF INCH OF LIQUID HAS POURED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE BRIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE THERE HAS BEEN A SULFUR LIKE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STALLING AS WELL. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE FOR THE BRIGHTS IS THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THAT THESE RECALLS ARE NOW CLOSED. MY SATURN CASE NUMBER IS 71-777062859. *TR

DEALERSHIP REVIEW OF CAR DURING OIL MAINTENANCE INDICATED DETERIORATION OF CRADLE ASSEMBLY - REPAIR COST $1153 - WIFE COMPLAINED OF NOISE IN FRONT END - REVIEWED WITH TEST DRIVE AND CAR DROVE STRAIGHT BUT DIPPED RIGHT AT BRAKING AND DIPPED LEFT AT ACCELERATION - VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED COMPLETE RUST OUT OF CRADLE AT FRONT CONNECTION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT WHEEL - INSUFFICIENT METAL REMAINED FOR EVEN MINIMAL SUPPORT - BRACKET COULD BE MOVED BY HAND. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED CAUSE TO BE LOCATION OF EXHAUST SYSTEM PARALLEL TO AND TOO CLOSE TO CRADLE CAUSING CONTINUOUS HEATING OF CRADLE ACCELERATING THE DETERIORATION OF THE STEEL CRADLE. EXHAUST LOCATION AND CRADLE EXIST IN FACTORY ASSEMBLED LOCATION. THIS MUST BE A CONCERN WITH ANY AUTO OF THIS TYPE L SERIES WITH 6 CYLINDER- 24 VALVE - 4 DOOR - YEAR 2000 ) SUGGEST IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS THIS IS A TICKING TIME BOMB READY TO EXPLODE - THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE EXHAUST WITH OUT INSTALLATION OF A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT FRAME AND CRADLE. *TR

NO-WARNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON 2000 SATURN WITH 4CYL 2.2 LITER ENGINE. THIS SATURN HAS VIN NUMBER: VIN AND IS OUTSIDE THE PREVIOUS RECALL RANGE. THE CAR AS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING ON A DIVIDED LANE HIGHWAY AT CONSTANT 55 MPH SPEED IN ROCKTON ILLINOIS IN GOOD WEATHER. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RESULTED REQUIRING NEW HEAD AND OTHER MAJOR PARTS. REFERENCE ONGOING INVESTIGATION NUMBER NHTSA DP08002. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS NO-WARNING FAILURE COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN SUB ZERO WEATHER IN THE COUNTRY NEAR MY HOME IN WINTER. THIS FAILURE MEANS NO HEAT IN THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY AND DEATH. I URGE YOU TO REQUIRE RECALL OF ALL CARS WITH THIS ENGINE DEFECT AND TO CONFIRM THE REPAIR FIXES THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 60 MILES PER HOUR I MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF A PROBLEM, I WAS JUST ABOUT RAN OFF THE OVERPASS I WAS CROSSING BY A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND HE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO MAKE REPAIRS AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND IN ORDER TO FIX IT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ~$1200 JUST TO REPAIR THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE CHANCES OF FINDING MORE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE DUE TO THIS HAPPENING AT A HIGH SPEED WAS VERY HIGH, THEIR BEST ESTIMATE WAS ~$2500 OR HIGHER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS ON EASTER OF LAST YEAR, I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED, I HAVE SPENT THE YEAR RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN OPENED, RECALLS ISSUED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, HOWEVER WE STILL HAVE NO RESOLVE FOR US HERE IN THE U.S. SOMEBODY REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE SATURN RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS COSTING HONEST CONSUMERS IN REPAIRS ON VEHICLES THAT SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING WHEN THEY ARE. AND FOR THEM TO "STRONGLY SUGGEST" GETTING THE ADDITIONAL PARTS TO GET OIL TO THE TIMING CHAIN IS ABOUT AS MUCH OF A GUILTY PLEA AS I HAVE EVER HEARD. BOTTOM LINE IS THEY KNOW THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, THE NHTSA KNOWS THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED KNOW THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, THE ONLY THING THAT IS UNKNOWN IS WHO HAS THE GUTS TO STAND UP AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, OR TO MAKE SOMEBODY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *JB