2003 Saturn L200 Engine Problems

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

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

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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO BLOW COOL AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED A CONDENSER AND A CLUTCH WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED THE BELT WOULD SEIZE CAUSING AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID

10620855

Incident

Aug 2, 2014

Mileage

156,000 mi

PARKED CAR AND NEXT MORNING WENT TO START AND CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD ONLY TURN N NOT START. WENT TO WHERE BOUGHT IT N THEY DIAGNOSIS TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578469

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

91,200 mi

THE CAR STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. THANKFULLY I MADE IT HOME BUT AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. ALSO MY REAR WHEELS WEAR ON THE INSIDE DUE TO THE POSITION OF THEM I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SHIMS PUT IN TO KEEP THE REAR WHEELS FROM ANGLING IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564901

Incident

Feb 18, 2014

Mileage

152,000 mi

FUEL IS LEAKING AT THE NIPPLE FROM FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548137

Incident

Oct 16, 2013

Mileage

95,868 mi

AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE GAS STATION THE TIMING CHAIN AND BOTH TENSIONERS BUSTED THE PISTON SMASHED ALL OF THE VALVES THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST SIDESWIPED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523346

Incident

Jun 24, 2013

Mileage

124,326 mi

I AM MORTIFIED BY ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FAILURE OF THE L200 SERIES DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND AM EVEN MORE DEVASTATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. MY CAR HAD 78K MILES ON IT AND DID NOT START TODAY. IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WAS MY ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS THE 4TH SATURN WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS MONTH. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WITHOUT A CAR THAT IS STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS LIVING ON MY OWN. SATURN BETTER BE HAPPY THAT IT NO LONGER EXISTS, BUT GM BETTER HAVE SOME ANSWERS FOR ME. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2001 MODELS, THERE ARE EVEN MORE REPORTED ISSUES WITH LATER MODELS. HOW HAS GM GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10488643

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE SHUT OFF WHICH CAUSED THE GAUGES TO MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10479762

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN AND WHEN I STOP IT MADE A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT,IT TURNED OVER REAL FAST AND WOULD NOT START. IT HAS SPARK AND FUEL BUT NO NOT THINK IT HAS COMPRESSOR. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453015

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

PREMATURE FAILURE OF TIMING CHAIN ON 2003 SATURN L200 AT 69,400 MILES. THIS CAR HAS THE SAME TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS AS INVOLVED IN THE 2000 MODEL YEAR RECALL. THE PARTS WERE NOT REVISED UNTIL AFTER THIS CAR WAS BUILT. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED WITH RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS, BUT THE CHAIN STILL FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308410

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

69,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASED THE RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63000.

NHTSA ID

10283650

Incident

Jun 28, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

BODY-CONTROL MODULE FAILURE: WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, THE BODY-CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND ENGINE COOLANT THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. SATURN DEALER, ON 3/28/2009 TOLD ME THAT THE BCM, IF NOT REPLACED, COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS FAILURES, SUCH AS FAILURE TO START, OVERHEATING AND OTHER PROBLEMS. OVER PRIOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THERE WERE INTERMITTENT READINGS ON DASHBOARD, INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT. APPARENTLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, AIRBAG OR BRAKES THEMSELVES, BUT THE BCM WAS GOING BAD, CAUSING THE READINGS ON DASHBOARD. BCM REPLACEMENT APPROX. $450 AND ENGINE COOLANT THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT COST APPROX $300. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263332

Incident

Mar 28, 2009

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2003 SATURN L200 WITH 108,000 MILES IS ABOUT TO FAIL AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A KNOWN (NHTSA INVESTIGATED EVEN) PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. $1300 I DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. THIS IS ALONG WITH A SERIES OF AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS (IMPROPER TUBE MOUNTING SUCH THAT IT WORE THROUGH) COSTING OVER $1000 DOLLARS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240092

Incident

Aug 27, 2008

Mileage

105,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN L200 ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I CAME CLOSE TO RUNNING INTO A DITCH AS A RESULT OF THE DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237437

Incident

Aug 8, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET IT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN SEVEN MONTHS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID

10235731

Incident

Jul 24, 2008

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10235124

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

84,000 mi

CAR DIED WHILE TRAVELING ON LOCAL HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235118

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON'S VEHICLE FAILED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOOSE, RATTLING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE INVOLVING THE STEERING MODULE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND HER SON COULD NOT RETURN IT TO THE PROPER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY PROCEEDED TO SELL HER SON A WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY FAILURES. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,253 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,300. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK , THE ENGINE, AIR BAG AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10224208

Incident

Mar 6, 2007

Mileage

42,300 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L SERIES. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ,AND THE FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING ABOUT TEN MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHITE SMOKE STARTED EXITING THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE PUMP AND/OR GAS COOLANT, INSULATOR ASSEMBLY FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT, OXYGEN SENSOR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186591

Incident

Feb 25, 2007

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT'S 2003 L SERIES SATURN WAGON STALLED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER IN GREENSBORO, NC. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOISES WERE EXPERIENCED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 72 MILES AN HOUR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAR DRIFTED AFTER IT LOSS POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE WARRANTY ENDED 3 TO 4 MONTHS AGO AND SHE INCURRED THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REVIEWED A NOTICE ON NHTSA WEBSITE DEFECT PETITION DATED JANUARY 23, 2006 STATES NUMBER PE06006 WHICH STATES THAT THE TIMING CHAIN CAN CAUSE FAILURE AND STALLING.

NHTSA ID

10176663

Incident

Nov 26, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

2003 SATURN L200 WITH 48,000 MILES DIED WHILE DRIVING. WE HAD TO QUICKLY SWERVE TO OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD WHERE THERE WAS A SHOULDER IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE TRAFFIC LANE(NO SHOULDER ON THE LANE WE WERE IN). CAR WAS TOWED, AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN, PROBABLE ENGINE DAMAGE, AND POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. SINCE I JUST PUT A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE THREE WEEKS PRIOR, I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND TALKED WITH DEALER ABOUT WORKING WITH ME TO FIX THIS CAR. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN DISCUSS NEXT STEP UNTIL I AUTHORIZED (PAID FOR) A $750 TEAR DOWN OF THE MOTOR TO "FULLY DIAGNOSE" THE PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO TO AUTHORIZE, BECAUSE ALL OF THE BURDEN AT THAT POINT WOULD BE ON ME, WHATEVER HAPPENED. SITUATION WAS NEVER RESOLVED; I TRADED THE CAR (AT A DRASTIC REDUCTION OF VALUE DUE TO ITS NON-WORKING CONDITION). *NM

NHTSA ID

10173625

Incident

Nov 5, 2006

Mileage

48,400 mi

MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO SATURN DEALERSHIP IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. IT HAS COME ON AGAIN AND IS READING THE SAME CODE. I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CODE READS P1887. I TRULY THINK THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN L 2003. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130701

Incident

Jul 26, 2004

Mileage

49,728 mi