2003 Saturn L200 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn L200. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 45 MPH, an abnormal whirling sound was coming from the vehicle and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact's wife was unable to restart the vehicle and with the assistance of a police officer, she coasted the vehicle off to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective timing chain which resulted in engine failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11483230

Incident

Aug 31, 2022

PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN.

NHTSA ID

11289832

Incident

Dec 13, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE FRONT BUMPER PLASTIC FASTENERS THAT HOLD THE BUMPER TO THE CHASSIS DEGRADE AND BREAK OVER TIME AND THE FRONT BUMPER WILL FALL OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS MY CAR WAS SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD IN A PARKING LOT AND I HAD TO GET OUT AND PICK UP THE BUMPER AND PUT IT IN MY BACK SEAT TO GET IT HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS HAD BROKEN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE BUMPER BACK ON. I HAD TO USE WIRE TO ATTACH IT TO THE CHASSIS BECAUSE THE PLASTIC FASTENERS WERE ALL BROKEN AND BRITTLE.

NHTSA ID

11133616

Incident

Jul 6, 2018

Mileage

76,000 mi

BRAKELIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING TWICE. ALSO MULTIPLE ELECTRICLE PROBLEMS. ON 1 OCCASION, ABS LIGHT WAS OUT, CAME ON AGAIN WITH RESTART. ANOTHER TIME FUEL GAGUE SHOWED EMPTY, SHOWED FULL ON RESTART. ANOTHER TIME TURNED KEY AND NO ELECRIC AT ALL, UNPLUGGED BATTERY AND ALL WAS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11096896

Incident

May 20, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10959564

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING WITH TWO KIDS IN THE CAR MY STEARING BECAME ODD. I SLOWED DOWN AND MY CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT I COULD BARELY KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. MY STEARING WHEEL WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I STOPPED THE CAR THE WHEEL IT'S SELF LOOKED ODD. I GOT BACK IN AND TRIED TO DRIVE AND MY CAR MADE A AWEFUL NOISE AND I COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE! I WAS SRANDED IN THE DARK ON A HILLSIDE WITH THE KIDS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME TO DISCOVER THE FRAME OF MY CAR HAS SPLIT AT THE A-ARM, THE ENGINE CRADLE HAS CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. MY INSURANCE WONT PAY THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR AND MY KIDS HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS PLEASE HELP !

NHTSA ID

10949533

Incident

Jan 25, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10903758

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

LIGHT FLASHING ON DASH BOARD, CLIMATE CONTROL GOES ON AND OFF ,OIL LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND OF. EVERYTHING THAT'S ELECTRIC LIKE THE SUN ROOF. AM AFRAID OF GETTING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH WAY. PLEASE HELP ME. [XXX]. I LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS ON RECALL. THANK YOU. WE ARE SECOND OWNER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10895535

Incident

May 14, 2014

Mileage

179 mi

CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR SPUTTERING. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY CHANGED THE WATER PUMP AFTER DIAGNOSING THAT AS AN ISSUE, GOT ABOUT A WEEK AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY. STARTED AND GOT UP THE ROAD ABOUT A MILE THEN SIED AGAIN. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED.

NHTSA ID

10874529

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

THREE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT OFF, LEAVING THE PASSENGERS STRANDED. AFTER AWHILE, THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD BECAUSE FUNCTIONAL. TWICE, THE VEHICLE ELCECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS CHECKED, AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. NOTE: THE LAST DATE AND MILEAGE NOTED BELOW OF THE VEHICLE IS APPROX.

NHTSA ID

10819992

Incident

Jun 11, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

AIRBAG DASH LIGHT ON, TECHNICIAN SAYS CODE REFERS TO SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN. DASH LIGHT REMAINS ON

NHTSA ID

10811136

Incident

Jul 23, 2015

Mileage

119,000 mi

I WAS STOPPING TO TURN RIGHT AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CARS BREAKS STOPPED WORKING. MY CAR RAN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND THEN STOPPED. THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO START IT UP 6 TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T WORK. THEN FINALLY IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I WENT TO START MY CAR LATER THAT DAY AND NOW IT REFUSES TO START. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR SHAKES, THERE'S A VERY LOUD TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND, THE ABS LIGHT FLASHES, THE 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IS ON. IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION SECTION OF THIS FORM, IT ASKING ME TO ENTER THE VEHICLES MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. IT'S A SATURN L200 2002 BUT IT'S NOT GIVING ME AN OPTION FOR THE 2002. ONLY THE 2003.

NHTSA ID

10809713

Incident

Dec 10, 2015

Mileage

122,900 mi

BOTTOM ENGINE 2 CELLS GONE DEALERSHIP M676 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR BLEW EENGINE

NHTSA ID

10785803

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FIVE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. MA 10/19/2015 UPDATED 11/28/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10735140

Incident

Apr 9, 2015

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM PASS LOCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE NOT TO START AND THE ODOMETER READING TO INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,500.

NHTSA ID

10722588

Incident

May 22, 2015

Mileage

133,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 (NA) SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE STRUTS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10705847

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

66,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 (NA) SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

10703379

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

82,000 mi

SMOKE IS INTERMITTENTLY COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING OR STARTING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703376

Incident

Mar 31, 2015

Mileage

141,207 mi

PASSLOCK SECURITY LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, NO PROBLEM WITH CAR START. ALSO PASSLOCK SECURITY LIGHT AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FLICKER SIMULTANEOUSLY (IN SYNC) WHEN INTERIOR LIGHT IN ON POSITION. ALSO ODOMETER LIGHT BULB WENT OUT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701179

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10690860

Incident

Feb 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE PARKED, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS BENT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10676913

Incident

Jan 21, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN L200 IN JANUARY 2014. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF IN THE CAR. THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM AND COME BACK ON. THE WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING OR SOMETIMES THEY WOULD JUST SLOW DOWN. ONE EVENING I WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL ON I CONTINUED ON HOME AND AS I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I ARRIVED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND ALSO THE SATURN HEADQUARTERS WHO BOTH STATED THERE ARE NO OPENED RECALLS ON THE CAR. SO I ASKED THEM IF I COULD GET A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPAIRS FOR THE RECALLS DONE ON THE CAR. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO SUCH RECORDS BUT I HAVE A PRINTOUT OF RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. NHTSA REFERENCE #05V245000 FOR THE BREAK LIGHTS #03V231000 FOR THE IGNITION MODULE AND #02V283000 FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION AND MAYBE YOU WOULD INITIATE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE LADY AT THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO BRING IT TO HER SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLES I READ ON THE IGNITION MODULE IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT IN THAT CONDITION IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE, SO I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

NHTSA ID

10649211

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT AND STARTED SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SMOKE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,274.

NHTSA ID

10643421

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

124,274 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10640554

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WENT TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10639335

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi