Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Saturn L200 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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.
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.
FUEL IS LEAKING AT THE NIPPLE FROM FUEL PUMP. *TR
PARKED CAR AND LOCKED WITH REMOTE. UPON RETURN TO VEHICLE SMELLED GAS AND WAS LOCKED OUT OF 2003 SATURN LS200 AFTER ONLY 17,500 MILES DRIVEN. PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. STRANDED UNTIL AAA TOW TO LAS VEGAS FINDLAY GM DEALERSHIP. OPENED MANUALLY WITH KEY INSTEAD OF REMOTE. ATTEMPTED TO START CAR ENGINE. TURNED OVER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DIED. ALL DASHBOARD GAUGES NOT WORKING. PROBLEM PER GM DEALER WAS TWOFOLD: (1) FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) THAT CONTROLS VEHICLE'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND REQUIRED COSTLY REPLACEMENT PART AT $614 PLUS LABOR; ALSO (2) FUEL PUMP FAILED AND REQUIRED COSTLY PART REPLACEMENT AT $498 PLUS LABOR AND CLEANING OF FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THESE TWO PARTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURES IN SATURN VEHICLES. HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE 2003 AND CONTINUE TO FAIL. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY SATURN OWNERS TO GM AND THE NTSB. GAUGES AND LIGHTS HAVE REPORTEDLY FAILED EVEN WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE OF FAULTY BCM. AN INITIAL BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) RECALL (SATURN RECALL #03C06) IS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. THE BCM AND FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 17,500 MILES!! THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE BCM AND FUEL PUMP ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR! *TR
I DETECTED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. LATER DURING THAT WEEK THE SMELL OF GASOLINE BECAME PRESENT WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LICENSED REPAIR FACILITY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS STAINED AND IT LOOKED TO BE LEAKING FROM THE AREA AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. ON SEPT 27, 2012 THE CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL TANK THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FUEL PUMP TO HAVE BROKEN BRITTLE PLASTIC AT THE TOP WHERE THE FUEL LINES COME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 9/29/12. SINCE THEN I LEARNED THAT GM IS RECALLING SOME VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, YET THIS VEHICLE ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH UP AN INCLINE WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,230. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 09/19/11
ON 9/01/2007 MY SATURN L200 SEDAN SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE EMANATING FROM THE EXHAUST AND WITHIN TWO MINUTES THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RUN ANY FURTHER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY AND A SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST WAS NOTED AND SUBSEQUENT TRIES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. PRIOR TO THIS THE FAN HAD CYCLED ON INDICATING A HEAT PROBLEM. ALL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE PROBLEM MATCH EXACTLY WHAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V231000 HAD LISTED. SATURN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED A TOW AT MY EXPENSE AND THE DRIVER REFUSED DELIVERY TO THE SATURN OF WEST LIBERTY AVENUE DEALER BUT INSTEAD TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOME AND HE WAS RATHER DISINTERESTED IN DROPPING THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALER AS I HAD INSTRUCTED HIM. A CALL TO SATURN CORPORATION YIELDED A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TELLING ME THAT NO SUCH CAMPAIGN ID OR RECALL EXISTED FOR MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH MY VIN IS IN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. A CALL TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIPS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN YIELDED THE SAME COMMENT. A RETURN CALL TO SATURN CORPORATION YIELDED YET ANOTHER PERSON STATING THE SAME. THE FIRST REP FROM SATURN CONFERENCING CALLED JUSTIN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE STORY THEN CHANGED FROM NO RECALL TO A RECALL BEING FOUND AND PERFORMED BY A PLEASANT HILLS SATURN DEALER. THE RECALL IN QUESTION WAS NEVER PERFORMED SINCE NO VISIBLE STICKER WITH THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS AFFIXED BY ANY SATURN MECHANIC IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CONFIRMS THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD SUCH SERVICE PERFORMED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH NEVER HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED AND TO WHICH COULD HAVE HAD A FIRE CAUSED BUT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE HAD THAT ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER STATED I NEEDED TO PAY FOR ANOTHER TOW AND THAT I WOULD BE BILLED FOR THE WORK. *TR THE CONSUMER PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THE VEHICLE FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. THE DEALER STATED FOUND NO FUEL PRESSURE AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 09/19/07 *TR
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
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
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON - FOUND OUT THAT GAS CAP DOES NOT STAY SECURE AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE GAS CAP REPLACED - I COULD NOT LOCATE ANY DAMAGE TO CAP THIS STARTED IN AUGUST OF 2006 - I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT I WAS NOT SECURING GAS CAP BUT I MADE SURE IT CLICKED AND WHEN I PULLED ON IT - CAME RIGHT OUT THIS MORNING. *NM
ON JANUARY 30, 2006, MY 2003 L200 WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2002. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLES MILEAGE WAS 58,270. THE TOTAL COST OF REPLACEMENT CAME TO $553.79 INCLUDING PARTS, LABOR AND APPLICABLE TAX. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2006, I TOOK MY 2002 L200 TO SATURN OF THE VALLEY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER, 2001, DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP LINE LEAK THAT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED ON THE PRIOR SATURDAY, 9/23/06, BY THE FIRESTONE FACILITY WHERE I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICING BECAUSE I COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SATURN OF THE VALLEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP LINES WERE LEAKING AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLES MILEAGE WAS 75,202. SATURN OF THE VALLEY AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PART BUT I PAID THE LABOR. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS, I WROTE TO SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED THAT THEY COVER THE COST OF THE PART WITH REGARD TO THE 1/30/06 2003 L200 FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I EXPLAINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AS THE SAME PART FAILED ON BOTH OF MY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL, ONE PRODUCTION YEAR APART, PURCHASED NEW AT THE SAME FACILITY, AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. SATURN CORP. DENIES THAT THERE'S A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THIS PART. HOWEVER, SATURN HAS DISCONTINUED PRODUCTION OF THE L SERIES MODEL VEHICLES. THIS IS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IS AT FAULT. *JB
IN THE YEAR 2003 AFTER HAVING MY L200 FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS 1000 MILES MY FUEL PUMP WENT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I TOOK IT TO SATURN OF CLEARANCE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SO I WAS ALMOST HOME AND BLACK SMOKE WAS FLOWING OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE AND WHEN I STOPPED TO GET SOME GAS AFTER I GOT GAS I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START THEN IT WOULD AND IT WOULD STALL SO I TOOK IT BACK UP THERE THE SECOND TIME AND THEY SAID OH ITS YOUR FUEL PUMP WELL WHY DIDN'T THEY LISTEN THE FIRST TIME . *NM
MY 2003 SATURN L200 FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 54K MILES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION FOR 1 1/2 YEARS (PURCHASED USED) APPROX 30K OF THE TOTAL MILES WAS PLACES ON VEHICLE SINCE MY OWNERSHIP, REGARDLESS THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT FAIL. IT COST ME $800.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED (PARTS AND LABOR). WHY IS THIS NOT AN UNDER LYING CAUSE FOR THE INITIAL CONTROL MODULE SATURN RECALL # 03C06. *NM
MY 2003 SATURN L200 REQUIRED A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES. THIS IS A $560 REPAIR INCLUDING THE $326 FUEL PUMP ITSELF. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS ONLY 2 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS OLD. SINCERELY, GARY SANDERS
MY CAR HAS A 1/4 TANK OF GAS & IT WILL NOT START. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL & COAST IT SLIGHTLY DOWN A HILL WITH THE FRONT END FACING DOWN THE HILL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE & THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.... ON TOP OF THAT, THEY ASKED ME WHAT BRAND OF GAS I WAS USING... I TOLD THEM SUNOCO. SILLY ME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USING AMOCO!?!?!? BUT THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS! *JB
THE SATURN L200 I OWN WILL NOT START ON AN INCLINE WHEN THERE IS 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN IT. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE I MUST PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL DOWN THE INCLINE TO A LEVEL STREET. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND SATURN THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAVE STATED IT IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. IT MUST BE FIXED. THERE IS A GENUINE DANGER HERE. *LA
2003 SATURN L200 DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS OF ADVERTISED FUEL EFFICIENCY.*MR TRANSFERRED TO OVSC. 08/13/2003.*CB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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