2001 Saturn L200 Reviews

After 197,000 miles I'm having some electrical issues.

The main thing I lost is my air conditioning, but I still have heat. Radio, lights, etc. all work. The problem is in the console. Some kind of computer part that costs $600, so I'm just going without air this summer.

I love my Saturn, and am going to buy another one when this one blows up! Already has 198,000, and has never used a drop of oil, and same original transmission. If my car has a timing belt, never had a problem with it.

Gets 28 MPG around town and 33 MPG on a trip. Bought it used 7 years ago and it runs great.

Like how it handles - tight around bends.

Banging noise from both front struts -- when I hit bumps --- told it's OK?

AC keeps leaking - can't find the leak - every 6 months have it serviced. The shop put in color tracer --- can't find the leak.

I do like the car, and it does drive nicely.

This is the biggest piece of crap I have ever owned.

When I purchased it, the heater core was already leaking and I was unaware of it, so my passenger side floor is destroyed.

Cooling system fans have gone out and had to both be replaced, and still does not work properly.

I have a minor overheating issue no one can find.

My timing chain broke and destroyed my motor, so it needed to be replaced... $2000.00 and they would not cover it in the recall.

I have a bad a shimmy in the front end due to springs going bad.

I have a leak in my gas tank at the seam.

Numerous transmission problems that no one can seem to figure out.

It eats up the brakes like crazy.

Wiring somewhere in the car for A/C went bad, no one can track it down.

I would not buy this car again if it where the last car on earth. I have spent way too much on this car just trying to keep it running. I fix one thing and another problem or two will surface. If I didn't owe money on it, I would blow it up.

New problem. Daytime running lights COME ON AND STAY ON with the key out of the ignition and all switches in off mode.

Had first run my battery down (can't see them on during day), and changed engine relay switch in under hood fuse box. Worked for awhile.

Can't start the car and several electronics do not work; dome light, back defroster, but others, like radio and horn are fine...

Any suggestions??

gp5alex@yahoo.com

Was a reliable car until now.

Saturn did replace the engine (timing belt) after 25,000 miles.

Do not know what to expect.

Timing chain.

Transmission slamming.

2 broken coil springs.

A/C evaporator.

Rear tires/alignment.

Catalytic converter plugged.

Brake lights.

Misc electrical issues.

I have a 2001 Saturn L200 with the Ecotech 2.2 with 155,000 miles.

Last year I had the timing chain brake right after the recall. Luckily, Saturn picked up 50% of the cost. I also now have 2 broken coils springs, and a slow coolant leak on the passenger floor (heater core?). I also have the familiar issue of both rear wheels being badly out of alignment, causing the car to eat rear tires and make the car shimmy very badly.

I have almost wrecked my car numerous times on wet or snow covered roads. I cannot believe there was not recall for this issue.

Here is the one I cannot figure out now. When I drive the car and hit a bump at low speed, the car will not shift out of first gear! It slams very badly if going into drive or reverse. If I stop the car and wait for a little while or start the car from the neutral position, it will then shift gears very smoothly and normally again. Saturn could not find the problem. Is this the MAF issue, or something different?

The mechanic stated the computer had a code stored for a problem with the throttle position sensor. I also read something on the SL model transmissions that stated an issue with the valve body on the transmission. Do the SL and L-series use the same transmissions?