2001 Saturn LW200 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 88%of 8 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 116,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the engine of the 2001 Saturn LW200, 88% of the 8 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 116,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“After starting car and rolling back to leave parking space at 5mph there was a muffled pop and the car stopped moving.I tried to crank engine again and it would not start. I had to push it into a nearby parking spot. Local repair person diagnosed the car needs a new timing chain. Said same year and model was involved in GM safety recall 06074 issued december 2007 according to his database. Gm says my car isn't involved in that recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10596097, filed 2014-06, 117,000 miles“While driving my car with 2 special needs children in it my steering wheel went crazy. It went from being center to vertical. I drove as close to home as I could get and then my car came to a grinding hault. I thought I uad a flat tire but thats not what it was. After towing it home we looked under it and the engine cradle had broke!! When this happened it broke the control arm on my car causing my tire to rotate inward and back into the fender well. We have not been able to fix it and we have no other car. The only way the children were hurt was psychological, sincethey are autistic. …”
NHTSA complaint #11006653, filed 2017-07, 100,000 miles“When driving my vehicle down the road with my children in the car , it died. There has been a recall on the timing chain for the Saturn l series for the year of my vehicle. Yet, mine is 2 months shy of the recall date. My mechanic says this is a very common problem for these vehicles of this year. Tell me why the entire production time of this vehicle is not included? Seeing how there are many people out there having this issue. I was very lucky that there was not an accident involved in this situation, but I am sure that there have been. I am asking that my engine be replaced by GM. …”
NHTSA complaint #10616592, filed 2014-07, 116,000 miles“Driving in parking lot and car suddenly stalls. Wouldn't restart and found out later that timing chain had broken. Engine now also has internal damage as a result. It is a 2.2l engine but apparently not on the recall list even thought the chain and oiling nozzle are the same as the other 2001 recalled engines.”
NHTSA complaint #10499794, filed 2013-02, 157,082 miles“The contact owns a 2001 Saturn LW200. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost accelerator function and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the owners residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle. The contact was informed that the timing chain had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10816763, filed 2015-12, 124,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10178387Jul 27, 2020This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle bearings during an oil change. Technician will gain access to the roller…
- 10176326May 21, 2020This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308…
- 10176607May 8, 2020This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank…
- 10167437Oct 14, 2019This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for potential icing issues in very cold ambient temperatures. To allow the…
- 10160987May 7, 2019This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician to not remove the torque converter bolts and start the engine as this may cause damage to the…
- 10160983May 6, 2019This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle bearings during an oil change. Technician will gain access to the roller…
- 10144451Aug 8, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible…
- 10129097Jan 25, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle bearings during an oil change. Technician will gain access to the roller…
- 10129073Jan 18, 2018This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for potential icing issues in very cold ambient temperatures. To allow the…
- 10137727Aug 21, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 38% |
| 2001 | 7 | 88% |
Other parts of the 2001 Saturn LW200
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Saturn LW200
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology