2000 Saturn LS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other LS years
- Fewer complaints than other years 3rd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 382 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Saturn LS. That ranks 3rd out of 5 LS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (140 complaints, 37%), typically at around 85,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 5 fires, 16 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 7 defect investigations involving it.
- 382owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 7NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2000 Saturn LS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 140 | 37% | 85,000 | “timing chain” (67%) | $3,700 |
| Electrical System problems | 63 | 16% | 61,000 | “ignition switch” (13%) | — |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 62 | 16% | 60,500 | “turn signal” (13%) | — |
| Steering | 35 | 9% | 54,525 | — | — |
| Structure | 28 | 7% | 111,032 | — | — |
| Suspension | 28 | 7% | 98,575 | — | — |
| Power Train | 25 | 7% | 65,110 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 5% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 20 | 5% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 14 | 4% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 3% | 104,006 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 3% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 2% | 140,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 2% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 2% | 130,108 | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 2% | 102,031 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% | 150,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 166,888 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 122,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 62,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2000 Saturn LS recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: On certain sedans and wagons, the plastic housing in the rear tail lamp assembly can become distorted if the brake lamps remain on for an extended time.
Risk: This can cause (1) an intermittently inoperative brake/tail lamp bulb or (2) a short circuit that opens a fuse causing inoperative brake lamps (including the center high-mounted stop lamp) or tail lamps. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will install two new tail lamp reinforcing socket adapters and sockets free of charge. The recall began on october 17, 2005. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
Electrical system:ignition:module
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.2l l4 (l61) engines, a failure of the ignition control module may cause deterioration in idle quality, reduction in overall engine power, and the vehicle may be hard to start. Continued operation of the vehicle after such an ignition module failure will result in the "service engine soon" light flashing, and may lead to secondary failures of the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, and exhaust resonator.
Risk: Failure of the resonator will cause increased exhaust noise. Prolonged operation of the vehicle following a resonator failure may lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will (1) replace the ignition control module, (2) replace the ignition control module and spark plugs, or (3) replace the ignition control module, spark plugs, and update the powertrain control module calibration. Owner notification began on august 4, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt 3.
Seat belts
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Fuel tank assemblies in these vehicles have an over pressure relief (opr) valve that can become stuck open in a frontal collision. If the vehicle rolls over, fuel spillage could occur.
Risk: If an ignition source is present, a fire could result.
Fix: Dealers will permanently seal the outlet port of the opr valve.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity." these vehicles may have been produced with an inoperative valve within the fuel tank assembly.
Risk: If a vehicle with an inoperative valve were involved in a rollover, fuel spillage could occur.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to ensure that the fuel tank assembly valve is operating as intended. They will replace the fuel tank assembly if necessary.
Exterior lighting:turn signal:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." because of a problem in the hazard warning switch assembly, the turn signal lamps may not work or may work intermittently when the driver uses the turn signal lever or hazard warning switch. If the vehicle turn signal indicators are not flashing, then the turn signal lamps may not be flashing.
Risk: Other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is turning and a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hazard warning switch assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Timing chain breaks, engine stall (PE08061) — opened Oct 16, 2008, closed Apr 8, 2009.
- Timing chain failure-stall (DP08002) — opened Jun 18, 2008, closed Oct 16, 2008.
- Timing chain failure (PE06006) — opened Jan 24, 2006, closed Jun 6, 2006.
- Timing chain failure (DP05008) — opened Dec 20, 2005, closed Feb 6, 2006.
- Inoperative tail lamps (PE05010) — opened Feb 15, 2005, closed Jun 3, 2005, led to recall 05V245000.
- Inoperative tail lamps (DP05001) — opened Feb 10, 2005, closed Feb 22, 2005.
- Post-collision fuel system integrity (PE99064) — opened Oct 27, 1999, closed Feb 11, 2000, led to recall 99V345000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I am listing this vehicle identification number to fulfill your request on the safety complaint form, however I believe what I am about to share is an issue that applies to all vehicles on the road today, regardless of their source of motive power, if they have a hydraulic-brake system. I believe…
The whole subframe on my 2000 saturn ls is rotted so bad that i can't even drive the vehicle. It started with my car not starting and putting it up on a lift to see what the problem was. That not starting problem is a bad resonator, but in the process the subframe was found to be seriously rotted…
Car leaking oil - now engine trouble
Nothing, thank god had happened yet, but it will in a matter of time, how much time i have no idea. The problem is the motor cradle or frame is rusting out, the front where the motor sets had wholes rusted in it, the whole thing is rusting away.
While driving down the interstate my timing chain snapped. Car lost power and put me and my family at risk of an accident.
Other Saturn LS years
See all Saturn LS problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Saturn LS?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 140 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2000 Saturn LS?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2000 Saturn LS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other LS model years, the 2000 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.