2000 Saturn LS ls2 from North America - Comments

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. Does the SL and L-series use the same transmissions?

Once again the 2000 LS2 that I've listed numerous problems with again, and again here has failed me again.

A/C quit working a couple months ago. I knew it would cost more than the car was worth to fix, so I'm living with sweating in the heat of the summer.

Had 4 new tires put on, and 5000 miles later they're wearing out again.

Hearing big clunking sound from the rear end upon accelerating from a stop. Just had to have new brakes in the front put on once again. Was trying to get through one more years payments on this thing until I could dump it.

Final straw; the check engine light came on once again. I've poured so much money into this car and it's still under 100,000.

I drove it to a Chevy dealership and traded it in for a new HHR. Best decision I have ever made concerning this car. Just wished I had done it before pouring good money after bad years ago. Good riddance Saturn!

I bought the Saturn LS2 3.0 V6 in spring of 2008 with 79,000 on it. In over a year and a half, I have only put 11,000 miles on it. I'm just over 90,000 and everything is starting to break. At 90,200 miles I had to replace the body control module, that is a dealer only item and fix (I work on my own cars typically), then 3 days later, as I write this I'm having starting problems. The battery has full power, but I have to jump it, to either reset something or to give it an extra boost. I'm hoping the battery I pulled out of another car will fix it... :-/, hoping it's just the battery.

But I have had other problems before this.

- Broken coil spring in front drivers side (not fixed yet).

- Car over heated and killed the water pump, (replaced on own) 4 hour fix and 80 dollars.

- That killed the timing belt, which needed replacement.

- 1/2 the switches in the car don't work.

- Turn signal switch broke, (replaced) 20 @ dealer.

Just a suggestion to people, this car is good if you can get one with problems free and low mileage, because once you reach around 90,000 you will have a world hurt of problems, and don't plan on fixing in your garage, because most parts are dealer only.

Saturns are junk. The timing belt goes out and the whole engine is shot, and you can't get rid of your car because it won't run, and it costs more to replace or fix the engine than the car is worth. Thanks Saturn.