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2000 Saturn LSProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 382 owner complaints about the 2000 Saturn LS, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 6 safety recalls.

56
CarFlaw IndexSolid year21% below the LS median · #3 of 3 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Free fix at dealersOwner complaints38226 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage85kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 7, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2000 Saturn LS has problems

382 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling1403
Electrical system632
Exterior lighting623
Steering351
Structure282
Suspension280
Power train250
Tires200
Service brakes, hydraulic201
17 other systems8714

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2000 Saturn LS recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Recall 05V-245 · Jun 2, 2005 · 291,652 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 99V-197 · Jul 26, 1999 · 1,300 vehicles

Risk. IF A VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE VALVE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER, FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

85kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 106 engine and engine cooling complaints. 66% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
3under 30k miles70under 100k miles36100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

32 owners mentioned a cost

$2,400median

Middle half: $900 – $3,250

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2000 vs. every other LS year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the LS median. How we score

'00'01'02'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2000 Saturn LS safety ratings

2000 Saturn LS 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2000 Saturn LS frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2000 Saturn LS side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2000 Saturn LS, and the recalls they led to.

  1. INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPSDP05001 · closed Feb 22, 2005
    No recall
  2. TIMING CHAIN FAILUREDP05008 · closed Feb 6, 2006
    No recall
  3. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALLDP08002 · closed Oct 16, 2008
    No recall
  4. INOPERATIVE TAIL LAMPSPE05010 · closed Jun 3, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-245
  5. TIMING CHAIN FAILUREPE06006 · closed Jun 6, 2006
    No recall
  6. TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALLPE08061 · closed Apr 8, 2009
    No recall
  7. POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITYPE99064 · closed Feb 11, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-345
In owners' words

What LS owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ENGINE BEGAN HAVING A SLOW KNOCKING NOISE, PRIOR TO THAT I WOULD HEAR A NOISE OF THE CHAIN SLAPPING, WHICH I WAS EXPLAINED TO BY SATURN THAT THIS WAS NORMAL IN MY VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THEN WHILE I WAS PARKING, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND WHEN I GOT OUT - THERE WAS OIL GUSHING FROM UNDERNEATH.…
Complaint 10456076 · Apr 23, 2012 · 74,500 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT LOCATED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS…
Complaint 10447362 · Feb 10, 2012 · 100,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN L SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION TAKING PLACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.…
Complaint 10437449 · Nov 28, 2011 · 50,000 miles

Own a 2000 LS?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.